News & Media
Richmond City Council poised to OK casino report
Richmond City Council poised to OK casino report
Carolyn Jones
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Richmond's City Council was poised Tuesday to approve the final environmental impact report in the Point Molate casino project, a $1 billion resort slated for the waterfront.
The council was expected to take action following a public hearing on the EIR and issues including traffic, jobs and the Bay Trail.
The federal and state governments will also have to approve the plan before it can move forward, but if the council rejects the EIR, the project will stall. If everyone gives the green light, however, construction would start in about a year, said Michael Derry, head of the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, the tribe planning to build a hotel, casino and shopping center just on the bay shore north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
"For us, this is the culmination of almost 60 years of waiting to have a reservation," Derry said. "It means health care, education, employment. It means having a homeland."
The tribe has been without land since the early 1960s. In 2004, the tribe entered into a contract with Richmond to purchase the former Navy Fuel Depot for $50 million.
Senator Feinstein Effort to Kill Jobs and Violate Native Rights
With all due respect, Senator Feinstein’s recent editorial on reservation shopping was deeply flawed.
Nationwide, over 700,000 jobs have been created since the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988. Indian gaming is now a $25 billion-a-year staple of our national economy.
It is also undeniable that tribal government gaming has been good for tribes and good for neighboring communities. California examples abound from San Pablo to Palm Springs.
Senators Feinstein and Reid (Nevada) have been actively intimidating Department of Interior staff to stall Tribal applications regardless of the law. Unable to force the administration to reject legitimate tribal claims, the Senators now are trying to change IGRA with a sneaky backroom deal, absent due process, and in conflict with President Obama’s policy of “transparency”. Their strategy is an 11th hour appropriations rider, a process Sen. Feinstein has objected to when it suited her.
Over the past 22 years there have been many attempts to change IGRA. Congress, however, has consistently found that the law works well in its current form.
Post-Election Press Statement
Post-Election Press Statement from Merlene Sanchez, Chairwoman Guidiville Band of Indians
For the past 6 years, the Guidiville Tribe has worked with all facets of the Richmond community on a redevelopment strategy for the Point Molate naval depot that provides the financing necessary to achieve the base reuse objectives developed by Richmond’s community-driven process; complete the site cleanup; rehabilitate the site’s historic district including major seismic, lead, and asbestos abatement projects; build the Bay Trail, shoreline, and hillside open space parks; all while providing huge numbers of jobs and revenues for the people of Richmond. Beyond a great redevelopment project, this will also be the home for the Guidiville people, a federally recognized tribe whose land and tribal status were illegally taken by the US Government without compensation.
Tribes, card clubs weighing in on Richmond's Measure U casino measure
By Katherine Tam
10/27/2010
It's a war of glossy, attention-grabbing mailers and ads fast approaching the $1 million mark.
The election battle over a proposed casino at Richmond's Point Molate is drawing big money from tribes and card clubs around Northern California.
Winehaven Partners LLC and the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, who would build the casino-hotel resort with financial backing from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, have raised $500,000 among themselves and spent $491,814 urging locals to vote yes on Measure U, according to campaign finance reports.
Opponents are pitching in big bucks as well. Stop the Mega Casino has formed two political action committees, raising at least $224,200 from three card clubs: The Oaks, California Grand and Napa Valley Casino. The opposition has spent at least $143,326.
Point Molate: A timeline of key events
10/25/2010
1906
California Wine Associa¬tion moves to the 412-acre Point Molate site and starts construction of the “world's largest winery,”Winehaven.
1941
Naval Fuel Depot Point Molate: Navy acquires the Point Molate site and adds fuel tanks and buildings.
1988
Congress passes law au¬thorizing casino gambling on Indian lands subject to federal and state approval.
March 1991
Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians regains federal recognition in settlement of lawsuit.
September 1995
Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot decommissioned. Fuel storage and transfer operations cease.
September 1998
Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot operationally closed.
Environmentalists, tribe reach agreement on casino
Oct. 23, 2010
RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) – A Northern California American Indian tribe and environmentalists have reached an agreement on a proposed $1 billion casino and resort in Richmond.
The deal calls on the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians to extend a hiking trail into Richmond, spend at least $43 million on open space acquisitions and set aside about 180 acres of the planned development site as parkland.
It settles a lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups against the project in 2008.
