Tuesday, August 20, 2024 The Lytton Rancheria of California commends Governor Gavin Newsom for his letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), urging them to halt progress on the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project (Koi Nation of Northern California) in Sonoma County and the Scotts Valley Casino and Tribal Housing Project (Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians) in Solano County.
Governor Newsom’s letter amplifies the widespread concerns voiced by tribal governments, elected officials, and local communities, reflecting a significant lack of support for these proposed casino projects. In his letter, the Governor’s Office raises issues with the DOI’s departure from established procedures and safeguards that tribes typically follow when seeking to restore tribal land and establish gaming operations. The letter also underscores worries about the potential expansion of gaming onto land not currently eligible for tribal gaming and points out that the proposed sites for both projects lie far outside the historical territories of the Koi Nation and Scotts Valley Band.
The letter states that Governor Newsom is, “concerned that these specific projects are proceeding in a manner that would sidestep the State, ignore the concerns of tribal governments and other local communities, and stretch the “restored lands” exception beyond its legal limits – while failing to adequately consider whether there might be a better way.” “We thank Governor Gavin Newsom for voicing his concerns about the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project and the Scotts Valley Casino and Tribal Housing Project,” said Lytton Rancheria Tribal Chairperson Andy Mejia . “Unfortunately, these two projects are being recklessly advanced in an unprecedented way without important safeguards – which could have disastrous consequences for the local environment and surrounding communities.
Both of these projects are opposed by the native peoples actually indigenous to these sites and supported by tribes from outside Solano and Sonoma Counties.” The proposed Koi Nation project is opposed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the Windsor Town Council, state Senator Mike McGuire, Congressman Jared Huffman, Congressman Mike Thompson, and Senator Alex Padilla. Similarly, the proposed Scotts Valley Band project faces opposition from Solano County, Congressman John Garamendi, and Senator Alex Padilla.
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