Randy wrote on Sep 30, 2007 1:07 AM:Why expand Pechanga? Tribal members gross $30,000 monthly!

Roy wrote on Sep 30, 2007 9:21 AM:How about going a few steps further and ending Indian gaming in California altogether. The unregulated tribal gaming scam is doing way more social and financial damage to Californians than the employment and tax revenue it supplies to the State. All of you gamblers should not trust any of those casinos. As I said above they are unregulated and are self policed. At least in Nevada the Nevada Gaming Commission actively and frequently inspects onsite gambling activities. Here in California an Indian casino can change odds on the fly to increase their revenue and has no worry in the world that a higher auuthority will catch them. If Pechanga did not like its revenue last week or last month it can change easily change the odds on its machines to increase revenue at the expense of a fair return to gamblers. If taken a step further one can even question whether other onsite gambling activities can be manipulated in favor of the house. THERE IS NO HIGHER AUTHORITY POLICING THEM. Can gamblers trust that California casinos cannot fall prey to increased greed and self police themselves? I DON'T THINK SO!

Roby wrote on Sep 30, 2007 9:34 AM:Of course this will make it on the ballot. If you have TONS of MONEY to throw at gathering signatures when most people will sign a petition when asked (even though they don't UNDERSTAND what they are signing), what else would you expect? Further, I believe this measure has a good chance of passing & here's why: those backing this should FOCUS on recent events...like Arnold's pull back of funds generated by the Casinos. Rather than let our LOCAL governments use this money to help midigate LOCAL problems (traffic, crime...to name a few) that are directly related to the casinos, Arnold decides to take that money AWAY from the LOCALS to use it for who knows what. IS there ANYTHING in the pacts to GUAREENTEE that won't happen again? I doubt it.

Oppose the agreements wrote on Sep 30, 2007 10:12 AM:Not voters could decide, voters should decide. It's about time reason should prevail. Vote to repeal the agreements made behind closed doors. California's future should not be planned and financed using gambling dollars. Get the politicians out of tribal pockets. Let California voters decide our future, not special interests.

open up gaming wrote on Sep 30, 2007 11:18 AM:Escondido should have it's own casino downtown [ keep the money in town, and the jobs, while cutting some of the traffic going up and down the hill ]

Open up Gaming wrote on Sep 30, 2007 12:56 PM:Open up gaming across the board. Make California just like Nevada. The only sin in Sin City is tha Californians that go there never benefit from the money they leave there. California needs to legalize gaming under a shared profit agreement regardless of race!

linda wrote on Sep 30, 2007 2:15 PM:they forgot about all poor indian`s they think about getting rich help all the indain`s with out casino`s some or all live on trible tanf they have to suffer thru these day`s like before with $800... amonth & rent is $700.00 help all indian`s with ouy casino`s

GOLF COURSE IS DONE! wrote on Sep 30, 2007 4:27 PM:Wake up NC Times. Drive down Pechanga Parkway and you'll see the golf course is finished! The tribe didn't negotiate with the city before the golf course was finished. And guess what, the only route to the freeway, across tribal land, is now gONE - COVERED BY THE GOLF COURSE. Where's all that traffic going to go once it leaves the freeway?? It's going to be even more of a nightmare than it is right now. NO EXPANSION!

navy 1 star wrote on Sep 30, 2007 4:57 PM:why should indians have a monoply on casino gaming. open it up to all who can aford it.let all bissness put in slots if they want to.

Jim wrote on Sep 30, 2007 5:04 PM:These comments are outrageous. These agreements provide BILLIONS of dollars to the state for education, health care, transportation and safety. BILLIONS that no Californian will have to pay through taxes. Don't make my taxes go up when there is a surefire way to pay for needed State services for FREE staring us ALL right in the face with these new compacts. WAKE UP!!

