People Against a Casino Town

News from PACT

7/2/03 PACT Says The Fight's Not Over In response to the announcement that Federal Magistrate Coffin had ruled against the State in a court case about the legality of a casino  being placed in Florence, PACT Spokesperson Susie Dewberry issued the following statement: "This court case is only one piece of our overall plan to defend our community against the efforts of the gambling industry to build a casino in Florence.  This decision is not the end of the lawsuit, and we are confident the Governor will file an appeal. However, PACT is not going to rely on an appeal of the lawsuit alone. We will continue our work on other ways to keep the casino out. The whole process has been tainted.  When the Confederated Tribes first applied to have the Hatch Tract transferred to trust status, they assured the people in Florence that they wanted the land only for cultural and historical purposes, and that they would not put a casino on that land. The city and county both opposed restoration of that piece of land if gambling were to be allowed.  The people of Florence, and Lane County, trusted the tribe's assurances that they would not build a casino there. The tribes told everyone they only wanted to build a cultural center. Few in Florence would oppose the construction of a Native American cultural and historical center on the Hatch Tract - in fact, we would welcome the enrichment of our community by this cultural perspective. But, according to the Tribe's own web page, that was never their real intention. The system has failed us. The people of Florence have been denied due process. We were not given an opportunity to participate in a decision which approved a gambling casino and would have a dramatic detrimental effect on our community and our quality of life. The character of Florence would change if a casino were allowed.  That character is the very quality which has attracted so many people to Florence.   Many of our residents would not have located here had they known there was the threat of a casino. And many of these same people may  leave were it to come to town. The fight is not over by any stretch of the imagination.  We will continue to fight this proposed casino until we keep the casino out.  Giving up is not an option when the very future of Florence is at stake."

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