Pair of refreshed tribal gaming compacts inked in California

In the western American state of California and Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured) has reportedly signed legislation into law ratifying refreshed tribal gaming compacts with the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe and the Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.

According to a Wednesday report from The Bakersfield Californian newspaper, the move from the Democratic leader is the final step in the process to certify the revised alliances initially agreed in March. In putting his signature to Senate Bill 900, which was co-authored by California State Senator Melissa Hurtado and California State Assemblyman Rudy Salas, the 54-year-old governor has also purportedly exempted some of the pair’s future developments from having to abide by certain tenets of the California Environmental Quality Act.

Examination easement:

By sanctioning Senate Bill 900, Newsome has reportedly classified the two new tribal gaming compacts as non-projects for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act so as to largely forego a requirement for any of the tribes’ future developments to undergo detailed environmental reviews that often invite intense public scrutiny. The Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe and the Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians have now purportedly built on deals that date back to 1999 to be bound by Class III arrangements under the auspices of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Increase intent:

The Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe is reportedly responsible for the 255-room Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in King’s County, which opened some 39 years ago as the Southgate Bingo Palace. The federally-recognized band is now purportedly planning to extend the facility situated about five south of the small city of Lemoore via the addition of a new bingo hall and events center, a three-level parking garage, 120 more hotel rooms, a conference facility and about 44,000 sq ft of supplementary gaming space.

North nod:

For its part and the Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians has reportedly run the Twin Pine Casino and Hotel near the Lake County community of Middleton since 1994 complete with a 10,000 sq ft casino offering about 500 slots alongside roughly twelve gaming tables. This federally-recognized tribe’s northern California facility purportedly furthermore comes complete with a 60-room hotel that includes a trio of luxury suites in addition to a restaurant and entertainment areas.

Public perks:

Furtado reportedly emphasized the economic and community benefits of the two refreshed gaming compacts and explained that the deals are to now allow the tribes to expand their law enforcement, housing, fire, emergency medical, educational, tourism, environmental and public transport services. The Democratic legislator purportedly went on to note that the refreshed deals reflect a commitment to support the giant state’s Tribal Nation Grant Fund and Revenue Sharing Trust Fund so as to make sure all of its aboriginal governments share in the economic benefits of gaming.

Reportedly read a statement from Furtado…

“For decades the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe has been a valuable partner in the King’s County community. The tribe provides scholarship assistance, job training and adult education programs, health and welfare assistance and other social services. I am pleased that the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe will receive the recognition it deserves.”

Contented condition:

Meanwhile, the Chairman for the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, Leo Sisco, reportedly used his own statement to thank Newsom and Hurtado, who are both preparing to run for re-election in November. He purportedly revealed that his band will now be able to provide half of the expenses for the maintenance of a fire station and contribute approximately $900,000 to King’s County via an intergovernmental agreement.

Sisco’s statement reportedly read…

“On behalf of the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, I would like to thank both Governor Newsom and Senator Hurtado for leading the effort to pass our tribal-state gaming compact. We are pleased to continue our role as a positive economic force in the local community while maintaining the important opportunities and resources for our members, many of which are made possible by our gaming enterprise.”