To Jim wrote on Sep 30, 2007 6:34 PM:Weren't we promised the same thing for the State lottery? Where in the pacts does it say the money is GUARENTEED (it's NOT, the payments to the State EXPIRE after 23 years....so what happens in 2030)? Where in the pacts does it say WHAT the money will be used for? I can't find this information. Do you KNOW for a FACT that the money will actually be spent on education, health care, transportation & safety or will it just go into the State's General Fund (like the gas tax we currently pay that we THOUGHT would be spent on transportation & NOT diverted to other things)? While I don't agree with why the unions oppose the expansion of these casinos, I also do not believe that the pacts are in the best interest of California taxpayers.

Roberto1 wrote on Sep 30, 2007 6:55 PM:Build planned gaming resorts on the California side of the stateline. Its about time our 35 million population flexed its muscle.

Mike wrote on Sep 30, 2007 8:18 PM:Nobody is making people go to these casinos and gamble. If they want to lose their money let them. Native Americans have every right to get money by using their land how ever they want. The state akes money no matter what so who cares. Traffic is the only issue and the cities should make those deals.

Roy wrote on Sep 30, 2007 8:20 PM:Jim we don't care how much revenue gooes to the state. The gambling here is out of control and is unregulated. Either regulate it and police it or open it up to the rest of the state and regulate it and police it but this monopoly that exists should be stopped in its tracks and maybe even ended.

Jim wrote on Sep 30, 2007 9:42 PM:Mike hit it right on the money. Native Americans are nations unto themselves. We put them on their reservation and told them to stay there or be killed. In return they get to do what they want with their land. We have no say over what they do...it's their land. I live on a lot that I am sure was once their land too before it was forceably removed from them. If they can enter into an agreement with the state of California, where you and I live, where they give us lots of money, then let's take the deal. They could fold up the tent and live with their current deal and give us NOTHING. The gambling isn't "out of control" as Roy says. Things seem to be going well out at Pechanga and Pala. I actually enjoy having a place to go see a good show or eat a good meal too. Seems like a good deal all around to me...lower my taxes, pay for urgent state programs, and provide me with an option for entertainment if I want it. Case closed.

Splixx wrote on Sep 30, 2007 10:44 PM:For me at least it all comes down to one simple fact. Californians allowed gaming with Prop 1A to help pull California Indians out of poverty and to help them get off government assistance. You have 5 of the wealthiest tribes trying to get even richer. Why? They do not need any more money, their people are no longer poor. Whether or not this will provide more money to the state should be irrelavant. Only a small minority of California Indians benefit from Casino's, if these tribes think their areas can handle more slots then they should invite poor tribes to come in and build next to them and take a piece of that casino. These wealthy tribes should have to partner with a poor tribe in order to exand. At least that way the state could get its money and at least 5 poor tribes would have a chance to get off government assistance. Sounds pretty win/win to me. 5 poor tribes are helped, the 5 wealthy tribes make a bit more money and the state and the taxpayers get a break too. Oh well, just my opinion on the matter.

To Randy wrote on Sep 30, 2007 11:15 PM:You write, "Why expand Pechanga? Tribal members gross $30,000 monthly!" I say to you, "Why buy Microsoft products. Bill Gates is worth over $56 Billion!" See the hypocracy if not flat out racism?

Will wrote on Oct 1, 2007 4:53 AM:Non-Indians took all of California's resources from the Indians and have squandered them. Now that the resources are almost gone they have their sights on the Indians again. Don't blame us for your mismanagement. Why we should give the state any money is beyond me. We as Indians suffer the ignorance of the masses and the ill advice of bad attorneys.-

Patrick wrote on Oct 1, 2007 9:58 AM:The fact is that tribes that have casinos give a lot of money to the state and the local governments, plus donate a lot to charity, and give money to tribes without casinos. The simple fact is most people that don't want this expansion don't want it for their own personal reasons. The Unions want in so the can leach off the tribes, and the race tracks are mad they can't have slots, and many citizen are jealous and don't want the Indians to be wealthy. Most of these people don't think about what Indians have lost. They have lost their land, much of their culture, and their rights for many years. Someone above mentioned that they are only a small minority, and the reason for that is because many of them were killed when whites move into the area and violently forced them off their land. It is only recently that Indians have had an opportunity to improve their life; from the 1920s-1970s Indians had few human rights, and before that you could receive a bounty for killing an Indian. It amazes me that people have such little tolerance and compassion for others that have suffered.-

