SACRAMENTO – A new casino on the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Rancheria is one step closer to ground-breaking after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill today by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to ratify the Tribe's gaming compact.
Because it was an urgency bill, the compact becomes law immediately.
"With the governor's signature, the only remaining hurdle is to get final approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior, with which the Tribe has already worked out an agreement," Chesbro said. "The jackpot will be two to three hundred construction jobs for Lake County residents while the casino is being built. When the casino opens, the tribe will create an estimated 145 permanent, full-time jobs with benefits."
The bill enjoyed wide bipartisan support in the Legislature with no opposition, passing off the Assembly Floor 69-0 on May 23 and off the Senate Floor 40-0 last week. State Sen. Noreen Evans coauthored AB 1020 and presented the bill on the Senate floor.
"I can't say enough how pleased I am with the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribal Council for the groundwork it laid to make this project happen," Chesbro said. "The Tribe entered into a memorandum of understanding with Lake County that ensures the county's interests are protected throughout the tribe's project. The tribe has also has an MOU with North Shore Fire Protection District, providing much-needed funding for this rural fire district that is suffering from budget cuts. Additionally, the tribe has set aside more than 55 acres of land to assist with the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project, paid for wastewater expansion and funded a half million dollars in road improvements to Highway 20."
Contact: Andrew Bird, Chesbro communications director, (916) 319-2001
