Today, October 15, 2013 the city council at a workshop session will discuss relations with the Tohono O’odham. I received this email from: info@keepingthepromiseaz.com, a site sponsored by all of the Tribes in Arizona that oppose the proposed casino. I thought it was worthy of passing on to my blog readers. I share the Tribes’ point of view and support their efforts wholeheartedly.
“Our communities are under threat of permanent damage by the Tohono O’odham Nation’s planned casino. The tribe from Southern Arizona wants to expand casino gambling outside the boundaries of their reservation. If they are successful, casinos, which Arizonans have voted overwhelmingly to keep on traditional reservation lands, could find their way into the hearts of our neighborhoods.
Using a flawed study, the Tohono O’odham have made absurd promises about their mega-casino’s economic impact. One certainty? Building a casino amid a residential neighborhood will have an impact … a negative, destructive impact.
Here are the facts on this new casino smack in the middle of a neighborhood, as determined by Elliot Pollack, one of Arizona’s leading economists:
- The casino would need additional water, wastewater, and traffic infrastructure upgrades that could cost Glendale millions.
- The City would be required to construct a new fire station costing $14.6 million.
- Additional police officers would cost a reported $950,903 each year.
- Fire fighters annual operation and maintenance cost would increase by $2.8 million annually.
How can you help protect our City?
Please contact Glendale City Council now and tell them say NO to a mega-casino resort in Glendale, located amid homes, schools and churches.
- Ask them to stand up and protect Glendale, our neighborhoods and the promise of Tribal Gaming in Arizona. Ask them to keep casinos to traditional tribal lands and keep the promise of no additional casinos in the Phoenix area.”
At a time when the city budget is remains under stress additional costs to provide infrastructure and public safety for a proposed casino cannot be accommodated unless residents’ services are cut even further. I understand the motivations of those who support the TO’s proposed casino. Because of Glendale’s financial problems they are quick to believe that this casino will solve Glendale’s financial woes. It may provide a limited number of short term construction jobs but it provides no on-going revenue streams to the city. They are willing to trade short-term gain for long-term pain. This proposed casino will do more to destroy the fabric of Glendale than any other action in recent memory.
Here are the email addresses of members of the Glendale City Council. Email them today…now…
Mayor Weiers at jweiers@glendaleaz.com
Vice Mayor Knaack at yknaack@glendaleaz.com
Councilmember Martinez at mmartinez@glendaleaz.com
Councilmember Hugh at ihugh@glendaleaz.com
Councilmember Sherwood at gsherwood@glendaleaz.com
Councilmember Alvarez at nalvarez@glendaleaz.com
Councilmember Chavira at schavira@glendaleaz.com
© Joyce Clark, 2013
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I wrote council last evening letting them know what I think about this casino. I still believe that if other cities are in support of it so much, why aren’t they willing to offer up land to build it? Because the know how much it would cost them. “Let Glendale pick up the tab, and maybe our citizens can reap the rewards.”
According to CM Chivira, he received 2000 emails in support of the casino and only a handful against.
Did you not hear Councilmember Martinez when he said they were form, rote emails coming from outside Glendale….Avondale, Phoenix, out of state?
I missed that comment from Manny. But I did notice that the story on ABC15 made mention of the 2000+ emails in favor.
ABC15 covered the story at 4pm yesterday (while the meeting was still in session) and stated that the City Council would be voting on supporting this project. I wrote to their newsdesk and advised them that this was a workshop…a place where City Staff presents information requested by the council so they can determine next steps. Voting is only allowed at open public meetings like the City Council meetings. (They did change the story line to say workshop but still continued to make it sound like the council is now in favor of the casino.)
How dare you judge this complex situation based upon one side of the story. The Tohono O’odham have been granted the land as part of replacement lands that were flooded by the U.S government. Therefore the land is theirs to do with what they want. They are also allowed per the gaming compact to open one additional casino. They are in the right. They will help bring life back to the west valley. They will offer financial support to the city of glendale. All of the other tribes are only concerned about protecting their profit. It has nothing to do with caring about citizens. They are greedy & poisonous. They are trying to brainwash the public into thinking they give a damn. Push forward Tohono O’odham. Keep the ball rolling. 12 straight court rulings in favor.
I dare to comment on this situation based upon the extensive knowledge I acquired as a councilmember representing the district into which the proposed casino would be sited. I appreciate your viewpoint but I fear it mimics the TO company line and does not reflect the facts. Due to the federal dam construction that led to flooding of TO land, the Gila River Indian Land Replacement Act was passed to allow the TO the right to purchase land in Pima or Maricopa Counties. Even Senator McCain has stated that the intent was to allow the purchase of land in non-urbanized areas and not within municipalities. Ned Norris, President of the TO, stumped for passage of the state Gaming Compact in 2002. Yes, the TO are allowed one more casino but they knew that all the tribes (including the TO) promised that the number of casinos (in Maricopa County) would be limited to 7 and located outside the Phoenix Metropolitan area. The TO has been granted PROVISIONAL reservation status of the land in Glendale by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They, too, are waiting for the outcome of litigation before they will make a final determination.
If final reservation status is granted, the TO will pay NO federal, state, county or city tax. Glendale will have to make major investments in public safety and transportation and perhaps even water, with no means of reimbursement. The costs will fall on the backs of Glendale taxpayers. Glendale receives no financial benefit and instead will see unfair competition from the casino and its amenities for those businesses in the area that DO pay taxes. What is so bloody fair about that?
Everyone claims that the other tribes are fighting the casino because they are greedy. Not so. Has it occurred to you that the state compact comes up for renewal by the voters? Do you honestly think the voters of this state will approve a mutually agreeable gaming compact after they have seen one of the tribes violate its intent? I think not and I expect it will be used by those in opposition to gaming.
As for the court rulings, there are still decisions pending. It “ain’t over until the fat lady sings” and there may be a chorus or two that we’ve not heard — especially if in national mid-term elections the Republicans take over a senate majority. By the way, don’t forget Representative Trent Franks’ bill is still out there and not dead.