Friday, April 14, 2006

As reported by the Contra Costa Times: "A North Richmond neighborhood
advisory group failed Tuesday to come up with a list of concerns about a
planned Las Vegas-styled casino in its community. "Though the North Richmond
Advisory Council has until April 28 to submit written concerns, the group
does not yet have such a list drafted, nor has it set a meeting date to vote
on one, chairman Lee Jones said Wednesday.
"A Contra Costa County assistant administrator and a representative from
county Supervisor John Gioia's office at the neighborhood group's meeting
Tuesday warned that it was important to include the community's concerns in
the project's environmental impact statement.

"But during the meeting, Jones said he wanted instead to hear from tribal
Chairman Donald Arnold.

".If the council misses the April 28 deadline, it could jeopardize North
Richmond's ability to sue the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians should the
tribe fail to deliver on a number of promises it has made to community
members, Supervisor John Gioia said Wednesday. These include providing jobs
to North Richmond residents, improving schools and funding health care in
the impoverished and crime-ridden area."