The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians has been trying for years to build an off-reservation casino on Highway 99 north of Madera, and has moved a step closer to its goal. But it's the wrong location for a Las Vegas-style casino and Gov. Jerry Brown should kill the plan.

We have long supported Indian gaming on reservation land in rural areas. Our opposition to a casino on Highway 99 is based on its location.

The complicated approval process moved ahead in September when the Bureau of Indian Affairs rued that the Highway 99 site was suitable for a casino.

The BIA made the wrong decision. Fortunately, Congress asked the Department of Interior to take a second look at the proposal, with special attention to the presence or absence of public support.

The Highway 99 location would also require the governor's backing to proceed in the two-step approval process. Brown needs to stop the off-reservation plan.

While the state may look to Indian casinos as potential revenue through gaming compacts negotiated with the tribes, it is not good public policy to build a casino on Highway 99.

The North Fork tribe and Stations Casinos of Las Vegas want to build a 200-room hotel and casino on 305 acres at Avenue 17 and Highway 99. It would include 2,500 slot machines, and other gambling options.

Attempting to build a casino on a major California freeway is nothing more than reservation shopping by the tribe and its Las Vegas sponsors.

They correctly believe that it would be a lucrative location because of the freeway access throughout the San Joaquin Valley. But the amount of gambling revenue generated shouldn't be a consideration.

If this casino site is approved, other tribes will be given an incentive to go reservation shopping in populous areas of the state. That was never intended by California voters when they approved measures more than a decade ago to expand Indian gaming in the state.

The North Fork tribe could remedy this situation by seeking land in a rural area closer to its traditional homeland. The proposed site on Highway 99 is 38 miles from North Fork.

Gov. Brown should move quickly to oppose the Highway 99 proposal. It's time to end this unwise plan to expand Indian gambling.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/17/2686726/editorial-hwy-99-tribal-casino.html