Selma's been put in the middle of two casino lobbyist groups after the Selma City Council voted in November to oppose off-reservation gaming, particularly a proposed casino project north of Madera. According to a lobbyist from the North Fork Mono Rancheria, Selma is the only city in the Valley to formally oppose the proposed casino in Madera. Previously, the council was told by Keep Gaming on Indian Land coalition representative Janice Keating that Selma would join other local cities with action in opposition. Keating said Fresno County has also acted to oppose off-reservation gaming. She also provided letters from the U.S Senate and Congress in opposition to the project.

The proposed casino is about 45 miles north of Selma in Madera County. The casino would be built on land near the Madera Airport. North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians wants to build the casino at Highway 99 and Avenue 17 in Madera, which is about 50 miles from North Fork Mono Rancheria's Indian land.

Selma was first approached by Keating, representing the Keep Gaming on Indian Land coalition. Keating is working in opposition of the proposed casino.

However, according to Charles Altekruse, who works for the North Fork Mono Rancheria, the information Keating provided the city council was not accurate.

"We believe the council received erroneous information which came from a hired lobbyist," said Altekruse.

He said that other cities and counties, such as Firebaugh, Fresno, Sanger and Fresno County have expressed concerns about traffic and other issues, but no city, except Selma, had formally opposed the project.

Altekruse also said his tribe would have liked to state its case before the Selma City Council. He said the tribe sent letters to all the members of the Fresno County Council of Governments asking to sit down with any cities that had any concerns. The Fresno County Council of Governments dropped the resolution opposing the casino from its agenda.

Altekruse said the tribe would like a formal opportunity to address the council with a formal presentation. "We'll be happy to bring the full tribal council and Madera County officials and Madera city officials who support our project," he said.

Initially, on Nov. 2, not all of the city council members were in agreement on the issue, with two of the council members confused about why Selma needed to get involved, especially since the proposed casino is north of Madera.

Council members Jim Avalos and Ken Grey were perplexed by Selma's need to oppose the casino, especially because of the distance of Selma to the proposed site -- approximately 45 miles.

Grey eventually abstained from the council vote, which was 4-0. The city staff also had no recommendation on the issue, leaving the decision to the council.

Lujan said Dec. 7 that the council would be happy to hear any presentation from the tribe. "I'm sure I can speak for the rest of the council, too."

Previously Lujan said that seniors are being victimized by casinos and that another one can only hurt the seniors of the community.

"This would be another wolf in the pack," said Lujan. "The seniors have been known to borrow money from each other and it got to the point that some were getting kicked out of their homes and their cars taken away."