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WHAT YOU CAN DO
INDEX
1) Understanding the Financial Situation 2) Writing Letters 3) Fact sheet for Letter Writing 4) Addresses 5) Signs to Download
Citizens of Amador County,…..we need your help. The No Casino in Plymouth Organization requires much needed funds for the ongoing fight against the proposed casino in Plymouth. A casino of the size and scope being planned for Plymouth will literally destroy many of the reasons for living in the foothills of Amador County and will negatively impact all of us. The No Casino Group and its many supporters in the community have written hundreds of individual letters to the press, elected representatives and appointed officials. We have supported the community in front of the BIA scoping sessions and devoted countless hours and meetings to coordinating a strategic offense against this proposed casino. We have developed and maintained this Web site to provide concerned citizens with facts regarding the proposed casino. A great deal of progress has been made in halting the development of the proposed Plymouth Indian Gambling Casino. A new anti-casino majority now has control of the Plymouth City Council after a successful recall election. The previously signed MSA is currently being challenged in court, and because of inherent deficiencies, may actually be ruled an illegal document. This development would allow the City of Plymouth to reject the MSA making the opposition of Amador County municipal governments unanimous. While much of this has been accomplished through the efforts of unpaid volunteers, there are areas that still require substantial funding. Continuing legal assistance is an essential necessity as are funds for the myriad organizational requirements associated with this undertaking. With the solicited funds, we will continue to educate the community and attack the casino project on the environmental, quality of life, health, safety, traffic, water and pollution fronts. At this point in time your assistance is crucial. We greatly appreciate any financial contributions that you can make to help with this worthy cause. Your donation really will make a difference in this fight and will also have a positive impact on your community.
Identity of all contributors will be kept strictly confidential by NCIP. Please make your check out to NO CASINO IN PLYMOUTH and mail it to: NO CASINO IN PLYMOUTH If you are unable to make a financial contribution, please consider helping by writing letters to persons of influence (a list of addresses is attached) NCIP
Plymouth called for a Special City Council Meeting on 20 February with less than two days notice to consider signing of a Municipal Services Agreement (MSA) with the Matt Franklin’s Ione Band of Miwok Indians.. After listening to a lengthy list of objections to the serious flaws in this document, the City Council passed the resolution by a 3-1 margin, with only Councilman Ryan Gillaspie representing the wishes of the community. Momentum has been gaining in opposition to this casino. Sacramento news has been covering our issues and major national newspapers have been reporting the conflict of interest in the local BIA office, in which BIA members voted themselves and their familes in as representatives authorized to negotiate for the casino. Calls for investigation into the conflict of interests and/or fraud have been heard from congressional representatives and from the local community. Casino proponents are trying to push this casino through quickly before the recall and before more publicity is out about the tremendous opposition to the casino. It is imperative that we push our representative to fight this casino now. Several representatives have stated that they could not do much until an agreement has been signed that they could legally fight. We are now at that point. The casino cannot be approved without the Governor’s siganture on a compact and without the authority of the national Bureau of Indian Affairs. Please speak out and voice your opposition of the casino and urge that a compact not be signed and that an investigation be performed on the local (Sacramento office) of the BIA. Governor Schwarzenegger is new to this issue and needs to hear the opposition Be assured that the Franklin group and Ikon are pushing him now to approve a compact. We’d like to urge you to initiate a letter writing campaign to your representatives. Email and physical addresses are listed below for your information. Please be sure to cc: all letters to Amador County Board of Supervisors attn Mario Biagi who is doucmenting community opposition. Be sure to identify yourself and where you live so that the recipients know you are within their disticts or within the sphere of influence of the casino. Thank you for your support and concern. Please write to us if you have any questions or need more information at citizens@nocasinoinplymouth.com
