In a marathon Vallejo City Council session that extended from Tuesday night well into early Wednesday morning (November 19th – November 20th), a series of resolutions were adopted, including a pivotal one concerning the Scotts Valley Casino Project. This decision could shape the future landscape of Vallejo, California, both economically and environmentally.
Unanimous approval with broad implications:
The council voted unanimously to authorize City Manager Andrew Murray to execute a Cooperative Agreement with the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California. This agreement is part of a proposal to place land within the City of Vallejo in trust for the Tribe, a critical step in the Tribe’s plan to develop a sprawling 400,000-square-foot casino.
The ambitious $700 million project also includes the construction of 24 single-family residences, a tribal administration building, a parking garage, and a significant 45-acre biological preserve area. The entire development is proposed on a 160-acre property straddling the boundary of the City of Vallejo in Solano County, near the vital intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 37.
The council session featured contributions from four speakers, highlighting the community’s diverse perspectives. Matthew Adams, speaking in person, emphasized the city’s leverage over the project’s terms, urging careful negotiation. Another speaker, joining virtually, voiced concerns about the project’s environmental implications, urging more in-depth discussion.
Council member Rozzana Verder-Aliga underscored that while the resolution’s passing is an initial step, ongoing engagement with the Pomo Indian tribe is essential to ensure Vallejo residents are involved in the project’s planning and design phases.
According to Times-Herald, Mayor Robert McConnell raised several concerns during the discussion. He drew parallels with another California casino that suffered from mismanagement in the past decade. The Mayor questioned the necessity of the extensive land requirement for the project, particularly questioning the allocation of 115 acres beyond the designated biological preserve.
Further, the Mayor queried the project’s alignment with new regulations, including those related to a tobacco ordinance passed earlier in the session. He also expressed curiosity about the potential impacts of the new casino on Vallejo’s existing small businesses, highlighting concerns about the project’s broader economic implications.
Opposition from neighboring tribes and state government:
The project has not only sparked debate locally but has also attracted attention from higher levels of government and neighboring tribes. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has expressed concerns over the past months, particularly after an environmental impact report by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs revealed plans to bulldoze a Patwin cultural site for the casino—highlighting the absence of ancestral ties of the Pomo to this land.
Additionally, California Governor Gavin Newsom has voiced his opposition to the project. In a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Newsom said: “(I am) concerned that these specific projects are proceeding in a manner that would sidestep the state, ignore the concerns of tribal governments and other local communities and stretch the ‘restored lands’ exception beyond its legal limits – while failing to adequately consider whether there might be a better way.” His concerns are echoed by other regional tribal governments who fear the potential overreach and environmental impacts of the project.
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