I feel like I've missed a crucial development along the way. Since when is it inevitable that we allow off-reservation casinos? Casinos on reservations, yes. But off-reservation casinos? Does Federal law protect them as well?

But if off-reservation casinos are inevitable, then the State really ought to just work with the tribes to locate reasonable sites. Instead of the Gorge, let them put a Casino on 82nd Ave in Portland. What can that hurt? I flew out of SeaTac last week and noticed a Casino right on Pacific Highway (Highway 99) a couple miles south of the airport. At this point what's the big deal. That highway is already 98% blight just like 82nd. But keep them out of the gorge, not because they are casinos, but because they represent commercial development.

Lets just be done with it and put the damn think in Portland near the convention center with a 1000 room hotel. Its solves a few problems at once. I don't see anything wrong with the corporate trade show crowd supporting our tax base for schools and public safety. Its a win win.

In the best of all possible worlds I would be against a casino anyplace but in the 'real' world (is anything 'real'?) I like the convention center suggestion even though it won't happen because it makes too much sense.

Kari -- the property in Hood River may be tribally owned land, but it's not within the boundaries of any reservation. I don't know the legal details, but I believe it should still be considered off-reservation.

As for the choice between Hood River and Cascade Locks, neither option is very good for many reasons. At least local residents are generally opposed in Hood River and in favor in Cascade Locks.

I'm glad that the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde are a part of the coalition.

I'm Lakota and have always opposed the casinos -- on the rez or off. There are many of us -- the Tribal Councils I worked with in upstate NY were always conflicted on the issue and it has always been more divisive than anything among the our tribes/nations/clans -- I'd hate for people to get the perception that all native americans support the casino model for generating tribal revenue or impacting the local economy.

We need a downtown casino to fill the demand without requiring excessive travel through either scenic or sentive areas. It is not a hard issue.

First, a "no casino" option in the Columbia Gorge IS valid under state and federal law. A casino can't be built on tribally owned land east of Hood River - both legal and practical impediments bar its development. Governor Kulongoski's plan for Oregon's first off reservation casino in the heart of the Columbia Gorge breaks our state policy limiting casinos to reservation lands, setting a precedent for more off-reservation casinos in the Gorge and throughout the state. The real issue here is that breaking our state's policy barring off-reservation casinos and sticking the state's largest casino in the middle of a national scenic treasure is wrong. Tribes, businesses, environmental groups and local residents are all working in conjunction to make sure that this mega-casino will never happen.

If there is to be a casino in Cascade Locks, it appears the proposed site is next to the railroad line. To cut down on traffic & pollution, why not have a "Casino Train" roll out there a few times a day from the Portland area? You could even have it go to other sites in the gorge and make it a "Gorge Train."

I spent several years down in Phoenix, a city with no land use laws and more sprawling subdivisions than Los Angeles. The only limit to Phoenix's growth is the surrounding reservations. Even though the Native American tribes had thousands of acres surrounding our communities, they decided to build casino after casino right next to the cities of Scottsdale (the equivalent to Lake O) Chandler (Hillsboro) and many other sprawlburbs. I can remember when the first casinos where going up not that many years ago and there were plenty of arguments about gambling too close to the cities and the traps casinos build (no windows, no clocks). Thugs even blocked freeway off ramps so the slots and tables couldn't be unloaded into the buildings. Eventually they opened and they did big business.

Business was so good that the casinos morphed into a series of five star resorts with names like Harrah's and Sheraton attached to them. A few years after the casinos opened the brouhaha about them died down. Having personally worked in a non casino resort all the out of towner guests asked, "how can we get to the casino we passed on our way in," one casino was less than a five minute drive from the airport that virtually every east valley visitor passed on their way in. Eventually even I (after turning 18 of course) ventured into these casinos and let me tell you, they are nothing the way they are described by previous posts here. The casino's were beautiful, big domed skylights dominated the ceiling; a creek with gondolas ran between the guest rooms, golf courses and the casino floor. With the exception of the bingo hall, the air was clear, and waitresses walked past with free sodas (not booze) while you were playing.

I never once heard about the major social problems created by gambling addiction in Phoenix that you hear argued constantly here, although I'm sure they existed and have destroyed more than one family. The tribes however, seemed to be more integrated into our communities and worked (or forced) an agreement out with the state. There is now a form of profit sharing, all these casinos contributed money to fund the programs helping treat addicted gamblers, they contribute money to the school fund, and they paid for artistic improvements to the freeways that passed by them not to mention a nice chunk of change to the state treasury.