Roy wrote on Oct 1, 2007 11:51 AM:Jim read what Splix wrote and understand that we are talking about a few wealthy tribes asking to get richer. Some of these tribes have kicked members out to enrichen further those that are left.Just ask John Gomez how he feels about this issue. Jim this issue is more important than "entertainment." The present initiative should be shot down because it favors the wealthy few and does nothing to improve the majority of Indians in California. The only way Indian gaming should be allowed to expand is if, as Splix pointed out, more Indians directly benefit. Also as I said it should not be expanded unless there is a real authority overseeing California gaming activities with the same or more enforcement powers as the nevada Gaming Commission. So Jim the case is not closed. Indian gaming as on the iniative should be shot down.-

Truth wrote on Oct 1, 2007 12:20 PM:Unregulated Roy?! The fact is that indian tribes with casinos are probably more regulated than Nevada. They have regulation from the State with even more oversight by the State with these new compacts. They have oversight and regulation by the National Indian Gaming Commission AND their own Tribal Gaming Commissions who's regulation are usually even more stringent than the other two. The State is the one with no regulation. Why fault the tribes for the States negligence in disbursing the money that is given to them through taxes and donations by the tribes. People like Roy try to give people misinformation and don't even try to see the other side of the story. Like some of the other posters have said, there is no thought to when these tribes had nothing and lived off of welfare and federal and state grants. These grants came at the expense of our tax dollars. Now that they can make their own money and have some self respect not being supported by others you try to knock them down. I've rad that the native americans are the smallest minority in America and yet the largest majority in our armed forces, give them respect for their devotion to you as protectors of all of our freedom and loyalty to this nation that subjucated them and forced them to live on tiny parcels of the vast land they once lived on in freedom. Land that was taken for your desire to have more. I guess some tribes have learned from the best while still trying to help others. That's my opinion.-

Keep it quiet wrote on Oct 1, 2007 2:04 PM: Sometimes, its better to quietly count your money,than loudly demanding more! Be careful where you go with this rhetoric. The more you compain about rules that are hindering you from makeing even more billions,the more scrutiny you will be asking for. And with scrutiny,comes corrections. If I were a Tribe running casinos,makeing hundreds of millions tax free,I'd be very happy and quiet. These are uncertain times we live in , in this country. Money is tight for most state governments. Be grateful the Federal government is allowing you to do what you are doing. Remember,with the stroke of a pen,your little racket can be wiped out. "

Voter wrote on Oct 1, 2007 2:29 PM:Not voters could decide, voters should decide. It's about time reason should prevail. Vote to repeal the agreements made behind closed doors. California's future should not be planned and financed using gambling dollars. Get the politicians out of tribal pockets. Let California voters decide our future, not special interests. "

Edward B. wrote on Oct 1, 2007 2:30 PM:How about going a few steps further and ending Indian gaming in California altogether. The unregulated tribal gaming scam is doing way more social and financial damage to Californians than the employment and tax revenue it supplies to the State. All of you gamblers should not trust any of those casinos. As I said above they are unregulated and are self policed. At least in Nevada the Nevada Gaming Commission actively and frequently inspects onsite gambling activities. Here in California an Indian casino can change odds on the fly to increase their revenue and has no worry in the world that a higher auuthority will catch them. If Pechanga did not like its revenue last week or last month it can change easily change the odds on its machines to increase revenue at the expense of a fair return to gamblers. If taken a step further one can even question whether other onsite gambling activities can be manipulated in favor of the house. THERE IS NO HIGHER AUTHORITY POLICING THEM. Can gamblers trust that California casinos cannot fall prey to increased greed and self police themselves? I DON'T THINK SO! "

