Hood River News:

 

Mayor throws a twist into casino debate

March 19, 2008 By RAELYNN RICARTE News staff writer Hood River Mayor Linda Streich surprised Cascade Locks officials on Monday by weighing in against a tribal casino being built in their city — or anywhere else in the Gorge. Streich told Bureau of Indian Affairs officials that she wanted to “make it clear” where the Hood River City Council stood on the issue. She said recent media reports had erroneously listed the city among agencies backing the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs’ plan for Cascade Locks.

article continues: http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/2008/023_news_1.htm

...............................................................................................

Hood River News:

Casino plan timeline, 1998-2008

March 21, 2008 By RAELYNN RICARTE News staff writer The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs turned their eyes toward Hood River County as the site for a new casino in 1998. They were looking for a new revenue source to overcome the downturn in profits from their timber and hydroelectric industries. With cuts looming in social, education and health care programs, the tribes were determined to relocate their gaming operations from Kah-Nee-Tah High Desert Resort and Casino. The tribes currently net about $1 million in revenue each year from that facility, according to spokesperson Greg Leo. That gaming center is located in Central Oregon on the 644,000 acre reservation. The desert lands are home to nearly 4,000 American Indians from the Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute tribes. Tribal leaders decided in 1998 to move their casino to the Gorge, which was part of the territory the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs had ceded to the federal government under the Treaty of 1855. Although the tribes had relinquished 10 million acres, which included the Gorge, they had reserved the right to fish, hunt and gather roots and berries in the ceded areas. “We are making this decision for our well-being and survival, that’s the bottom line,” said Rudy Clements, the late casino liaison for the tribes...article continues: http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/2008/024_news_1.htm

---

Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard

Thanks Jane for this good news!  I am so glad that people seem to be waking up to the potential harm this casino could cause to the Gorge.  There will be so many reprocutions if it is allowed to proceed.  Some of the most unique flora and fauna in the world live in the gorge, including rare flowers and herps.  It is my understanding that there is a specific flower on one island in the Gorge that has the only 2 dozen plants of it's kind on earth.  Though I am not a flower expert by any means I certainly appreciate the delicate nature of these Gorge plants.

   Herps as well are in danger.  For example, salamanders are rapidly declining in numbers worldwide because of their extreme sensitivity to polution.  With up to 3 million more visiotors to the gorge annually, there will be serious consequences for salamanders of the Gorge.  Here is a photo of one of my favorite gorge salamanders, the Pacific Giant, one of the largest salamanders on earth.

This may be heresy on portlandhikers.org, but I want to go on record as saying I'm in FAVOR of letting the Warm Springs tribe build their casino in Cascade Locks. That used to be their land, long ago; then the river was dammed, all the natural falls disappeared, and they got exiled to the middle of nowhere in Central Oregon.

By far the most vocal opposition to the casino (and most of the money for the ad campaigns) is coming from the Grande Ronde tribes, who operate the Spirit Mountain Casino west of Salem and are simply worried about losing business to a casino closer to Portland; the Friends Of The Gorge benefits from their cynical P.R. machine, but I don't believe for a second that the Grande Ronde's concerns are rooted in environmental issues.

Meanwhile, the town of Cascade Locks -- which used to derive its livelihood from the timber industry -- is suffering from massive unemployment and has a huge empty parcel of land sitting vacant with a sign on it saying "Welcome Warm Springs."  Yes, it's important to protect the Gorge, but I'm also worried about all the people, both native and white, who've been screwed so many times and just want to build a better future for their communities.

---

adamschneider.net
www.gpsvisualizer.com

Adam, it's not heresy at all to state your opinion!  However, I feel you are deeply wrong on this issue.  It is not a matter of who has the "right" to the land.  It's a matter of preserving it for future generations.  Their proposal will possibly cause the extinction of several gorge plant species and possibly salamander populations, dramatically increase the acid rain the Gorge is experiencing, cause road and trailside litter to sky-rocket, and ruin the preservation attempts for the surrounding wilderness regions.

   The ancestors of the Warm Springs tribes would probably be ashamed, disappointed, and embarrassed by this proposal.  It seeks to rape the land for a profit - exactly what happened in the past when they were forced off of it. 