To me, having to drive an hour to and hour and a half to go to the closest casino, if I ever decide to do so here, seems ridiculous to me. I'm sure it wont deter me, especially if I indeed become addicted, and the harm it will do to have, lets say, three million more car trips through the gorge a year (isn't that Spirit Mountains yearly visitor total) seems like we would be shooting ourselves in the foot by not allowing them closer in and out of the gorge. Wouldn't it make more sense to just legalize a limited and controlled amount of casinos, private or tribal owned, with strict guidelines on what lands they can build on close to our major cities and without polluting of our scenic areas? Our flexibility would allow the state to form a generous profit sharing agreement because non tribal casinos can been forced to profit share and can be taxed.

The casinos will come, and they will get closer, if not from our local Oregon tribes, they will show up closer on the other side of the river, leaving us to foot the bill for gambling addicts, while getting nothing but the pollution from cars as the people whizz by on their way up. I say we build our first one in Jantzen beach!

Albert,

The Governor has rural health cut down to the bone, so he is giving them a casino to cure their ills.

I agree with Cab and Dale, except why not put it at dog track in east Multnomah County? They already have a ton of parking space, close to I-84 and the airport.

Charlie, You don't get the out of state business in that area. One of our problems in not having a sales tax is the limited out of state money dropped by tourists. With a Casino (Don't forget we get a headquarters hotel out of the deal) right next to the convention center we would get the most bang for the buck. Better yet put the damn thing in the Airport and really exploit out of towners. Too much is being made of the local issues. Other then moving money around what does capturing local money do for the overall state? We need outside of state revenue sources. The convention center casino is the way to go.

It's a sad, sad day when we have to go to George Bush's federal administration to save the Columbia Gorge from turning into Vegas North.

Kari, we all should learn more about the facts. Unfortunately there has been a real vacuum, until this unlikely coalition popped up recently, spewing out a lot of misinformation. I don’t trust Friends of the Gorge anymore. Since when did environmentalists and Christian fundamentalists band together to become pawns of a major economic player that has a monopoly on the market share and will do anything to maintain it? If you watched local news in the past week, you know that The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Rhonde, owners of Spirit Mountain Casino, are the force -and $$$- behind this ‘unlikely coalition’. Did you see the ad paid for by the coalition? Can't anyone else see how diabolical this all is?

About the "no casino" option: it's a real one. Under the IGRA, if the governor of the state where the casino is to be located does not agree that it would benefit the tribal applicant, the surrounding community, and the other tribes in the area, he or she can veto the deal. The Secretary of the Interior, who arguably has the final say, must heed the "governor's concurrence" to the application for off-reservation gaming.

So here's my take:

The tribe owns the land, and can apply to have it taken into trust for gaming purposes. If they apply, then the Gov. has to either give concurrence, refuse to do so, or say nothing (which acts like a pocket veto), and face the political consequences. Evidently, the Gov. has decided that it is politically better to okay a Gorge casino so that he can keep the "one casino per tribe" policy. The only way to stop this thing for sure is to get the Gov. to withhold his concurrence, like the Gov. of Wisconsin did when the Lac Courte Oreilles wanted to put a casino at an old dog track in Hudson, WI.

Also remember that (for those who don't know anything about Indian Country) tribes are competitors. They always have been, since before the first white person set foot on this continent. There is no such thing anymore, if in fact there ever was, as a "pan-Indian" aesthetic. Grand Ronde's operations would be put at a competitive disadvantage by a Warm Springs gorge casino. Period. Just because they're Indians doesn't mean they're looking to help each other out.

That having been said, you will see an "arms race" of sorts among tribal casino operators if this gorge casino goes through.

Personal message To Michael Lang (FOG), From Roger Freeborn, Former Mayor of Cascade Locks.

Michael, I wonder if you remember the day you and Kevin Gorman met with myself several other Cascade Locks City Officials and a HR County Official in the Cascade Locks Industrial Park to tour an alternative (now proposed) Casino site to Government Rock or the Hood River site? After we finished the tour you announced "THE FRIENDS WILL NOT OPPOSE THIS SITE FOR A CASINO BUT WE WILL NOT PUBLICALLY SUPPORT IT." I guess the times have changed as I now see a lot of opposition and (you did stay true to this part) no public support and I'm glad for you. I'm glad that the controversry you are fueling at the expense of My Towns hard work and efforts to bring Economic Developement to Cascade Locks has netted the FOG at least one new financial sponsor and I hope you have received a substantial pay raise from your members for your efforts to sell out my trust in your word.

