An open letter to Marshall McKay, chairman, Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians: After reading your letter to the people of the Capay Valley, I have a few observations and comments with regards to the Tribe's position regarding your expansion project. I have been a resident of the Valley for 34 years and feel somewhat qualified to express my concerns.

You say you are troubled by the recent actions by the county and they are not acting in good faith to reach a fair agreement. From what I can tell, your idea of fair is an agreement to coincide with the tribes interests. The county does not have to be fair to anyone. Their obligation is to take into account the effect of the casino expansion to all county residents but also to the final effect it will have on the environment. The county would be negligent in its duties to do otherwise.

You claim to have performed extensive independent economic, environmental, traffic and other studies showing the positive effects of your expansion. Marshall, no agency is independent when in fact you are compensating these agencies. Why would they give you an unfavorable report? If they did, I am quite sure you would find another independent agency to give you a positive summation.

One thousand new jobs will be created with the expansion. Marshall, how many of them are beyond minimum wage? This does little with regards to improving economic conditions for the unemployed. Sure there will be construction jobs. How many firms are actually hired from Yolo County to provide their services?

You pay more then $5 million annually to the county. What percentage is this in relation to your total revenue? I bet that it is far less then the average worker pays out of his state, county and federal taxes. You spend $1 million per year to subsidize the Yolo Bus Route. If the casino were not existent, there would not be any need for this service. Why should I feel your pain on this?

The tribe has agreed to pay for road improvements, increased fire protection and law enforcement. Please read the above paragraph again. These services would not be necessary were if not for the present effect of the casino.

Marshall, you claim to be dedicated to protecting the environment. Please explain how a ten story building in any way shape or form comes close to protection of the environment. Give some good rationale on this one and perhaps we can start building ten-story buildings everywhere where there is a potential ecological disaster.

You claim to be victimized by the county. Perhaps Marshall, the county actually has a legal obligation to fairly represent the county constituents. Maybe the political process is actually taking place and the county is responding to the people and to their own sense of what in the long term will be beneficial for all concerned.

In conclusion Marshall, pay attention to what is going on with the current economic and political environment and perhaps curtail the tribe's commitment to expansion and funnel that energy into positive commitments for your tribe and the surrounding community.

CORKY FACCIUTO, Guinda