In California, an
American Indian tribe that
owns no land to date, wants
to turn a large parking lot
located outside Oakland
International Airport into a
casino resort in bustling
area of the San Francisco
Bay.
The tribe involved, the
Lower Lake Rancheria Koi
Nation, is facing an uphill
climb. The tribe is one of
many in line to compete for
the right to build casinos
in the Bay Area, an area
where a large amount of
communities are concerned
that gambling facilities
will cause heavier traffic,
create crime and damage
delicate ecosystems.
Already, two tribes have
started talks regarding
casinos in western Contra
Costa County, located
northeast of the city of San
Francisco. Additional tribes
have planned gaming
facilities in the Oakland
area, but the Koi
development has involved the
most interest to date.
Everyone of these already
existing proposals could be
stopped by a deal signed in
August by the governor to
permit the Lytton Band of
Pomo Indians to construct a
casino in San Pablo that
would include 2,500 slot
machines, a dozen miles
north of Oakland. That deal,
if it is approved by the
state Legislature, would
give the Lytton tribe the
sole right to operate slot
machines for a radius of 35
miles.
