- Proposed Columbia Gorge casino
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The Columbia Gorge casino is a casino proposed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, a group of Indian tribes in the U.S. state of Oregon. They have sought to build a casino in the Columbia River Gorge since at least 1999. Current plans call for a 60-acre (24 ha) facility with 250 hotel rooms in the city of Cascade Locks, Oregon. The proposal is located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and is adjacent to a federally designated wilderness area.
The plan, which is opposed by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, but supported by the City of Cascade Locks, and the government of Hood River County,[1] must be approved by the United States Department of the Interior, and would be the first off-reservation casino in the state.[1]
Contents
Political context
The Siletz tribe advocated for an off-reservation casino in Troutdale as early as 1992, drawing opposition from then-governor Barbara Roberts.[2]
As early as 1998, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs owned property in Hood River, and were entertaining controversial plans to open a casino there or in Cascade Locks. Then-governor John Kitzhaber opposed the plans, on two principles: that each tribe should have only one casino, and that tribal casinos should be on tribal trust land established before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.[3] Federal law gave Kitzhaber the power to deny the tribe the Cascade Locks location, because it had not been held in trust prior to the 1988 law. He had no such power over the Hood River site or other land the tribes had held for a longer period of time.[4]
Kitzhaber ultimately overruled the Cascade Locks location,[4] but the issue overshadowed the 2002 gubernatorial election of Ted Kulongoski. The tribes made record political contributions during that election. Kulongoski, who took no position on the issue during the election, received $40,000 for his campaign from Indian tribes.[5]
In 2001, the Confederated Tribes purchased an additional 120 acres (0.49 km2) of land east of the city of Hood River, adjoining 40 acres (160,000 m2) it already owned.[6] The Confederated Tribes then pursued two separate plans for casinos in the gorge until 2004: one in Cascade Locks, the other on the Hood River property.[7] The Hood River plan, which would have called for an eight-story casino, was opposed by Hood River residents.[8] Hood River County Commissioner Carol York was also a strong advocate of the Cascade Locks location, rather than the Hood River location.[8]
Opposition to a casino in Cascade Locks has been led by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, and has included other organizations: the Oregon Restaurant Association, Friends of Columbia Gorge, NoGorgeCasino, a small but vocal group of residents and the Oregon Family Council. Congressman David Wu has also opposed the casino.[9] The Grand Ronde group was the biggest campaign spender in the 2006 gubernatorial primary election, opposing Kulongoski and Kevin Mannix.[10] Grand Ronde, which operates Spirit Mountain Casino, spent over $800,000 in that cycle.[11]
The United States Secretary of the Interior will have to approve a casino if it is to move forward. Current Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has generally opposed off-reservation casinos, but is unlikely to make the decision; instead, his successor after the George W. Bush administration leaves office is expected to consider the proposed casino, along with an off-reservation casino in La Center, Washington being proposed by the Cowlitz Tribe.[12] In January 2011 the Interior Department approved a compact between the tribes and the state.[13] The remaining steps include the demonstration of compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and approval from the Governor.[13]
See also
- Gambling in Oregon
- List of casinos in Oregon
- Native American gambling enterprises
- National Indian Gaming Commission
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
References
- ^ a b Partlow, Joshua (2008-03-11). "Gamble in the Gorge?". The Oregonian.
- ^ Ruble, Web (May 6, 1992). "Chamber urges Troutdale study casino proposal". The Oregonian.
- ^ "Gambling in the Gorge: Sound principles are about to collide in the Columbia Gorge as the Warm Springs tribes consider locations for a new casino". The Oregonian. November 22, 1998.
- ^ a b Thompson, Courtenay; Jeanie Senior (November 5, 1999). "Kitzhaber denies Cascade Locks casino". The Oregonian.
- ^ Jim Lynch (January 15, 2003). "Native American Tribes Invest Record Cash in Oregon Politics". Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (The Oregonian). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96481968.html.
- ^ Herrington, Gregg (May 15, 2001). "Warm Springs indians purchase gorge land for casino". The Columbian. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-44297716.html.
- ^ Durbin, Kathie (July 11, 2002). "Casino project east of Hood River apparently shelved by indian tribe". The Columbian. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-54298557.html.
- ^ a b Wendy Owen (April 24, 2004). "Warm Springs shows cards on gorge casino option". The Oregonian. http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ORGB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1022F0F4B1478037&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0F4627A8B371FF3F.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (2005-09-21). "Who's Who In The Battle Of The Gorge Casino". Willamette Week. http://wweek.com/editorial/3146/6734/.
- ^ Of casino ads and candidates - OregonLive.com: Politics Updates
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (May 17, 2006). "Betting On The Governor's Race". Willamette Week. http://wweek.com/editorial/3228/7556/.
- ^ KATHIE DURBIN (June 29, 2008). "Bush leaving loose ends in Northwest". The Columbian. http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06292008_Bush-leaving-loose-ends-in-Northwest.cfm.
- ^ a b Andy Giegerich (January 7, 2011). "Gorge casino gets another federal approval". Portland Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2011/01/07/gorge-casino-lands-compact-more-hurdles.html.
External links
- Kulongoski, Theodore; Peter Bragdon (October 5, 1996). "When Gambling Calls the Shots". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901EEDE103FF936A35753C1A960958260.
- Cascade Locks Casino and Resort - Draft Environmental Impact Statement. US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Final Environmental Impact Statement. Cascade Locks Resort and Casino EIS Project.
- Cascade Locks page on casino
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