Francis wrote on Oct 1, 2007 3:31 PM:National Indian Gaming Commission AND their own Tribal Gaming Commissions -Both these are run by Native Americans even Tribal Casino Members. How are these groups supposed to be unbiased when they are looking out for their Casino's best intrest,not the public. Why fault the tribes,because they don't play by the rules. Making them up as they go. Many Indians given land by the U.S. government in the 1800's have been stripped of their tribal membership because of the greed of a few bad apples. The rotten fruit is giving Native Americans & their ventures a bad name. Thats my opinion & check the facts.

nc times wrote on Oct 1, 2007 5:50 PM:there are 2 sides to this story. Too bad only casino backers can get their blogs on here. Are the tribes threatining this newspaper with pulling ad monies? just wondering why pro casino opinions seem free to make any outragous claim they choose& the blog blocks the TRUTH? Don't get it?

Sorry wrote on Oct 2, 2007 1:13 AM:Sorry, but I read much more between the lines of all these posts that "the truth" is being spewed by those with axes to grind for whatever reason: revenge, bigotry, hatred, racism, envy, etc. I never read any story in ANY paper today that appears favorable to Native Americans, either casino-owning or casino-less. I think the media largely loves to cover most of the hateful anti-Indian interests like those I read in this comment blog./

Question wrote on Oct 2, 2007 1:25 AM:Who are we, ANY of us, to criticize anyone in AMERICA, which includes Indian Reservations, from going after the American dream? Only a Communist or Socialist would stand in the way of the Capitalistic Free Market. I don't care who it is, if you live in America and build a successful business, no one should have the right to stop you from trying to better or grow your business. All this anti-Capitalist, anti-American rehtoric from you people./

Splixx wrote on Oct 2, 2007 9:28 AM:Many people have stated that these few wealthy tribes have some right based on past injustices to expand. I do not dispute the fact that Native America has been given a raw deal by the Federal Government. I do not dispute that Native America deserves to have past injustices corrected. The only problem is we are not talking about some poor tribe or a tribe that has nothing. We are talking about a few tribes that already make hundreds of millions of dollars a year. These few tribes and their members are no longer relying on the Federal Government to provide for them, in fact they are so far removed from relying on the Government that they can provide monthly stipend checks to their members in amounts that most Californians don't make in a year. Sure one side can argue that the money provided to the state in these compacts will benefit the state. Course the other side can say the state lottery was supposed to do the same thing and didn't. The real bottom line is that Indian Gaming is supposed to benefit Indians. These compacts don't do that in the least. I would be more prone to support the expansion if the money that was supposed to go to the state was instead earmarked to help the rest of the poverty stricken tribes. Maybe if more gaming tribes took care of other tribes we wouldn't have to use so much of our federal tax dollars supporting these poor tribes. Its a simple matter of economics, why should the average American have to fully fund the poor tribes with their tax dollars when the wealthy tribes could use some of their money to do it. Why should a small fraction of California Indians get a monthly check for over $20,000 when they could do just as well getting one for $2,000 and have the rest of the money distributed to other poor Indians. These compacts do nothing but line the pockets of already wealthy Indians, there is no other reason. These tribes that already have money simply want more of it, for no other reason than greed. Whether you think these compacts will ease your tax burden isn't the issue. The average tax payer will still be charged to provide services for the vast majority of Indians that don't have any money, yet deserve based on past injustices to be taken care of. California should demand these compacts be rewritten with the intent of having any future expansion give more money to the non-gaming Tribes. I don't deny the fact the Tribes should be able to expand if they see fit, I just think that rather than pander to the State by dangling money to insure they get approval they should be taking care of other poor tribes. Love it or Hate it, that's my opinion.-

To Splixx wrote on Oct 2, 2007 12:11 PM:You need to move to China. In China, the Government requires successful businesses to support those businesses that are failing. I would love for Microsoft to pay me a portion of their profits to make my software company more successful, but then that wouldn't be fair to Microsoft would it? You are asking successful tribes to do the same for poor tribes who have no affiliation with them.

