The proposed Plymouth Casino has been an issue for over 6 years and with your help NCIP has continued a relentless effort to stop the proposed casino project. We could not have been able to successfully fight this casino development if it had not been for the resounding community support of hundreds of our neighbors who agree with our purpose. Our last newsletter briefly discussed three major US Government decisions that all directly hinder the proposed Plymouth casino project: two Supreme Court decisions and one by the US Solicitor.

The application to obtain casino land in Plymouth relied heavily on a restored lands opinion by Carl Artman, which has now been reversed by the US Solicitor. The two US Supreme Court decisions apply directly to the ability to continue the proposed Plymouth casino project. To circumvent the US Supreme Court “Carcieri” decision would take congressional action to reverse a federal mandate that has been in effect for 75 years.

To circumvent the second US Supreme Court decision would require state approval of a Federal request to place land into trust needed to enable development of a casino in Plymouth. To date our Governor has supported this communities opposition to the Plymouth casino proposal. In 2006, 84% of our county voters agreed there should be no more casinos in Amador County. It is doubtful that either the federal government will make such a request or for the Governor to reverse his stated position. Any one of these three decision could end development of the Plymouth casino; collectively, they make it more than difficult to obtain land needed for the proposed project.

However, the fight is not over yet! NCIP will continue to work hard to stop development of any more casinos in Amador County in compliance with the will of the people. Your support has been essential to thwarting a casino that many believed (some time ago) to be a “done deal.” So . . . . we believe it is time to say ‘THANKS’ for supporting this effort. Not time to celebrate yet, just say thanks for standing with us in the fight. We will not have our traditional annual Dinner/Dance fundraiser this year but rather an Informational Forum will be held on 24 October, 2009 at the Plymouth Fairgrounds from 3:30-6:30 PM. Complimentary beverages, appetizers, music will be provided for a good time for all.

NCIP is pleased to announce a Special Guest Speaker for our Forum. Santa Barbara Attorney Jim Marino will speak on the affect of the Carcieri and Hawaii decisions on Fee to Trust and Indian gaming. Jim served in the Marine Corps and worked as a Santa Barbara police officer prior to receiving his law degree from Santa Clara University College of law in 1973. In 1999 he began assisting communities in their efforts to oppose Indian casinos and has represented and advised communities in California, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Jim is knowledgeable and experienced with the issues related to reservation / casino shopping and Indian casinos and will provide knowledgeable insight on the Carcieri and Hawaii cases and what the future looks like for Indian casinos in Amador County and elsewhere.