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Casino(s) in Amador County California
Welcome, this section is designed to illustrate the costs to the community of the current casino and the potential casinos planned for Our area.The Me-Wuk Ione Band Casino (IBC), Plymouth CA.
April 18 2008 - The Ione Band of Me-Wuks, have proposed the Ione Band Casino (IBC) in Plymouth California. Sounds like a lot for a little town, but efforts to relocate are being ignored by some locals or currently barred by federal legal incompetence. Let Me try and simplify.
Basically, A small group of about fifty surviving Me-Wuks (the Ione band, or 'Tribe' for lack of better description) struggle to attain their due rights as Native Americans to establish and maintain their Tribe in the modern era. Then continue on to become a self sufficient Band by creating a form of business enterprise (a casino).
Sound familiar? That is exactly how the Dalton family began the Jackson Rancheria Casino in 1988 (JRC), and became the formidable enterprise it is today. Now, the Morning-Star Family is attempting the same for their heirs in Buena Vista, so isn't it only right to allow other Me-Wuks an opportunity at self-sufficiency?
Proposed project location: Hwy 49 approx. 1 mile west from Plymouth, Amador County Calif. A small two lane road susceptible to mass traffic and many school bus stops a day. If Hwy. 49 is not properly routed and mitigated, then this is a nightmare waiting to happen. On the other hand, if this casino is blocked, then the gamblers will continue to wreck on Hwy. 88 and 49 as they now do on their way to the Jackson Rancheria Casino. Traffic is seemingly always neglected as a mitigation issue, whether one casino or more. Either way the topic is not properly addressed by the negotiating parties. The Ione Band has to their credit, proposed giving the city of Plymouth 85 million doallars to midigate and problems created for the City. The locals have thus far rejected the generous offer.
One solution? Put both of the new casinos at the County line, the Jackson Casino Group has already been publicly invited to participate as well. that way all the visitors can gamble in Amador County, then return to the cities with the minimum invasion on locals. It works in Nevada (Stateline), so why not here? Off reservation gaming, it is the only viable solution. Instead My Uncle Louis Boitano*, the county supervisor, has chosen a publicly (in an interview on TSPN last week) announced a ‘threat’ to a Mr. Franklin (Ione Band chairperson) that unless the Ione band ‘jumps through his hoops’ about traffic (or anything for that matter), then watch out! Smart Move Uncle, verbal abuse natives who possess the backing of multi-million dollar interests. No sense talking to them like Human beings is there? For You see dear public, two supervisors (Richard Foster, Dist 2 Ione & Dist. 4, Boitano) have high jacked the political process and are now apparently drunk with power.
As Dist. 1 Supervisor Richard Escamilla put it, “where are all these people opposed to the new casino(s)? My District in Jackson with the current casino has the most to lose, and I see none of My constituents out there protesting to stop this…” So, if Sutter Creek and Pine Grove are not affected directly by these casinos either, why is Boitano “pimping out” to any district but His own? Had he been honest with the public before hand, He should have withdrew because of His perceived conflict of interest like Dist 5 Supervisor Oneto did. If not, then vote with Dist. 1 (Escamilla) and Dist. 3 (Novelli) so that this issue does not plug up government for years fighting a losing battle.
This latest tactic of ‘threatening’ the Ione band, coupled with the fact that Mr. Boitano disingenuously claimed to “be” a native American (when clearly He is not) during a contentious debate in 2006 as to whether the Buena Vista Band could even “join” the local chamber of commerce leaves serious doubt in a cultured mind as to His racial and political motivations.
*( By The Way: I can not support him politically anymore.. )
Did You Know: At the turn of the Century, only 93 Me-Wuks officially survived the destruction that was brought on by the Anglican Invasion. Now, only about one thousand are living and breathing among Us all in the nearly “14 million Californians” now populating their ancient Homelands. When will Our abuses stop? When will We let these People live in Peace?
Next month, an in depth review of where the future of Amador County stands.
© 2008 Mike W. Boitano - All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without written permission.
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History of Amador County
Issues in Amador County
People of Amador County
Amador County - the year in review 2007
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