"Big businesses have big impacts on the communities in which they operate — a fact that has become abundantly clear to Santa Ynez Valley residents. Around here, as businesses and impacts go, they don’t come any bigger than the Chumash Casino Resort.

The tribe is back in the news on two fronts — its officials want to annex the so-called Camp 4 property at the northeast corner of Highways 246 and 154, and to expand liquor sales at the casino.

The tribe doesn’t want to talk about its plans for Camp 4, but it has already tried in a couple of ways to get started on making the property part of its reservation. As we’ve said before, the tribe should stop this effort. There is no valid reason for the property to become another large chunk of the Valley that is not subject to local government regulations and requirements.

This is 1,400 acres, as big as Solvang, and developing so much property in the rural eastern end of the Valley, without any restrictions from Santa Barbara County’s planning rules, would cause irreparable impacts.

As for expanded liquor sales at the casino, we continue to believe that it should be held to the same standards as other restaurants, hotels, tasting rooms and other businesses that serve alcohol."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribe should go further toward compromise (The Solvang Valley News 7/7)

Another Opinion:
Editorial: Treating businesses the same (The Lompoc Record 7/7)

Also Today:
County Drops Protest of Casino Liquor Expansion (The Santa Barbara Independent 7/7)

Related Stories:
County withdraws opposition to Chumash casino's liquor license (7/6)
County weighs stance on Chumash Tribe casino liquor license (6/29)