The tribe has proposed a Las Vegas-style casino with an 1,100-room hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, a ferry terminal and housing for the tribe at Point Molate.
The project still requires approval from state and federal officials.
Link to complete article: http://www.nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4472:environmentalists-tribe-reach-agreement-on-casino&catid=39&Itemid=15
The play on Point Molate
By John Simerman
10/24/2010
Nearly lost amid the shouting of a high-volume campaign season, 42,000 Richmond voters may do more to change the region's environment than in any election in decades.
They will vote on a gambling resort, right on the Bay, with more slot machines than all the casinos on Lake Tahoe's south shore -- the first Vegas-style casino in a California urban area. And if its magnitude is not well understood, its origins are even less so.
The resort's journey to the ballot -- which, if voters agree, could prod federal approval -- is a seven-year saga with an uncommon cast, from a figure with alleged criminal ties who spurred a small band of American Indians to pursue casino riches, to a development team that includes a former U.S. senator and Clinton-era defense secretary, a major Chicago real estate financier and a former governor's land czar.
Along with the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, a tribe with 112 members and roots in Mendocino County, they've pushed ahead with the help of, among others, a former top aide to U.S. Sen. John McCain, and financing first from Harrah's and now from the tribe that runs Cache Creek Casino Resort in Yolo County.
Environmentalists, tribe reach agreement on casino
The Associated Press
10/21/2010
RICHMOND, Calif.—A Northern California American Indian tribe and environmentalists have reached an agreement on a proposed $1 billion casino and resort in Richmond.
The deal calls on the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians to extend a hiking trail into Richmond, spend at least $43 million on open space acquisitions and set aside about 180 acres of the planned development site as parkland.
It settles a lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups against the project in 2008.
The tribe has proposed a Las Vegas-style casino with an 1,100-room hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, a ferry terminal and housing for the tribe at Point Molate.
The project still requires approval from state and federal officials.
Link to complete article: http://www.marinij.com/tablehome/ci_16395890
Casino takes another step forward (video)
Oct. 21, 2010
We've reported before on the progress of plans to build a $1+ billion casino resort on the Pt. Molate shoreline at Richmond, and the fact that a lot of Marinites aren't too thrilled with the idea.
Well, developers have taken another step towards building the mega resort after forging a deal with a group of local environmentalists. There are, however, several more obstacles (environmental impact report, Richmond City Council and the Feds) before it becomes a sure thing. Here's Vic Lee with an update.
(See video here): http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inmarin/detail?entry_id=75134
Environmentalists, Calif. tribe reach casino deal
October 21, 2010
RICHMOND, Calif. -- A Northern California American Indian tribe and environmentalists have reached an agreement on a proposed $1 billion casino and resort in Richmond.
The deal calls on the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians to extend a hiking trail into Richmond, spend at least $43 million on open space acquisitions and set aside about 180 acres of the planned development site as parkland.
It settles a lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups against the project in 2008.
The tribe has proposed a Las Vegas-style casino with an 1,100-room hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, a ferry terminal and housing for the tribe at Point Molate.
The project still requires approval from state and federal officials.
Link to complete article: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9J05VA80.htm
A planned Indian-gaming casino in Richmond got a huge boost yesterday
Robert Gammon
Oct 21, 2010 at 7:09 AM
A planned Indian-gaming casino in Richmond got a huge boost yesterday when several environmental groups announced that they’re now endorsing the proposal after the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians agreed to spend at least $48 million to buy and protect prime waterfront land, the CoCo Times reports. The deal and environmental support arrived just two weeks before Richmond voters will vote on advisory ballot measure involving the planned Point Molate casino.
Environmentalists, tribe reach agreement on casino
The Associated Press
10/21/2010
RICHMOND, Calif.—A Northern California American Indian tribe and environmentalists have reached an agreement on a proposed $1 billion casino and resort in Richmond.
The deal calls on the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians to extend a hiking trail into Richmond, spend at least $43 million on open space acquisitions and set aside about 180 acres of the planned development site as parkland.
It settles a lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups against the project in 2008.
The tribe has proposed a Las Vegas-style casino with an 1,100-room hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, a ferry terminal and housing for the tribe at Point Molate.
The project still requires approval from state and federal officials.
Link to complete article: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_16395890
Environmentalists, Tribe Reach Agreement On Casino
Oct 21, 2010 6:46 am
RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) ― A Northern California American Indian tribe and environmentalists have reached an agreement on a proposed $1 billion casino and resort in Richmond.
