A relatively few years ago, the phrase "Indian prosperity" would have been a classic oxymoron.
Today, however, the adult members of the Table Mountain Rancheria, in the rolling Sierra Nevada foothills northeast of Fresno, are handed individual $14,000 profit-sharing checks every month from their 10-year-old casino. Each of the tribe's 30 families has been given $250,000 to build a custom home. And the 40 tribal children receive after-school tutoring from two full-time teachers, with every A on report cards bringing a $1,000 reward. In a single year, a straight-A student can earn $28,000.
"The only downside to our casino," said Table Mountain tribal chairman Vern Castro, "is in debating where to spend the money."
As a November vote nears on hotly contested Proposition 5--the Indian-spawned ballot measure calling for a continuation of existing casino operations--few dispute that gambling is a key to tribal self-sufficiency. In communities near casinos, politicians, police and business leaders--many of whom receive tribal financial gifts--also say the gambling halls are a boon to the local economy.
Opponents of the measure counter that communities will suffer if casinos are allowed to proliferate without state government approval and oversight.
"Some tribal lands are remote and don't impact their neighbors," said Sean Walsh, spokesman for Gov. Pete Wilson. "But for others, you have inadequate roads that lead to dangers, not only for neighboring residents, but for casino players; you have a wanton disregard of environmental laws in the state, and you have a population alien to local communities, potentially bringing vices and crime that you don't want your children or family exposed to."
Tribes Divided by Prop. 5
The debate has proved divisive not just among voters, but among some of the tribes that have the most at stake.
In recent months, 11 tribes--including Table Mountain--have signed compacts with the state that limit their operations and gaming equipment, and four of them are actively campaigning against the passage of Proposition 5. They say that even with new state-approved video gaming machines, their casinos will still be successful.
About 80 tribes--including most of the tribes with existing casino operations--support passage of Proposition 5. They say anxiety about Indian casinos that would be allowed under the ballot measure is unwarranted.