   As for the town of Cascade Locks, it is close enough to Portland, Hood River, Troutdale, etc... that residents have employment opportunities nearby.  They ARE NOT dependant upon this heinous potential casino for livelihood.  That town today services outdoorsman and fishermen, and their business to support conservation could bloom should the Gorge become more preserved, and potentially even a National Park.  And for the reservation, they already have a casino.  Perhaps they should look into other avenues of revenue, and begin to consider their actions and how they will impact the land for generations to come.  Or perhaps they could put another casino on their land.  Cascade Locks will require a long commute both ways for their residents to work there. (Just as long as Cascade Locks residents to commute to Portland!)

   Using the land for purely financial gain is never the only answer! (Especially in a place as incredibly precious as the Gorge.)

-Zach

Adam, I agree with you wholeheartedly. While I support the environment and the historic nature of the Gorge, this is a proposal that does little to harm either.

In this proposal, they are seeking to turn abandoned industrial land into a tourist mecca. This is land that was used for lumber production for decades, if not a century. While I'm sure the construction and operation of the mill caused environmental harm, the conversion of an already damaged, currently empty parcel of land isn't going to damage the relatively pristine parts of the Gorge.

I have to admit, I don't understand the thought processes of some detractors. This is a facility that will attract gamblers and resort oriented people, mostly from urban Portland. These people typically aren't really the hiking type. I really doubt that the presence of a casino is going to increase hiking traffic at Eagle Creek or Wahclella Falls. Who knows, it might even decrease hikers at Multnomah Falls, the one site this kind of people seem to visit. The proposed casino is on land currently zoned as industrial, where other companies could build “dirtier” industries with less need for approval processes.

On the other hand, I do understand the motivation of the largest opponent to the project, the Grande Ronde Tribe. Construction of this facility will certainly reduce their casino revenues at Spirit Mountain. Their main argument of “one tribe-one casino” is mute, since the Warm Springs Tribe will be closing Kah-nee-Ta, leaving them with one casino. Their second argument, that this would be Oregon’s first “off reservation casino” is self-serving, as well, since the Grande Ronde Tribe used the same exact government process to add land to their reservation, before they built Spirit Mountain. The other major contributor is the campaign against the casino is the Oregon Restaurant Association. Their interest here is protecting the income of their members that run video poker machines.

As I understand the proposal, the Warm Springs tribe basically wants to build a casino similar to Chinook Winds. The casino is proposed for an existing urban area, just like Chinook Winds at Lincoln City. Like the Gorge, the Oregon Coast environment is host to many endangered plants and animals and habitat destruction is an important concern. Still, I've yet to hear of a species becoming extinct or going into decline due to Chinook Winds.

Since most of the new travelers will be urban people traveling to a fancy resort, they aren't going to get out of their cars much in between. The primary negative effect on the environment of the Gorge is going to be more automobile traffic. The casino proposal includes a new freeway interchange and I-84 in the area has significant extra capacity, so congestion will be negligible. The extra exhaust, of course, will have environmental effects.

On the plus side for the environment, a percentage of the profits will be set aside for salmon conservation and habitat restoration. The tribes also agree in the proposal to give up their existing rights to build on a different, more remote area of land adjacent to the Historic Highway Trail, east of Hood River. They will give 175 acres to the state as an environmental area. This area is currently used by hikers and bicyclists.

To me, this proposal is dramatically different than the Broughton proposal. At Broughton, the landowners are seeking to build a resort in an area that is generally recreational. Even if that recreation is generally river oriented, it still impacts the nature and character of the area in a way detrimental to the environment and existing social use. In Cascade Locks, the land is pretty much forgotten and there will be no negative effect on existing use, as there is none. The effect on the environment can be debated, but personally, but perhaps the debate could be centered on mass transit (rail anyone?).
.
Links: City of Cascade Locks

Environmental Impact Statement

No Gorge Casino (a group against the casino)

---

What do you suppose is around that next bend?

Well as long as we're going to throw our two cents in on this issue here's mine... 

If there is going to be a casino, build it in Portland, or better yet make it a riverboat. There it will be served by mass transit so out of town visitors will never have to use a car to get there. The infrastructure (restaurants, hotels, parking, etc.) is already in place to handle the crowds. There is no reason to spoil the Gorge.

 And most importantly, change the Oregon Constitution and have a major Nevada type casino company run the place so it benefits ALL Oregonians, not just a specific segment of them that has been treated badly in the past. Otherwise why couldn't you make the same arguement for timber towns that have had their entire way of living changed by Government regulations? 

And I'm writing this as someone who has enjoyed (well not always) gambling my entire life. But I will rarely step foot in one of our casinos. There is no atmosphere and they are no fun compared to a real casino. There's a huge difference.