The deal calls on the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians to extend a hiking trail into Richmond, spend at least $43 million on open space acquisitions and set aside about 180 acres of the planned development site as parkland.
It settles a lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups against the project in 2008.
The tribe has proposed a Las Vegas-style casino with an 1,100-room hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, a ferry terminal and housing for the tribe at Point Molate.
The project still requires approval from state and federal officials.
Link to complete article: http://cbs13.com/wireapnewsca/Environmentalists.tribe.reach.2.1973778.html
Richmond casino deal by environmentalists, tribe
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
October 20, 2010
Richmond will get a Bay Trail extension and hundreds of acres of open space as part of a sweeping deal struck Wednesday between environmental groups and a tribe that hopes to build a $1 billion casino resort at Point Molate.
The agreement, which stems from a 2008 lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups, calls for at least $43 million in open space acquisitions and sets aside two-thirds - 180 acres - of the resort property as parkland.
"This is going to be incredibly beneficial for the environment," said Robert Cheasty of Citizens for East Shore Parks. "This settlement gives us way, way, way more than what we would have gotten in our lawsuit."
The development includes a Las Vegas-style casino, 1,100-room hotel, nightclubs, restaurants, convention center, ferry terminal and housing for the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, the 120-person tribe that's behind the project.
"When we sat down with these environmental groups, we realized we had a lot of common goals and vision for the area," said Jim Levine of Upstream, the Emeryville developer overseeing the project. "The question was, how do we move forward in the Bay Area in a way that's environmentally sensible?"
The development's fate now lies with the city of Richmond and the federal government, both of whom must give their OK before it can proceed. Richmond voters will get a chance to voice their opinions through an advisory measure on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Point Molate Lawsuit Settles; Some Casino Foes Doubtful
By Caitilin McAdoo
October 20, 2010
Opponents of a proposed casino resort development on the Richmond shoreline were not swayed today by an announcement that developers for the Guidiville tribe and a coalition of environmental groups came to a settlement agreement in a lawsuit.
Developers, union leaders and representatives from several environmental groups held a news conference at Point Molate today, the site of the proposed $1 billion project, to release details of the Shoreline Protection Agreement.
The agreement, which settles two lawsuits filed in 2004 and 2009 by Citizens for Eastshore Parks, removes a major obstacle to the tribe's plan to build a casino resort at Point Molate, a shuttered naval fuel depot just north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
The project includes a 4,000-slot machine casino, 1,100 hotel rooms, a convention center, a performing arts center, entertainment venues, retail space, a tribal government center and tribal housing.
Under the agreement, three-fourths of the 412-acre site would be preserved as open space. The tribe has agreed to restore and protect natural habitat and to provide a continuous shoreline trail that would be a new addition to the Bay Trail.
The tribe also promised to spend $35 million on shoreline acquisition and an additional $5 million on design and maintenance of open space land acquired.
Tribe, developer, environmental groups announce major shoreline deal
By John Simerman
10/20/2010 03:33:06 PM PDT
RICHMOND -- An American Indian tribe and the developer of a planned billion-dollar casino resort at Point Molate have reached a deal with local environmental groups that calls for at least $48 million to buy and protect prime shoreline if a gambling emporium rises.
The deal ends years of litigation against a plan to build an Indian casino, along with a hotel, convention center, retail mall and nightclubs, on former Navy land along the Bay near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. And it comes less than two weeks before Richmond voters will weigh in on the casino plan in a nonbinding vote on Measure U.
Under terms of the deal, which was signed Tuesday night, the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians would provide $35 million for open-space purchases; another $5 million to design and maintain those lands; $3 million more for preparatory work and easements; and $5 million to complete the Bay Trail and hillside trails.
More money would go to protection of open space along the nearby shoreline, at the port Terminal 4 and Yacht Harbor areas, the groups said. The deal also calls for restoration of rare eelgrass beds and protection of more than 310 acres for open space at Point Molate. All of it is contingent on a casino -- the economic engine for the project.
