Joshua Tree Community Association, Local Elected Officials, Community Groups Host Town Hall to Voice Opposition to Proposed Off-Reservation Gaming Facility
 
Joshua Tree, Calif.- Joshua Tree Community Association today hosted a town hall meeting for Joshua Tree residents to voice joint opposition to the proposedoff-reservation gaming facility by the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians. Joining in that opposition is U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, San BernardinoCounty Supervisor Neil Derry, Stand Up for California! and other local community groups.
 
The proposed Joshua Tree off-reservation casino proposal comes on the heels of the Department of Interior’s recently approved off-reservation casinos proposed by the Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians in Yuba County and the North ForkRancheria of Mono Indians in Madera County. There are many more additional pending applications by California tribes to acquire non-tribal lands throughout the State for the purposes of building off-reservation casinos.  The 29 Palms Casino project is the first example of the negative precedent set by the Enterprise and North Fork off reservation casino decisions. 
 
“Off-reservation casinos are in direct violation of the promises made to voters that Indian gaming would remain on Indian lands,” said Stand Up for California’s Executive Director, Cheryl Schmit. “If off-reservation gaming is allowed, a dangerous precedent will be set, opening the floodgates for tribes across California to shop around for the most profitable locations to build casinos, with complete disregard for how our local communities areimpacted.”
 
Off-reservation gaming has seen growing opposition from elected officials, community organizations and even tribes themselves.
 
“I strongly oppose the Joshua Tree off-reservation gaming facility as the casino will most likely have a negative impact on the environment, air quality, noise levels, community planning and quality of life,” Schmit explained. “U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry and a vast list of other elected officials, community organizations and tribes in California join me in opposition to the proposed Joshua Tree casino.”
 
The fate of the casinos already approved by the Department of Interior rests in the hands of Governor Jerry Brown, as off-reservation sites must pass through what iscalled a “two-part determination.” Although the federal government has mistakenly opened the doors for these casinos, the Governor has the chance to reject the proposals, keeping in line with what California voters agreed towhen they passed Propositions 1A and 5 that allows tribal gaming to take place on reservation land only.
 
Anyone opposed to the off-reservation gaming facilities is encouraged to contact the Governor, asking him to not concur with the proposals.
 
Stand Up for California! is a statewide organization with afocus on gambling issues including tribal gaming, card clubs, horse racing,charitable gaming and the state lottery. For more, information about the organization visit www.standupca.org.
 
For more information about the proposed off-reservation casinos, visit www.NoOffReservationCasino.com.
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Cheryl Schmit, Director - P. O. Box 355, Penryn, CA. 95663