The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is moving forward with plans to build a new casino in Vallejo after overcoming a protracted legal battle, despite opposition from local officials and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
The proposal, which involves developing a 160-acre site at the intersection of Highway 80 and Route 37, includes an eight-story casino, restaurants, bars, a ballroom, 24 houses, and a tribal administration building, Vallejo Sun reports.
The project site currently comprises undeveloped land and a horseboarding facility, which will be demolished. Additionally, a 45-acre biological preserve will be established on the northeastern hillside, and a wetland area in the southern part of the site will be maintained.
“For generations, our people have endured hardships, including the loss of our ancestral lands and the challenges of being one of the few landless Indian tribes in the United States,” said Scotts Valley Band board chairman Shawn Davis during a recent meeting to collect feedback on the project, the report said. “This project represents a significant opportunity to reverse that history.”
Local officials and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation have raised concerns, including insufficient review time and the Scotts Valley tribe’s lack of historical connection to Vallejo. However, the decision lies with the federal government, rendering local and state authorities without decision-making power.
An environmental assessment by the Bureau of Indian Affairs notes that the Scotts Valley Band is a federally recognized landless tribe and that placing the Vallejo site into trust would allow it to reestablish its homeland and create a tribal government headquarters.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation opposes the project, arguing that they have a stronger historical claim to the land and that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has excluded them from the decision-making process. A statement from the Wintun Nation asserts that the Scotts Valley tribe is not landless, as they own property in Clear Lake.
For its part, the Scotts Valley tribe has been attempting to build a casino in Vallejo since 2016. After initial rejection and a subsequent appeal, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Interior Department to reconsider the proposal, leading to the publication of the environmental assessment on July 8 and a 30-day review period.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs held a virtual public hearing on July 23, with opinions split on the proposal. Supporters cited economic benefits, while opponents expressed concerns about transparency, potential traffic, crime, and environmental impacts.
Several opponents called for a comprehensive environmental report and more public outreach, fearing the primary beneficiaries would be wealthy Las Vegas investors. The land was purchased in 2016 by Las Vegas-based Integrated Resort Development LLC, owned by casino architect Paul Steelman, with GTL Properties LLC, owned by casino executive Gregory Lee, listed as the current owner.
The Bureau extended the public comment period to August 22, but some local officials argue that this extension is still inadequate for a thorough review, the report said.