Glendale released the draft of an agreement with the Tohono O’odham (TO). Here is the link: http://www.glendaleaz.com/documents/SettlementAgreementDRAFT.pdf . The Arizona Republic has an August 7, 2014 article on the subject as well. Here is their link: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2014/08/06/glendale-council-casino-agreement-tohono-tribe/13680763/ .
The first question that arises is why the sudden rush to get this accomplished? Think about it. Councilmember Gary Sherwood is under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office over allegations of violations of the Open Meeting Law. What if it proves true? There is always the possibility that he could be removed from office. If that were to occur, poof…the coalition of 4 councilmembers could become a minority of 3. There goes the coalition driving Glendale’s Tohono O’odham train.
As Mayor Weiers said in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, why should one man, Gary Sherwood, who reneged on his anti-casino pledge to voters, be allowed to decide the fate of Glendale?
What is stranger still, there are Tribal law suits undecided and even if a decision is rendered, appeals are sure to follow. Legally this issue is far from being decided. Then there is legislation introduced by Senators McCain and Flake. Should the bill’s passage occur after the November General Election with the strong possibility of a Republican majority in the Senate, the TO are stopped in their tracks. Again, the question, why the rush?
Should we expect this issue to appear on the August 12, 2014 council meeting agenda? Remember all of the countless times Councilmember Alvarez has called for an issue to be decided by a vote of Glendale’s residents? Her silence in requesting a public vote on this issue is deafening. When an issue is going her way, as far as she is concerned there is no need for a public vote.
In an earlier blog I referred to educated and credible industry estimates of the kind of revenue that will be generated should such a casino be built in Glendale. The estimate is that the TO casino will net between $300 million and $350 million a year. Over 20 years the TO’s earnings from the proposed casino will be the stratosphere of $6 Billion. It’s a number that is mind boggling and nearly incomprehensible. And the TO, in a fit of generosity, are willing to give Glendale $26 million over 20 years? The Glendale City Council is now truly and certifiably nuts.
The draft agreement certainly favors the interests of the Tohono O’odham and not the City of Glendale. Look for the next blog to discuss the specifics of the draft agreement.
There has been so much deception and betrayal throughout this entire saga, not yet ended. The Tohono O’odham deceived and betrayed its Sister Tribes, the State of Arizona and the voters who approved the 2002 Compact. Councilmember Gary Sherwood deceived and betrayed his constituency by running on an anti-casino platform and then reversing his stance. Glendale is poised to betray the Tribes opposing the proposed casino, the State of Arizona, Arizona’s Congressional delegation, all of the region’s cities and most importantly, the people of Glendale…all for what? 30 pieces of gold.
© Joyce Clark, 2014
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Maybe the rush is that Sherwood feels he/CoG can influence the subcommittee’s decision because Glendale has approved and negotiated with the tribe? As you say, it is far from over. Million dollar question… Will the Tribe have the guts to start building even without this deal being done? If I were a betting man, I’d say yes.
I am Randy Miller and a candidate for council for the Glendale Barrel District. I want to try to explain my position on the casino and can’t think of a better place to post it first than at JoyceClarkUnfiltered.com
Knowing the popularity of the casino and what it will cost at the polls, why do I not support the casino? As anyone who knows me can tell you I struggled with this one. I do agree we need to stop spending much needed dollars fighting the tribe, others with a lot more cash and a lot fewer expenses will carry on that battle, but in truth, I really wanted the casino to be the “NEXT BIG THING” that would save Glendale. I tried to find great things to say about the 12% money, the tourism, the resort so we could hold the tourists…
I worried about sovereign immunity and lack of control over anything that happens on that site from day one, and the harder I dug the more I worried. The more I worried, the less I believed this casino was good for Glendale.
For one is that old tater about the winning of every case. They didn’t win, they claimed sovereign immunity forcing the court to drop the case. Diane Enos, President, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, is quoted before congress as saying, “Contrary to what Chairman Norris has asserted, the court had to dismiss the charges that the state of Arizona filed against Tohono O’odham of fraud, misrepresentation and promissory estoppel because they raised sovereign immunity defense.” Bet that won’t be the last time we hear that old chestnut.
Then there is the unfair competition with our sports and entertainment district. I won’t belabor the point here as Joyce did an excellent job in her earlier blog, but those restaurants have to pay taxes and abide by federal regulations, “the casino” does not. As for drawing business to the area, when was the last time you saw a restaurant advertised inside a casino that was not “inside the casino”?
Next for all the cholla residents who managed to defeat the bill boards, congratulations, now they’ll move south a few miles, now the Yucca District can be treated to them all night long. No 10pm curfew for them. Vegas style casinos don’t turn the lights off at 10pm, so if you live close by, get to Target or Walmart and get your blackout curtains before they are sold out.
And now, it seems we used the same negotiators that grabbed the Coyotes for Glendale and could not even negotiate a name change from Phoenix Coyotes to Glendale Coyotes, finally settling on the Arizona Coyotes. We are working on a deal that grants us 26 million dollars over 20 years. WHOOPIE!!! Projections are that the casino will NET 350 million plus dollars a year, and they graciously offer us 1 per year. We are even getting 2 million to promote tourism, how selfless…How will that ad read, “Come to Glendale, stay at our beautiful tax free casino, eat at their restaurants, sleep in their marvelous beds, Every room has blackout curtains and soundproofing so you won’t be disturbed…and if there is anything left over could you stop by our downtown area; Please?”
By the way folks, the Salt River Pima Maricopa community already contributes over a million dollars a year to Glendale. This year it was in the form of a new fire truck and a bunch of new police SUV’s.
As to Mr. Sherwoods promises about growth (with no names attached of course), as I said before, look at every casino in the valley, do you see businesses growing around them? I see land, lots of empty land.