Oregon
coastal town included in national media event
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2004
OREGON COASTAL TOWN
INCLUDED IN NATIONAL MEDIA EVENT
INCLUDED IN NATIONAL MEDIA EVENT
Opposition to Florence casino discussed at National Press Club
Washington, DC - Florence, Oregon was a focal point for a non-partisan coalition of community groups holding a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC today.
The event represented residents and grassroots organizations from more than 40 states and featured over a dozen speakers. The news conference, hosted by United Property Owners, Citizens for Equal Rights Alliance and One Nation, addressed flawed policy, and called for a moratorium on off-reservation casino expansion and a halt to recognition of tribes until reform is enacted.
"The issue of Indian casinos has reached a critical mass across this country and Florence is just one example," explained Susie Dewberry, spokesperson for People Against a Casino Town, a local Oregon group opposing construction of the Florence casino.
She continued, "Tribal gambling is a $15 billion-a-year industry. There are now 291 groups seeking federal recognition as tribes in the United States, and many of these groups have already signed contracts with investors to open their own casinos in the event they are recognized."
The National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion summarized the current situation in a recent letter to President Bush. In it they stated, "The Bureau of Indian Affairs has transformed itself into a national facilitator for the uncontrolled and inexcusable proliferation of casino gambling. No longer concerned with the true health and welfare of Native Americans or their neighbors, the bureau has become a clearinghouse for unsubstantiated tribal recognition and circumvention of states' rights and laws."
The letter goes on to comment on the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA), "The gambling industry is using IGRA law and Native Americans as a battering ram to force gambling down the throats of America's states and communities. That is not what Congress had in mind with the IGRA legislation." (For a copy of this letter, please visit http://www.ncalg.org)
For the people of the small town Florence on the Oregon coast (population 7,500), the chaos started when the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians requested a piece of land be placed in trust by the federal government. The Tribes said they intended to use the land for "cultural and historical" purposes and they had no plans for a casino. (Casino History)
However, once the land was put into trust and it was assumed local residents would no longer have any say in the matter, the tribes then announced they did, in fact, intend to build a casino on the land. The Tribes' web site now proclaims, "The tribes have always intended to pursue gaming on this tract of land that borders the town of Florence, Oregon."
George Skibine, Director of the BIA's Office of Indian Gaming Management, says what happened in Florence is not unique and is actually taking place across the country. He admits that the BIA's fee-to-trust regulations allow casinos to be foisted upon communities that do not want them.
Oregon's Congressional delegation is well aware of the circumstances that allowed this casino to be located in Florence, but has yet to take meaningful action.
PACT has filed a series of lawsuits against Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, claiming he has violated the Oregon State Constitution which states, "The Legislative Assembly has no power to authorize, and shall prohibit, casinos from operation in the State of Oregon."
The Florence group hopes the event at the National Press Club places long overdue attention on the construction of unwanted casinos in small towns and cities across the country.
National Links:
Coalition Press Release: http://citizensalliance.org
United Property Owners: http://www.unitedpropertyowners.org
Citizens for Equal Rights Alliance: http://www.citizensalliance.org
One Nation: http://www.onenationok.com
National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling: http://www.ncalg.org/
Related Links:
- Local
Detrimental Effects (photos)