More than 100 protesters stood on either side of Lucky Lane on Saturday, at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in Coarsegold to prove to the Chukchansi tribe and Cascade Entertainment that they will not give up their fight to be paid.
    Subcontractors are owed close to $16 million dollars for building the casino’s $150 million-dollar hotel and gaming facility.

    “We built this project on time and under budget,” said John Hutson, secretary of building trade for Northern California. “Cascade is broke and the tribe refuses to talk with us. This is no different than Enron on a different scale. Russ Pratt, president of Cascade Entertainment, is no longer with Cascade, and the tribe just sends lawyers to deal with us,” said Hutson. The tribe had no comment.

    “Non-payment has destroyed a three generation company,” said Scott Holley, in reference to Hopkins & Sons Construction having to close its doors. “We are owed over $600,000,” said former Hopkins employee, Bob Rogers. Protesters chanted, “No justice - no peace,” and “No payment, no honor.” Many cars turned around and left.

    The Madera County Sheriff’s Department and a CHP officer were on hand to make sure the protest went peacefully. The CHP officer said he didn’t mind working overtime for the protest. The officer stated the group was organized and peaceful.

    “Cascade originally owed us $2.1 million,” Holley said. “They still owe us the balance of $605,000. Cascade had forensic auditors come in and was told by them to pay us in September of 2003.”

    David Hayden, former site manager for Cascade, said there were more than a dozen companies from the Valley and Mountain Area which were affected by the non-payment situation, “That translates into over 1,000 people, when you consider all the families involved.” Mr. Hayden, who had previously worked on the casino project, ended his association with them in Sept. 12, when it “became apparent that no more money would come to the subcontractors.”
    “We want to be paid,” said Hutson. “It’s as simple as that.”