Roy wrote on Oct 2, 2007 3:20 PM:Hey Truth you made my point perfectly. The casinos are self policed and should not be trusted. No higher outside authority, ie the state, is going into the casinos and actively checking up on how the machines are set up and how the money is handled. The organizations you mentioned are just Indian puppet police that have no authority to punish a casino when they are in the wrong do they? More to the point: Has any Indian casino ever been found in violation of anything by the groups you mentioned? And if so was there punishment? The voters would like to know!

Splixx wrote on Oct 2, 2007 4:19 PM:To Splixx-----> You are trying to compare apples to oranges. Tribes are not private companies like Microsoft. Tribes are basically wards of the Government. Indian Gaming is supposed to benefit Indians. You obviously have something to gain by these compacts going through. The simple fact will always remain, these tribes have no need to expand other than a base greed for more money. They have already benefited from gaming, woohoo the system actually worked for once. They do not need to expand, and if they were to expand it should be to benefit all the Tribes in California and not just 5 of them. You can try to insert whatever crazy logic you want into the argument for or against these compacts, the base fact remains that they are just greedy and trying to make billions more at the expense of others. I can argue with you all day and all night, but nothing you can possibly say will change the fact that a few greedy tribes are trying to get richer at the expense of everyone else in the state.

Jim wrote on Oct 2, 2007 4:42 PM:Wow are you guys misinformed. I just got off the phone with the Governor's office to inquire about all the items brought up in this comment blog. All the concern over non-gaming tribes being left in the cold are false. These new compacts require the four tribes to "share tens of millions of dollars" with tribes with no casinos. This insures that non-gaming tribes receive a very large piece of the pie...MUCH more than they have now. Regarding regulation, the Governor's office informs me that these four tribes are more regulated by the Federal government and local gaming commissions than any other gaming establishment in America...including Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Geez, you guys were making me think about these agreements until I got the facts directly from the Governor. You should get your facts straight too, before you mislead everyone into turning down something that everyone who knows the REAL facts knows is nothing but GOOD for the tribes and the State. As stated earlier...CASE CLOSED.

Ruth M. wrote on Oct 2, 2007 5:41 PM:Of course Arnolds office is going to tell you whatever you want to hear. Again, these are HIS compacts. He wants them passed & is going to report whatever makes you happy,Indians. This is all about $$$$ & greed. Tribes such as Pechanga have become out of control with POWER. A few leaders govern with an iorn fist, if you don't agree with them your gone& have no recourse. Their history,costitution,& bylaws are forgotten.Now all that matters is $$$. No new compacts for lawless tribes that don't even respect the human rights of their own people. Soverignty, what a sham it has become. People of California don't be fooled by Arnold & the "Greedy 4 $$$$" tribes propaganda. No the public is not stupid.

Murphy wrote on Oct 2, 2007 5:45 PM:The new compacts are horrible deals for the state. ... They allow the tribes themselves instead of an independent auditor - to determine the amount of net winnings that would be subject to revenue sharing with the state."

Jim wrote on Oct 2, 2007 7:11 PM:Sorry Ruth and Murphy, you are both incorrect about facts. Arnold's office wouldn't tell us lies...they read sections of new Pacts directly to me. That is a fact. I don't think the Governor and almost every State Legislator would vote for a deal that is bad or as you say "horrible deals for the state." That would be political suicide. How dumb do you think people are who read your comments? The Governor's office told me that the State will have full access to casino financial records for verification of net winnings at any given time. That seems like ironclad auditing oversight to me. Stop misleading the people because you have some axe to grind with these 4 tribes. People, examine the facts before you are mislead by these folks who clearly are out for their own interests. It seems that Las Vegas interests or the HERE Union will spew any lie to get their way. Check the FACTS with reputable sources who will read exact exerpts from the Pacts to you. Contact the Governor's office or your Legislator to determine the real FACTS. I started out in this thread as an innocent bystander with an opionion, and now after examining the real facts in this case, it is clear who is lying and who isn't. I am fed up with liars.

