I find myself overwhelmed by the amount of advertising the Tule River Tribe is heaping on the public to sway our opinions over the proposed off-site casino expansion on Highway 190, in Springville.
Since finances are apparently limitless, why not improve the existing casino's infrastructure, so that the location can stay on their reservation site, as the law intended?
The United States Congress already passed a law stating that land utilized by the tribe must be put into trust before 1988. This parcel wasn't even purchased until 1994. Gaming should be a means of improving the financial status of the local tribe, not an endeavor to reap as much money as feasible, regardless of the impact to our environment and community.
This campaign is a no-holds-barred approach to increasing gambling profit, by slamming a gigantic eye-sore in our community (the Gateway to the Sequoia National Park), without legal obligation to prevent negative consequences. I surely hope our county supervisors, charged with advising the secretary of the interior as to this proposed move, are not being influenced by financial support as that would be unethical, making their recommendation completely worthless.
The next time your family drives up to our forests, think about this new casino, and how it will look as you view our beautiful scenery behind the massive contstruction site; and feel, as you navigate through the traffic jams.
Let's not forget the additional risks associated with fire hazards, increased criminal activity, and potential destruction to the local environment. There will be little to no enforceable regulations to monitor water usage (this is zoned an agricultural area), sewage treatment, or air pollution. Local businesses will suffer, traffic will increase and the costs to maintain the local infrastructure will be the sole burden of tax-paying citizens.
I'm sure you'll agree those extra 15 miles, for the few who chose to gamble, is worth the drive to avoid the impacts we'll most certainly have. Please remember, it's a very small group that will benefit from this new casino, and that benefit is strictly financial, which often blinds people from making principled decisions.
Our community members have a responsibility to safeguard our interests, if our elected officials chose not to. It is in our best interest to oppose this casino move. Don't wait for others to voice their opinions. Let our elected officials know you are against it today.
Jennifer Young, Springville