
The U.S. Department of the Interior has officially approved the transfer of a 128-acre site in Vallejo into federal trust for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, paving the way for the construction of a new casino. This move comes after years of efforts by the Tribe to establish a foothold for economic development and self-sufficiency, NBC Bay Area reports.
Despite opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom and other local entities, the Scotts Valley Band's vision is to materialize with a $700 million casino resort, including 24 single-family homes for tribe members, an administration building, and a 45-acre biological preserve. As per Mercury News, tribal Chairman Shawn Davis expressed his community's determination and long struggle to "reclaim our community."
This development not only signifies a new chapter for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians but also represents a significant economic boost for Vallejo. It is expected to create thousands of jobs in construction and operations, with a ripple effect of increased economic activity for the surrounding Solano County businesses. Moreover, the Department of Interior's approval arrives just before President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration, marking a reversal from the first Trump administration's rejection of the tribe’s plan on the grounds of an alleged inadequate historical connection to the land.
However, the project has met stiff resistance from other Indigenous groups, particularly the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. They argue that the casino would desecrate Patwin cultural sites and lack the Scotts Valley Band's ancestral ties to the region. "We are deeply disappointed and disheartened to see this decision from the Biden Administration," Yocha Dehe Chairman Anthony Roberts told Mercury News. The tribe has questioned the procedural integrity and the environmental assessment's findings under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).