Murphy wrote on Oct 2, 2007 7:49 PM:I have no axe to grind. You sit and act as though you are some bystander,right. You are here on behalf of one of the"Greedy 4". Go get the facts from an independent source. Once again the only ones to benefit from these compacts are Arnold & the"Greedy 4". Do me a favor and check out what is going on at Pechanga. Oh yea any issues that you dont want to discuss are internal matters,right. I am fed up with people trying to BULLY the public. There are no lies HERE! Check the FACTS!! Long live Paulina an Original Pechanga. Yes, contacting your legislator is what the tribes want as they are recieving $$$$ from the tribes. Please check out the $$$$ that is being flooded into legislators pockets by the "Greedy 4", one of California's largest lobbiest.

Splixx wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:18 PM:Well Jim I will give you credit for one thing, you are amusing. Your posts are a total joke, but you did get one thing right. People should make sure they have the facts and the truth before making a decision. I for one would like to thank you for your posts, I know the people that have some knowledge on these subjects are laughing themselves silly. It takes a special breed of person to come on here and set themselves up for public ridicule. Kudos to you

Perry wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:22 PM:The fact is the compacts are a bad deal for California. Of course the government is going to back legislation they approved. That does not make it a favorable decision for ALL Californians. It is to bad that Arnold has to resort to accepting blood money(gaming) revenue to balance the budget.

Roy wrote on Oct 2, 2007 8:25 PM:Jim is obviously an Indian Tribe propagandist. Jim I will tell you as a voter that being against these compacts has nothing to do with racism. initially I baked Indian gaming. I remember the billboards that portrayed Indian poverty and indicated that gaming was the Indian ticket to self sufficiency in California. I voted for it then. As time passed I saw how the Pechanga tribe disenrolled lifetime members from the tribe well after the casino had become a cash cow. It is hard to fathom a coincidence that as casino revenue shot up a quarter of the tribe was kicked out after not just a lifetime of being members but as generations of being members. Any way you cut it the Pechanga will always be percieved as having mud on their face for treating a large portion of their own in such a greedy uncompassionate fashion after the revenue started to gush in. I have nothing against people making lots of money but when I see a small number of people making 30k a month and 5 casinos offering a pittance of tens of millions of dollars to the rest of the tribes in California as a form of compensation I just have to laugh. How much is that per tribe member Jim? Not much is it? It probably will not even buy food for each left out tribal member for a year will it? If Indian gaming truly was sticking to its original intent of helping the Indians overall and equitably in California by say reducing that 30k and splitting it 4 ways to help four times as many families then we voters would be impressed. But as of now it looks like you are asking for 50k to 100K each after expansion and are offering a pittance of tens of millions of dollars split thousands and thousands of ways which mathematically is not much per person per year is it? No Jim this time around we will say no to the Governor and this desperate State which is prostituting its ethics with this poor compact that benefits the few and screws the many. It is too much for too few and gives the many very little and as of today a State oversite person has yet to step foot inside a casino to check anything. Yeah I really trust all of you to self police yourselves. CASE CLOSED WHEN THE VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY AND YOU WILL NOT BUY THIS ELECTION. WE WILL BE ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND PAPERS TO STOP YOUR HALF TRUTHS.

Jim wrote on Oct 2, 2007 9:43 PM:You all clearly have it out for the Pechanga tribe. I don't know what happened to you there, but why would you target their new pact and not San Manuel's which has fewer protections written into it than those found in the Morongo/Pechanga deal. Why aren't you collecting signatures to repeal that deal? It's okay for their deal to pass, but not the group you have a issue with. Your motivations are clear and appear to be the real "joke" here. Thank you for exposing the real reason for the campaign you have waged along with the disgruntled HERE group and the "real" greedy Las Vegas interests. In this thread I have stated cold, hard facts as they were presented to me directly from the pact documents by a government official who has nothing to gain from these new pacts except creating new revenue streams into the bleeding state coffers. It seems like a good deal to me as a taxpayer (or to use your own words, it is good "for the many"). I hope the media and the papers do their homework on this before writing stories told to them by people who have it out for this tribe or that tribe.

Roy wrote on Oct 2, 2007 10:07 PM:No Jim I do not have out for the Pechanga tribe in particular. They are just one example. I have a problem with the entire deal between the State and the tribes you mentioned. I could care less what facts you wrap up in Christmas paper. I have a fundamental problem with so few exerting undue influence in the State and are using these compacts to further enrich their few and giving little to the many. Gaming should benefit all California Indians equitably and it does not do so currently and will not do so after these compacts. So who cares about what the Governor says or what the legislature says or how many "facts" you present. In the end I am right and you know it. The majority of Californians will agree that 30k PER MONTH to the few with the compact guaranteeing more is obscene support to a select few Indians and the MAJORITY of California Indians will barely get thrown a bone and that sir is ethically and morally pathetic. Spread the wealth around to the many poor Indians in California or lose Mr. Jim.

Roy wrote on Oct 2, 2007 10:13 PM:One more thing Jim I would rather pay a fair share of taxes than lean on gambling as a fundamental source of revenue for the State. You are enticing Califonians to expand gaming with the promise of lower taxes? Alright write that into the compact. For every dollar in Indian gaming revenue to the State there will be an a dollar of State Income tax cut to Californians. If you say this favors the many in California then it had better be a direct benefit and not be an alternative to higher taxes. We won't buy that.

Donna wrote on Oct 3, 2007 11:33 AM:Take a look at the front page of todays PE to see whats up with one of the "Greedy 4" Tribes. Thier disregard for the rights of their "Original Peoples" with "red ribbon" documented unbroken lineage dating back to the mid-1800's. Too bad that Tribal leaders feel that money is so sacred.

open gaming wrote on Oct 4, 2007 9:14 AM:For all cities in California......Duh$$$$$$$$$$$$-

NO to More Indian Gambling! wrote on Oct 5, 2007 4:07 AM:At least more more until they re-enroll the Indian families that were disenrolled. Calif courts said they do not have jurisdiction. The ruling was made by...They should not get any money from gambling franchises until;they agre to let the Califonia and Federal agencies inspect their books, check and verify the odds given, and give California Courts Jurisdiction to review their tribal council decisions on who can stay in their tribe and who is not a memnber of their tribe.-

Nonsense wrote on Oct 5, 2007 4:15 AM:This is total nonsense. Gambling does not create wealth. It is just swiping money from those with weak wills and lining their pockers with the money. Every hundred dollars they have to give themselves is a hundred dollars less for the other person who earned the money and can not now spend it on clothes, gasoline, house payments or whatever. The people of the state should have never allowed it. Instead of making money, it would have been cheaper on th estate economy to just give the Indians 2,000 or 3,000 per month tax payer money instead of letting them take so much money they can give all their own Indians 15,000 to 30,000 per family per month.-

Schools helped? wrote on Oct 5, 2007 4:21 AM:I really doubt the money from the Indian Gambling helps the schools. I suspect the legislature just reduces the amount of suport they give the schools by a like amount. OK that would save some money from the tax payers who did not go gamble. Except th elegislsture would spend the money they did not give theschools on something else. The tax payers who went and gambled, made a lot of Indians wealther, but the potion going to schools is a fraction of what they as a group lost. Gambling is stupid.-

Crazy wrote on Feb 5, 2008 9:43 AM:There is an adage where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer. The whopping 200 member Pechanga tribe members already stands to gain more than the $40,000 per month they receive with the casino expansion. To top that off, those that "live" on the reservation, pay NO state income tax. Some tribal members claim they live on the reservation, but how can one actually live in a mail box when they actually live off the reservation in the toniest of Temecula's neighborhood driving Mercedes paying only $50 registration fee because they "live" on the reservation. What is important that all Californians should be on equal grounds, regardless of race. For those who support these compacts, you should really do your homework and see why this is NOT a good deal for the rest of the taxpayers. What if a non-indian gaming casino was being placed within a mile of your residence, will you be agreeing to it? The negatives far outweighs the benefits. I'd rather allow the Race tracks be allowed to have slot machines and gaming than to allow the amended compacts to pass. At least it can be properly regulated. You want gaming proceeds to fund State coffers? Then let's allow more race tracks and the rights for non-tribal casinos to have slot machines.