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.

United Auburn Indian Community, which owns Thunder Valley Casino Resort north of Sacramento, has funneled $150,000 into the No on U effort. Spokesman Doug Elmets points to Proposition 1A, saying voters approved it to allow Indian gaming on tribal lands that are not in urban areas.

"Why should tribal members who played by the rules be forced to pay the price for developers' schemes in urban areas?" Elmets said. "Many tribes with and without casinos are watching this measure very closely. You see a tribe being hoodwinked by a developer, and a developer trying to hoodwink voters to open the floodgates for gaming in urban areas, which would change the landscape of the state."

The advisory Measure U, which is not legally binding, asks voters on Nov. 2 whether a casino should be built at the waterfront near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

Both sides argue the other's mailers are either inaccurate or misleading.

Winehaven didn't expect to spend this much campaigning on Measure U, developer Jim Levine said.

"We're being forced to respond to the inaccuracies," Levine said. "The people on the No on U side really don't care about Richmond. They're not here for the long term. If they win or lose, they're gone."

The outcome could influence state and federal officials in charge of granting approvals, who like to see local support for gaming.

Contra Costa County officials initially opposed the casino, but became the proposal's cheerleader after striking a deal that promises it $12 million a year and jobs. Last week, local environmental groups reached a legal settlement in which Guidiville would provide at least $45 million for shoreline preservation. Both deals are contingent on the casino being built.

The Richmond City Council still needs to certify the project's environmental report and finalize a deal to turn over Point Molate to Guidiville, votes that won't happen until after the November election.

Supporters and opponents are aware that the outcome of Richmond's mayoral and council races, and how locals vote on Measure U, will play a major role in what happens next.

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