Why oppose the proposed casino in Plymouth? We don’t want it: 73% of Plymouth voters have voted against the casino. The county government and the councils of neighboring cities have voted against it, as has the school district, the federally recognized leadership of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. Churches, businesses, congressional representatives and communities members publically oppose it also. Traffic: It has been projected that traffic will increase to over 19,000 cars per day on Highway 49 through Plymouth. This traffic equates to more than 13 cars per minute every hour of every day all year long — even more during the rush hours of the day. Traffic accidents and fatalities will rise and the casino’s 24-hr-per-day bar will increase the DUI/DWI’s on our local streets. Crime: Currently, the Jackson Rancheria is the source of 27% of Amador County’s Felony crimes, primarily drug and alcohol related. Law enforcement costs deriving from the Jackson Rancheria currently equate to 35% of the Amador Sheriff’s Budget. The proposed casino can expect to produce similar or greater results. School safety: Located less than one mile from the elementary school, the increase in crime, exposure to drug use and traffic safety is a serious concern to our families. Pollution: The Amador Air District is currently in "moderate" non-attainment of Federal Air Standards. With these huge traffic increases, vehicle emission problems are assured and inspections will be required. The horrific volume of traffic anticipated can only degrade air quality. Pollution also includes noise levels, water quality, your view of the night sky, and your way of life. Water: -Water availability is a major concern. A casino on sovereign land has unlimited rights to underground water but the City of Plymouth has legal obligations to maintain their water availability and the water table will rapidly decline. Sewage: the usage of 60,000 to 80,000 gallons of water daily demonstrates the enormous quantity of wastewater created and the overburdening of our sewer system [already at capacity] that would occur. Wells could be contaminated, or wells could be run dry, or BOTH. Quality of Life: Significant increases in traffic, noise levels and light pollution will end our rural and tranquil lifestyle. Detriment to Businesses: Casino developers intend to build three restaurants, a hotel, an entertainment theatre and a business park in conjunction with the Plymouth casino. Our city merchants cannot compete with businesses that do not pay taxes, do not charge sales taxes [some casinos I know do collect sales tax...is this a true statement?], and are not required to pay for workman’s comp. The resulting failures of local businesses will mean a loss of tax base and will add yet more financial burdens to our communities. In addition, documented Amador County experience and that of other casino communities, show that casino patrons come into the community to gamble, eat at the casino and then leave. They don’t frequent community stores, restaurants, or other businesses. They are not the same clientelle that would visit wineries and will not benefit our wine industry. In addition, the congestion created by the proposed casino will impact the Shenandoah Valley as a tourist destination for the wine industry. Financial Costs to the Community: Tribal Governments do not pay state or local taxes but local communities are required to foot the bill for the significant increase in all services associated with casino development and operation. Statewide, casino development has resulted in the loss of local tax revenue from failed businesses that cannot compete with a casino complies that does not pay taxes or workman’s compensation. Sovereignty vs. Regulations: Tribal developments are immune from Environmental Laws, OSHA Regulations and civil liberty lawsuits for any accidents or injuries occurring on reservation property. Casinos do not have to comply with local regulations or zoning and building codes. Inability to Enforce Agreements: Federal Courts have ruled that, absent a waiver of immunity, states may not enforce their own laws in regards to sovereign Indian properties. Unless the tribe waives their sovereign immunity, any Memorandum of Understanding designed to financially mitigate the negative impacts of a casino is not enforceable except at the discretion of the casino developers Contrary to General Plan: The Plymouth City General Plan was designed to express the wishes of the community in relation to how the city should grow. The general plan states that the city intends to be more like Sutter Creek, a small community of shops and local businesses. The casino goes against the letter and intent of the general plan. [I need more specific, succinct info here] Enough!!: The proposed casino in Plymouth, if approved, will be the third casino in Amador County. The Jackson Rancheria currently creates a 1 to 1.2 million dollar financial impact on Amador County of which only about $230,000 is mitigated by Rancheria. A second casino is already approved but not yet constructed in the Buena Vista area near Ione. This third casino will be within a 15-mile radius of the previous two.
PLYMOUTH: Jon Colburn, Mayor Plymouth City Hall AMADOR COUNTY: Amador County Supervisor, 5th District STATE: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Peter Siggins Attorney General of California, Jerry Brown Senator Dave Cox Alan Nakanishi California Gambling Control Commission FEDERAL: Senator Diane Feinstein Senator Barbara Boxer Senator John McCain Congressman Dan Lungren Honorable Dirk Kempthorne George T. Skibine Honorable Phil Hogen, Chairman Mr. Greg Bergfold, Director INDEX
This small sign may be a little tricky to download. Try clicking on the red text to view them. The size may be to large for your printers memory spool to store and print. If that's the case, when you sign off the internet they will be stored in that day's temporary internet files in a smaller format. Use your Windows Explorer to find NO%20CASINO%20SIGN. They will be listed as a 239KB Quick Time Pictures. When you double click on them in Windows Explorer they will open up in a program called picture viewer which will allow you to manipulate the size to one your printer can handle. Display in a location of your choosing. They are one way of letting the Plymouth City Council and your neighbors know how you feel about the proposed casino.
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Copyright (C) 2003 by Citizens for No Casino In Plymouth (209) 245-6115 
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