 

Now I'm going to throw a monkey wrench into the whole mess which will surely ruffle some feathers.  We need to ask ourselves WHY this particular industry?  Why is it the tribes want to build casinos as opposed to some other industry.  It should be obvious - this is the way to make revenue.  Money talks.  So, if you're really opposed to the casino, here or anywhere else, perhaps you should consider not feeding the beast.  To some of you, of course this doesn't apply, but as long as they can see that other casinoes bring in great revenue, that's where they will look for more revenue.  So to anyone who is against the casino, you have to remember that it must be shown that casinoes in general won't bring in the money which is the motivation behind all this.  In other words, vote with your money.

Would you protest the environmental hazards, inhumanity, etc. of cattle farming while eating a Big Mac?

---

And the Lord said, "Escape to the mountains." Gen. 19:17.

I don't know if that's the right comparison. After all, if the casino isn't built the Gorge will still exist whereas if there was no Big Mac (or beef industry) there would probably be no (need for the) cattle. They don't make for cheap pets.

There's also that 10% or so of the state budget that comes from the Oregon lottery. All the money that disappears from local lottery play into that casino will need to be made up for with cuts in services or raises in fees and/or taxes. So one way or another, some of your money will go there.

    Just wanted to chime in and say I enjoyed hearing some dissenting opions in this thread from hiking types, very interesting and unexpected. 

Although I disagree strongly, it's good to see a discussion

---

Andy

Wow interesting thread !

If the question were "should Native Americans be given exclusive right to fish the Columbia River?"

my answer would be a resounding Yes. But after hearing from some actual Native Americans speak on the casino issue I am inclined to say NO. This is what I was told. The profits from these places gets parsed out something like this.

%60 Bally's

%20 Gov.

%18 Private individuals.

%2 The people who are being advertised as the beneficiary's, Reservation dwellers.

So this question is more honestly stated like this.

Should a bunch of rich white folks be allowed to profit from the further degradation of one of our nations greatest natural resources so they can line their pockets while pretending to give a rats hindquarters about Native Americans? I am guessing that if this question was put plainly to the general populace the answer would be a resounding NO.

Maybe not. But I sincerely hope so.

Come to think of it. If The Natives were getting the %60 from the warm springs operation that Bally's is now taking, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

---

Everybodys got somthing to hide......Except for me and my monkey!

Do you have a source for that?

Be careful about throwing around numbers: you seem to have cited the percentages of REVENUE, not the percentages of PROFITS.  There's a huge difference.  All business ventures, tribal or otherwise, have a tremendous amount of overhead, and in this case, yes, a big chunk of that would go to a management company; that's hardly a scandal.

---

adamschneider.net
www.gpsvisualizer.com

There is a program on KBOO produced by Native Americans. This information came from a speaker on that program. They sometimes archive their programming, so you might ask KBOO if you would like more info.

---

Everybodys got somthing to hide......Except for me and my monkey!

Comments and opinions from different references and experiences are expected. Please also direct your concerns where it will have not a vote, but a heard impact:

Continue researching on your own, and also the draft E.I.S. http://www.gorgecasinoeis.com/draft_eis.html

and submit your comments by May 15th! : http://www.gorgecasinoeis.com/co/comment_form.html

 

---

Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard

Steve,

   I'm afraid your analysis is wrong.  Decrease hikers at Mult falls etc.? Do you really believe that with an additional 3,000,000 people driving by it in 1,000,000 more vehicles yearly, it will receive less traffic? 

   And comparing a casino on the coast with one in the Gorge is not reasonable.  A coastal environment does not have the issue of car exhaust being trapped by low clouds in a large canyon.  The Gorge is a unique environment, and deserves protection and appreciation, not exploitation.

   Forget the politics involved, putting a casino in the Gorge is wrong, and it is not the only revenue solution in the world.

 

THURSDAY, MAY 15 IS THE LAST DAY YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE PROPOSED GORGE CASINO!

Every comment is important and all opinions, feelings, suggestions, and observations will be carefully read and considered. Comments received by Thursday, May 15, 2008 will be considered during preparation of a final Environmental Impact Statement.

You can send an email letter today : http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5111/t/1543/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=150

or here: http://www.gorgecasinoeis.com/co/comment_form.html

 

There has been much heart-felt discussion in the above thread, and you can read more information here: http://www.gorgecasinoeis.com/  . Please take a moment today to think about this issue and how it could forever change the Columbia River Gorge, your voices will be heard,

Thank you,

Jane 

 

 

---

Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard