Larry wrote on Aug 10, 2007 6:33 AM:There is no reason 176 people need to have this much of an affect on the area. Greed is the only reason this monster is being built. These facilities suck money from the overall community and return few benefits.

Casino Patron wrote on Aug 10, 2007 7:01 AM:When did the Pauma Casino loose it's ability to prosper? Seems as though they've been steadily raking in the profits since they opened. Greed is the motivation for their desire to expand.

Steve wrote on Aug 10, 2007 8:28 AM:Just what we need another hotel casino to RIP people off daily of millions Of hard earned dollars. Legalized stealing is all they do.

Use local resources wrote on Aug 10, 2007 9:48 AM:Where do they plan to purchase their aggregate for the construction phase? Are we going to have more gravel trucks clogging up the 15 through Norco, Corona, LE, Wildomar, Murrieta, & Temecula? Check the report to see how many calculated emissions will come from the delivery trucks. Outsourceing simply isn't effiecient, and over burdens neighboring communities.

Pauma Tribe wrote on Aug 10, 2007 9:55 AM:Its unfortunate, people can only claim "greed" as the primmary motivation for the expansion. A tribe is a family, and this tribe has chosen to take of their family members and future family members by venturing into a succssfull business. I wish commentators would be honest and say what motivates them to write such horrible words-pure jealousy.

No Way Jose wrote on Aug 10, 2007 10:28 AM:Roads first, not just a hack job either. Fix it for a 30 year forecast, and fix it FIRST. No reason we have to suffer for 176 people to line their pockets.

Local wrote on Aug 10, 2007 10:45 AM:You can't deny that the resort project will have a significant positive economic impact-- from jobs to business with vendors, etc. It seems like they are working well with the county to mitigate traffic and other concerns. Casino revenues support tribal health care, education, senior care, etc. and the larger community. I think there's just no satisfying the critics. Maybe they just liked it the way it before -- when indians were poor, lacked opportunity and were pushed into the rocks.

Discrimination wrote on Aug 10, 2007 1:08 PM:This is discrimination to the max. Casinos only on Reservations? This should be opened up and made legal to anyone and anywhere. For the Native Americans to have a monopoly on California gambling is wrong. We need to legailize and tax so we can take care of our poor and lower taxes. At the same time send the illegals packing, get the tax and spend Dems out of office and we could get back to a prosperous state in no time.

Greed or real care? wrote on Aug 10, 2007 1:24 PM:Seems like opposite views. 176 member tribe pay ONE BILLION DOLLARS to the state just for licensing EVERY YEAR? Where will that 1 billion dollars come from? I'm no good at math, but if you split ONE BILLION dollars amongst the 176 tribe members, what would each get? Certainly hundreds of times more $ than most of us earn by working 8 a.m.-5 p.m. What do these tribe members do each day? Maybe they are poor cause the spend every dollar at the casino? A revolving door of poverty? And they have another 300 MILLION to build more? Does it really cost this much to 'meet the needs' of 176 people? They have free land, free social services, etc. I just don't get it? Thought these were humble folks, not glitzy flashing light casino builders or tycoons? And yes, to one poster, maybe there is some jealousy involved for some: it's called 'when can I get medical care too?'

Resident wrote on Aug 10, 2007 9:28 PM:I wish I was #177

Ralph wrote on Aug 11, 2007 10:44 AM:Notwithstanding the frothy enthusiasm for this project reported by Randolph Baker, chair of the Sycuan Institute of Tribal Gaming at San Diego State University, the gaming market in the area of this new casino is becoming saturated, as would be the case in the Coachella Valley if the compact amendments for Morongo and Agua Caliente survive a referendum campaign. The tribes fully understand that in the case of the Coachella Valley, a major expansion at Morongo and Agua Caliente has a good chance of driving Cabazon out of business and possibly 29 Palms as well. The Pala Band understands its market as largely driven by overflow from Pechanga. Pala understands that nearly quadrupling the slots at Pechanga will significantly and perhaps catastrophically reduce revenues at Pala's casino. The same could be said of Pauma, which shares market area with Pala. Indian gaming has begun a new phase of destructive competition in which the better located casinos will expand and marginalize the others. The four compact amendments recently approved by the Governor and Legislature for Pechanga, Morongo, Agua Caliente, and Sycuan, but principally the first three, will likely have a devastating effect on their competitors, because unlike prior compacts, there is no built-in disincentive to fully deploying all authorized slots. Most tribes fully understand this, but the casino arms race continues unabated, because there is easy money available to fund casinos. After a couple go broke, that may not continue to be the case, however.

Ralph wrote on Aug 11, 2007 10:48 AM:Notwithstanding the frothy enthusiasm for this project reported by Randolph Baker, chair of the Sycuan Institute of Tribal Gaming at San Diego State University, the gaming market in the area of this new casino is becoming saturated, as would be the case in the Coachella Valley if the compact amendments for Morongo and Agua Caliente survive a referendum campaign. The tribes fully understand that in the case of the Coachella Valley, a major expansion at Morongo and Agua Caliente has a good chance of driving Cabazon out of business and possibly 29 Palms as well. The Pala Band understands its market as largely driven by overflow from Pechanga. Pala understands that nearly quadrupling the slots at Pechanga will significantly and perhaps catastrophically reduce revenues at Pala's casino. The same could be said of Pauma, which shares market area with Pala. Indian gaming has begun a new phase of destructive competition in which the better located casinos will expand and marginalize the others. The four compact amendments recently approved by the Governor and Legislature for Pechanga, Morongo, Agua Caliente, and Sycuan, but principally the first three, will likely have a devastating effect on their competitors, because unlike prior compacts, there is no built-in disincentive to fully deploying all authorized slots. Most tribes fully understand this, but the casino arms race continues unabated, because there is easy money available to fund casinos. After a couple go broke, that may not continue to be the case, however.

Another Pauma Local wrote on Aug 11, 2007 12:36 PM:Clearly they can do what they want. If this is what they want to do, go forth and prosper. What strikes me as odd is that with the income generated off the casinos, I do not see any improvements to their housing or way of life. I see dirt poor people all over the area. I see native americans living in sub standard housing, I see gang members and crack heads all over. How come the elders do not take the money and re-invest in education and housing and the local community? How come the kids do not get super educations off the reservation? I am certain some do, but it "appears" that the vast majority do not. One thing I do see, which I find very odd, is that they seem to buy Cadillac SUVs and "pimp them out"....if it wasn't so sad, it would be funny... Lastly, not spending lots of money on the 76 is b.s. People die on that road due to the traffic and drunks leaving the casinos. I refuse to allow my family and friends to drive at night on the 76.

Don H wrote on Aug 12, 2007 2:34 AM:Any one of you that consider the Pauma Band greedy must be blinded by jealousy. Think about it: 176 members. My family alone is larger than that! That's all that's left of their people! It's easy to say that "the white man" can't be blamed for indescretions in the past, but when your family is down to 176 people, it is obvious that it is still suffering. The money that these people are making give them an opportunity to rebuild their culture and family, while preserving what little they have left. I may not agree with the type of business, but I am glad that all of the local tribes finally have a chance for a breath of fresh air after generations of poverty and abuse. Have you ever been on their reservations? I've had the opportunity. Until you can see the conditions in which they lived, (and some still live that way, perhaps because it is the only way they knew), you will never understand why these casinos are so important to their previously fading culture. To "Another Pauma Local" - what you don't see are the programs that triabl governments have put in place for the children of the tribes. These children have wonderful educational opportunities. The results will be evident when this up and coming generation of children mature into successful adults. It bothers me that none of you complainers had anything to say about tribal conditions prior to the casinos. Now that they have a chance for a better future, suddenly it becomes unfair to you. You complain about the roads you use to travel through their country, but you never thought to complain about how they lived in third world conditions within our country. The rest of us are the cause of the "crack heads all over"- we didn't care.

To Don H: wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:10 PM:Well said. There was simply no interest in "poor" Native Americans when they had nothing. Now that they have an opportunity to pull themselves up, they are labeled as greedy, discriminating, and a burden to off reservation resources. It's sickening!

Pauma Resident wrote on Aug 20, 2007 2:45 AM:I have witnessed and driven by too many fatal accidents to remember the count on highway 76. The percentage of these accidents has gone up over 3000% since the casinos opened up. I have spoken with CDF and paramedics who respond to these accidents. Most are the result of sleeplessness. People stay up all night on a gambling "high" then leave only to "crash". This new report spoke of over 4000 more cars a day! I am dumbfounded and fear for the lives of my children driving on these roads that were once all our "hometown" roads. I travel at the speed limit on my "main street" and am constantly passed by speeders making their way through our 'Hometown". I have been cut off by those big casino cattle buses at the intersection of VC road and 76 and called in to the casinos to protest. At the same intersection I have to brake, honk, swerve around and fear casino patrons much to often who pull out in front of me as I travel to and from my home. I am not happy about more traffic to congest and endanger Pauma Valley locals. I won't start with the increase of crime, drugs and alcohol that have been evident as well since the casinos have opened. It all has addictive behavioural connections with many. Check the sherriff and CHP reports weekly and see the armed robberies, theft, burgleries, vandelisms, accidents, medical responses, etc. I hear the sirens multiple times everyday going up and down the highway. The blood of the dead cries out from the Pauma Valley dirt.

To Pauma Resident: wrote on Aug 20, 2007 5:44 PM:Move then. The Indians were there before you!