We included you and your group in the planning process every step of the way, we kept no secrets from you, We didn't have to do this, we felt it best to work with as many groups as possible up-front to address all concerns (something I've been taught by the Warm Springs People). Your concerns were heard hence moving the proposed location from Hood River to Cascade Locks, this made you happy at the time but I guess your trust and word come with a financial price we couldn't afford. Now it looks like you work for another Casino (Spirit Mountain).

If the Friends of the Gorge and this new Coalition really want to help Oregon and Oregonians why don't you sponsor some substantial economic developement or participate (in a large way) in the Governors "War on Meth" or figure out how to funnel money into the States School System.

Taking on a small town with limited resources is easy and who do you help? Oh yeah, I forgot you may have just gotten a pay raise.

I find it hard to believe the Public Perception (that you and your group have helped fuel)of The People of Cascade Locks and the Warm Springs Tribe, that we want to rape the Gorge. Nothing could be further from the truth, most of us living here are transplants from the Portland Metro Area who moved here for the quality of life not the least of which is the scenic beauty. As for the Tribes Members they just want to come Home and make a living in an enterprise they have every right to pursue.

Have you been to Kah-Nee-Ta lately? Oh yeah I forgot again. Remember the day we spent touring Warm Springs Reservation (on their dime), We were all very impressed including yourself as to what wonderful Stewards of the Land they are. Do you really believe the Warm Springs Tribe is going to invade Cascade Locks and build a shack and hope nobody notices. You've seen the drawings of the proposed Warm Springs developement and it blows all the other Casino Developements in the Northwest away. You've seen the Warm Springs plans for water, land, fish and recreation protection and developement, it meets and exceeds what the State, Feds and Friends of the Gorge have or will do for this area of the Gorge.

After all this work with your group I don't get it. I (and I hope others) will began to take you for what you are, a well paid pupet for a minority of special interest people. Enjoy the gravy train while it lasts because in my lifetime or after there will be a Warm Springs Tribe owned Casino in the Gorge and My hope is that it be built in Cascade Locks.

A POPULAR MISCONCEPTION: A casino built in Cascade Locks would be the first “off-reservation” casino in Oregon? THIS QUESTION/ASSUMPTION IS BEING RAISED BY TOO MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE FOLLOWING FACTS.

It is a little known fact that many of the Federally-recognized Oregon tribes have built their casinos on land they added to their reservation for purposes of gaming. These “restored tribes” – including the Grand Ronde [Spirit Mountain Casino], the Coos/Lower Umpqua/Siuslaw [Three Rivers Casino – Florence], the Coquille [The Old Mill Casino – North Bend] and the Siletz [Lincoln City – about 50 miles from their reservation] – used special Congressional Acts or federal laws to acquire the specific new land parcels for their casinos. Similarly, the Warm Springs are proposing to use Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to bring 35 acres in Cascade Locks into trust for the purpose of a gaming facility.

Stay tuned for more comments

Roger Freeborn Former Mayor of Cascade Locks 2 year Cancer Survivor

Great comments Roger. Expose the self serving monied interests that can't seem to be truthful. How can Michael Lang and the Friends think that they are more environmentally friendly than the Warm Springs? Wasn't the Gorge in better shape before the Native Americans were removed to the reservation after over 10,000 years of stewardship? There isn't a "no casino" option. There really shouldn't be any question at all concerning the Warm Springs rights to develop a casino at their Hood River location. Land in trust prior to 1988 is eligible for gaming. Period. I confirmed this personally with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Scenic Area Act provides no protection of the site in Hood River as tribal trust land is excempt from the Act. The Friends of the Gorge know this and are purposely mistating the facts. From the Indians perspective, the Warm Springs would rather be in a community that wants them, Cascade Locks, then one that doesn't. However, some of the tribal members would like to build the casino in Hood River just to proof that they can! Concerning the Port's land, we believe that the tribal resort will have the no greater impact than anything else that we could place at the site. The land is zoned heavy industrial. We could recruit a steel mill, a super Walmart, Six Flags over Oregon, NASCAR, a Union Pacific rail switching yard, a paper mill or a lumber mill to the site. Picture billing smokestacks, diesel trains ideling, piles of raw materials. Go look at the site as it is today. Bear Mt. Inc manufactures wood pellets from large piles of wood chips. Picture the whole site stockpiled with raw materials. There is nothing at all that the Friends, or Congressmen Wu could do to stop the Port from developing the site unless Congress changes the Scenic Area Act. The Cascade Locks urban area is excempt from the scenic area restrictions. If the Cascade Locks casino is stopped, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department would work hard to find a heavy industrial user to locate on Port property.