Casino foes angered by Rohnert Park agreement

CALIFORNIA – As reported by the Press-Democrat: "An agreement approved Tuesday between Sonoma County supervisors and the Graton Indian tribe indicates the county is parting ways with opponents of the tribe's Rohnert Park gaming casino.

"The agreement itself has little to do with the tribe's proposed Rohnert Park casino because it prohibits the tribe from establishing a second casino and puts any other development proposals from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria under county planning review.

"However, supervisors said Tuesday they voted for the pact because it prevents a repeat of the Rohnert Park situation in which federal authorities approved the tribe's casino plan even before public and environmental review.

"During an hour-long public hearing on the county-tribe memorandum of understanding, backers of the Stop the Casino 101 group accused supervisors of abandoning opposition and paving the way for the tribe's casino and hotel resort on the west side of Rohnert Park..."