"The North Fork Rancheria has worked in a partnership with local, state and federal entities to bring jobs and economic opportunity to our region through a proposed casino resort project.

At the local level, every Madera jurisdiction has joined our partnership. Every business chamber has embraced the promise of jobs, business opportunity and community investment. Labor unions, civic groups, ethnic organizations, the majority of local tribes and thousands of Madera citizens have endorsed the project and process.

Local support for the proposed development has grown as the regional economy has worsened. Falling employment, government-revenue, home-ownership and private-investment numbers are now rampant throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The Bee recently reported that the 20th Congressional District -- encompassing parts of Fresno, Kings and Kern counties -- ranked dead last in a national ranking of the overall well-being of residents. Even notoriously poor Appalachia fared better than areas represented by project critic state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter.

Our proposed casino will help matters by providing an immediate, massive, privately funded, economic stimulus -- nearly $300 million for initial construction and $2.5 billion over the project life. The resort will generate $100 million annually -- or about $12,000 every hour -- in wages, goods and services purchased and public funding for Madera and the region.

All this calls into question the motivations of Sen. Florez and The Bee in opposing the North Fork project. Just days after the congressional report was released, the senator from Kern County turned away from the pressing economic issues of his own constituents to sign yet another Bee op-ed against the Madera project, this time ranting against the BIA and distorting the intent of the Indian gaming ballot initiatives."

Get the Story:
Elaine Bethel-Fink: Valley needs Madera casino more than ever to improve struggling economy (The Fresno Bee 8/7)
pwlat