POINT MOLATE SHORELINE PROTECTION AGREEMENT BENEFITS
The Point Molate Shoreline Protection Agreement resolves the lawsuit between Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP), Sustainability, Parks, Recycling and Wildlife Legal Defense Fund (SPRAWLDEF), the Guidiville Tribe and Upstream Point Molate LLC. The Agreement includes $35 million for shoreland acquisition, habitat restoration, park creation, and recreational access, as well as funding for a sustained effort to protect and restore native flora and fauna. The Parties will form the East Bay Natural Heritage Foundation that will leverage this money to safeguard as much of Richmond’s spectacular shoreline as possible, while also providing recreational access to shoreline lands and the Bay. The following is what the settlement provides for Point Molate, and for points beyond.
More than 180 of the site’s 273 total upland acres – about 2/3 of the site’s land – will be protected in perpetuity under specific provisions in the agreement. Buildings will be constructed solely in areas previously used by the Navy, avoid sensitive habitat areas, and be set back from the Bay to allow a continuous shoreline and trail. All of the site’s existing undeveloped submerged lands – over 130 acres – will be restored and protected, including over 62 acres of rare eel-grass beds, which provide vital habitat for many aquatic animals. Thus, of the site’s total acreage of 412 acres, more than 310 acres – over 3/4 of the entire site – will be restored and protected.
A $35 million Fund for Open Space acquisition will be created. The Guidiville Tribe will contribute $7 million to the East Bay Natural Heritage Foundation for each of five years beginning after the project opens.
An additional $5 million will fund design and maintenance of open space acquired. This $5 million comes in payments of $1 million a year for five years after the project opens.
Tribe, developer, environmental groups announce major shoreline deal
By John Simerman
10/20/2010 12:06:36 PM PDT
Link: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16387486
RICHMOND -- An Indian tribe and the developer of a planned billion-dollar casino resort at Point Molate have reached a deal with local environmental groups that calls for at least $48 million for shoreline land and protections if the casino rises, both sides announced Wednesday.
The deal ends years of litigation by a pair of environmental groups against the controversial plan to bring the state's first urban casino, along with a hotel, convention center, retail mall and night clubs to the Richmond shoreline. And it comes less than two weeks before Richmond voters will weigh in on the casino plan in a nonbinding advisory vote, Measure U.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 20, 2010
For CESP Contact: Robert Cheasty, President, Citizens for East Shore Parks
Patricia Jones (secondary contact in case Robert is unavailable.)
Executive Director, Citizens for East Shore Parks
(510) 524-5000 (office) (510) 524-5008 (fax)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.eastshorepark.org
For Guidiville Tribe Contact:
Michael Derry, CEO
760-861-4972 (mobile) 707-462-3682 (office)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.pointmolateresort.com
For Upstream Contact:
Jim Levine, Managing Partner
510-409-1765 (mobile) 510-596-9501 (office)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.pointmolateresort.com
MAJOR STEP TOWARDS PRESERVING RICHMOND SHORELINE FOREVER
Agreement secures $48-68 million for habitat restoration, park creation and trails
Richmond, Calif. – A pioneering collaboration and Shoreline Protection Agreement (“Agreement”) has been reached between local environmental organizations and the Guidiville Tribe, to preserve and restore miles of Richmond shoreline as parkland and open space as part of Guidiville’s plans for a billion dollar destination resort at the now-closed Pt. Molate Naval Fuel Depot.
Casino project is the right move for Richmond
By Judith Morgan
Guest Commentary
10/16/2010
MEASURE U could open the door to long-term economic recovery. For those of us in the Richmond business community, support for Measure U and the Point Molate Destination Resort is a no-brainer.
Business retention and attraction in Richmond have been anemic for years. Currently there are no major prospective employers seeking to plant roots in our community.
The Point Molate Destination Resort, however, could be the stimulus Richmond needs to fundamentally transform its economic future.
Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin Claimed Psychiatric Disabilities In 2003
Zennie Abraham
According to official documents sent to this blogger by an unknown source, and making for a shocking turn of events, Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin claimed she was suffering from "serious psychiatric disabilities, which limited her ability to earn a living wage," and that inhibited her ability to find gainful employment for a time.
The documents make up a filing for bankruptcy to avoid paying nearly $100,000 in delinguant student loans. Document letter "B" reads:
- Beginning in the mid-1970s, Plaintiff began to suffer from serious psychiatric disabilities, which limited her ability to earn a living wage. (Item 10, Page 3)
- During our about 1994, Plaintiff received Social Security Permanent Disability Award, and has been receiving Social Security Disability Funds since that time. (Item 11, Page 3)
