Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 17, 2007 21:57:07 GMT -5
Rural area not the place for a casino
Friday, March 02, 2007
- By Ray and Betty Stacey, Ione
In an article in the Jan. 31 Ledger Dispatch, Chairwoman Rhonda Morningstar Pope states "we want to do the right thing" and she requested input form the local residents. We are very pleased that we have her attention at this time.
In her previously published articles she states this project is to honor her father Flying Cloud who worked this land. This land is an agricultural area and we still drive a team of Percheron horses and wagon on Coal Mine Road. The first Tribal Environmental Impact Report stated that 1,600 cars a day would travel to her casino. We feel that Flying Cloud would shudder at what a curse his legacy would bring to our agricultural environment.
Can you envision a two-lane country road with 1,600 cars following a team of draft horses traveling 7.5 miles an hour? We do not drive the team every day but once or twice a week is common. There is no desire for a casino here. Two thousand new jobs will not be filled by local people who want to work the land.
Now that you have a mental picture of this area at present, since you reside in Sacramento, let me highlight other local problems:
- You propose a "grocery store casino" in an agricultural area. This means there are no overnight accommodations. The closest place is the campgrounds at North Shore Camanche Lake. This area is full in the summer and Amador County law enforcement is often called to Lake Camanche because of campground disorder. Your proposed casino will require local law enforcement to continually monitor traffic to and from your proposed casino day and night.
- In the county's general election, more than 80 percent of residents voted for "no more casinos." I should hope that our government representatives are aware of this and that you take a hard look at this hardy welcome to Amador County.
- There is no proper water supply in the area to support your development. Most homes are supplied by wells. If you do develop an adequate supply from wells, you are tapping the rural supply of many established ranches and farms for a commercial venture that could deplete out sources.
- There is no adequate waste disposal system available. You want to release treated waste into a local stream. Your first proposal was a Kuboto processing system that was developed in Japan. Cash Creek has this system in operation, it is known to have failed more than 100 times in the last three years. Your waste water will probably find its way into Camanche Lake, which is a water supply for Sacramento. This is the public you hope will patronize your casino?
- The Ione band of Me-Wuk Indians do not recognize you in their tribe. Published articles state that it is only your family and a developer who support your proposal but the Me-Wuk tribe has to carry the burden of your misled efforts.
- We should address the issue of garbage that will be deposited roadside by a public who is accustomed to a city clean up crew behind them. In this area, the rancher has to pick up the roadside trash to keep his personal property in order.
- Now consider the road kill of wild animals who always have adjust to a new development for the benefit of the general public, which cannot understand why their invasion of our rural area is not a benefit to all.
Morningstar Pope, please "do the right thing" and remember your father and his tribe by building an Indian Village on your site that the public can visit and learn from, and see what the Native American Indian has contributed to the land where your father walked and others are buried. I cannot believe that he would want a casino on the land that he so cherished as a legacy to him.
Friday, March 02, 2007
- By Ray and Betty Stacey, Ione
In an article in the Jan. 31 Ledger Dispatch, Chairwoman Rhonda Morningstar Pope states "we want to do the right thing" and she requested input form the local residents. We are very pleased that we have her attention at this time.
In her previously published articles she states this project is to honor her father Flying Cloud who worked this land. This land is an agricultural area and we still drive a team of Percheron horses and wagon on Coal Mine Road. The first Tribal Environmental Impact Report stated that 1,600 cars a day would travel to her casino. We feel that Flying Cloud would shudder at what a curse his legacy would bring to our agricultural environment.
Can you envision a two-lane country road with 1,600 cars following a team of draft horses traveling 7.5 miles an hour? We do not drive the team every day but once or twice a week is common. There is no desire for a casino here. Two thousand new jobs will not be filled by local people who want to work the land.
Now that you have a mental picture of this area at present, since you reside in Sacramento, let me highlight other local problems:
- You propose a "grocery store casino" in an agricultural area. This means there are no overnight accommodations. The closest place is the campgrounds at North Shore Camanche Lake. This area is full in the summer and Amador County law enforcement is often called to Lake Camanche because of campground disorder. Your proposed casino will require local law enforcement to continually monitor traffic to and from your proposed casino day and night.
- In the county's general election, more than 80 percent of residents voted for "no more casinos." I should hope that our government representatives are aware of this and that you take a hard look at this hardy welcome to Amador County.
- There is no proper water supply in the area to support your development. Most homes are supplied by wells. If you do develop an adequate supply from wells, you are tapping the rural supply of many established ranches and farms for a commercial venture that could deplete out sources.
- There is no adequate waste disposal system available. You want to release treated waste into a local stream. Your first proposal was a Kuboto processing system that was developed in Japan. Cash Creek has this system in operation, it is known to have failed more than 100 times in the last three years. Your waste water will probably find its way into Camanche Lake, which is a water supply for Sacramento. This is the public you hope will patronize your casino?
- The Ione band of Me-Wuk Indians do not recognize you in their tribe. Published articles state that it is only your family and a developer who support your proposal but the Me-Wuk tribe has to carry the burden of your misled efforts.
- We should address the issue of garbage that will be deposited roadside by a public who is accustomed to a city clean up crew behind them. In this area, the rancher has to pick up the roadside trash to keep his personal property in order.
- Now consider the road kill of wild animals who always have adjust to a new development for the benefit of the general public, which cannot understand why their invasion of our rural area is not a benefit to all.
Morningstar Pope, please "do the right thing" and remember your father and his tribe by building an Indian Village on your site that the public can visit and learn from, and see what the Native American Indian has contributed to the land where your father walked and others are buried. I cannot believe that he would want a casino on the land that he so cherished as a legacy to him.