Today's meeting:
WHEN: Town hall for opponents of Enterprise Rancheria to share their views.
WHEN: 7-9 p.m. today.
WHERE: Wheatland Community Center, 101 C St., Wheatland.
Those hoping to build an Indian casino in Yuba County can point to one place where they have some support: local representatives in U.S. Congress.
Both Reps. John Garamendi, whose district — if he is re-elected — will include Yuba-Sutter after next year, and Tom McClintock, whose district to the east includes Thunder Valley Casino, said they support Enterprise Rancheria for different reasons.
"It's very simple: They've got the right to do with their money whatever they want, as long as they're not infringing on the rights of others," said McClintock, R-Granite Bay. "They can invest their money at their own risk."
Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, said during an interview with the Appeal-Democrat this fall that he supported the casino for the positive aspects it would bring, such as job creation. "Those who want to gamble have many opportunities to do so," Garamendi said. "I believe the governor should approve the request to build the casino."
There would be a downside, Garamendi acknowledged, in the possibility of more local gambling addiction issues.
Not every area member of Congress is in favor. U.S. Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico, is on record as being opposed, but a spokesman said the matter is now an issue at the state and local level, not federal.
"He is generally opposed to the climate and culture of gaming, believing it has too many negative societal impacts," Herger's spokesman, Bryan Cleveland, said in an email last week. "On particular projects like this one, he defers to the local community, and there was a local vote a few years back that narrowly rejected the casino."
But Charles Altekruse, a spokesman for the casino's backing tribe, said while the casino application was being considered at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Herger at least let the process play out.
"He took the process seriously in terms of that intervention of sorts," Altekruse said. "It did move the process forward."
Who is supporting and opposing the casino has taken on greater significance in the last few months, after federal approval of the proposal was put it in the hands of Gov. Jerry Brown for a final decision.
Because it's ultimately up to the governor, the congressmen's views shouldn't carry much weight, said a casino opponent.
"They should be supporting the vote of the people," said Sandra Gilbert, who lives near the casino site, of McClintock and Garamendi, referring to a 2005 county ballot measure. "This will be a policy decision, and we need good policies."
Anti-casino forces hope to rally more opposition at a town hall this evening in Wheatland, where supervisors from Yuba and Sutter counties are expected to speak.
Proponents, meanwhile, are pointing to the casino's support by Yuba County and Marysville, as well as area economic development and labor groups.
CONTACT Ben van der Meer at 749-4786.