It is a shame that the benefits a new casino would have are lost in the uproar.

The plan by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians to build a casino complex at Lake Park Drive and Soboba Road would not only prove an economic boon to the tribe, but to the San Jacinto Valley and the rest of Riverside County.

For example, it would take two years to build the casino, and the surrounding communities would see a large portion of the $300 million that construction would require in jobs and services.

After construction, the casino would require 1,200 workers, or 200 more than are on the payroll now. That’s not to mention the the hotel, the convention center, the arena, the gas station, the spa and fitness center, and all of the other facilities on the complex, which would require 424 more workers.

We point this out because, ultimately, a casino complex such as the one Soboba envisions is a good one.

However, the financial incentives don’t outweigh the impact — an impact that, by and large, would not be felt had Soboba sought to build the casino somewhere else.

The parcel is in a residential zone. People already live in that area — in Soboba Springs Mobile Estates and the communities of Soboba Springs and Soboba Heights. These residents would now find their front yards and back yards abutting a mega-casino complex. It’s not something they envisioned when they bought homes there, and it’s not fair to foist the development on them now.

Under the proposal, a three-story parking garage would be built right up against Soboba Springs Mobile Estates on Lake Park Drive. Imagine the light pollution at night the residents of the park would enjoy.

And the noise pollution.

And the traffic.

Actually, the increased traffic would be a problem for the Valley as a whole, though the draft environmental impact statement lagged in making that point. For example, it considered only one intersection in Hemet. Of the 22,525 daily vehicle trips the statement anticipates should the new casino be built — a whopping 19,568 more than Soboba sees now — surely some of those cars would pass through Hemet. Yet only the city’s traffic signal at Florida and San Jacinto was considered.

Soboba’s recent conflict with public safety agencies must also be considered. It made national headlines with gunbattles between tribal members and law enforcement within days of one another, and the vitriol by Chairman Robert Salgado did not help. Twice, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ordered its firefighters to have Sheriff’s Department escorts when responding to emergency calls.

The impression Soboba left with many in the Valley is that it is not concerned about public safety. This attitude needs to be changed, and the steps the draft EIS outlines fall short. One of the steps Soboba should consider is putting its security force through some form of police academy training.

Soboba has done much for the San Jacinto Valley. The children who received toys in the Christmas busloads won’t forget the tribe’s generosity, nor will the Bowl, which kept “Ramona” afloat this year through donations from Soboba.

And no doubt the new casino complex would be beautiful. The Country Club at Soboba Springs is a gem, and Soboba would want to follow on that example. However, though this might be the right time for the new casino, it is the wrong place. At least it is as outlined in the statement.