A group of tribes, including several with casinos near Yuba-Sutter, have written Gov. Jerry Brown a letter opposing the Enterprise Rancheria casino in Yuba County.
Specifically, the letter opposes what its authors call "reservation shopping," or the practice of a tribe looking for lands to build a casino far from where it is based.
"A tribe should not be permitted to acquire land for gaming anywhere it chooses within the State," the letter to Brown, dated Sept. 30, states. "Substantial weight should be given to a tribe's historic connection to the land because to ignore a lack of connection would seriously undermine tribal sovereignty."
Among those listed as signatories to the letter are chairs for the United Auburn Indian Community, Mooretown Rancheria and Colusa Indian Community, which operate casinos in Placer, Butte and Colusa counties, respectively.
Rancheria tribal members have said Yuba County is within their tribal boundaries, while pointing out their true ancestral home is now covered by Lake Oroville.
The letter, which also opposes a new casino in Madera County, is also signed by five tribes in the southern San Joaquin Valley who also operate casinos.
The letters follow an earlier letter in opposition sent by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
However, not all the correspondence Brown is getting over the issue opposes the casino.
At Tuesday night's Marysville City Council meeting, the council was set to discuss sending a letter of support for the Yuba County casino, which would be built near the Sleep Train Amphitheatre and Highway 65.
Marysville would receive impact fees if the casino is built, under a memorandum of understanding with Enterprise Rancheria.
Brown, whose approval is necessary for the casino lands to be taken into trust by the tribe, has until next September to make a decision on the Yuba County casino, after the federal government gave its OK last month.