"Enter the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, who have agreed to donate $500,000 to support a long-term plan for Tolay Lake Regional Park. County park officials say the tribe's donation, combined with $300,000 from the state Coastal Conservancy, will fully fund the remaining planning work.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will vote next week on an agreement that would allow the county to accept the donation, and would make the Graton tribe a “cooperating agency” in the planning process. The agreement would allow the Graton tribe to have extensive input on the planning process, although the county would remain the lead agency.

That seems reasonable enough given that the area is an important cultural and historic Native American site, and the tribe's involvement would end with the completion of the planning process.

However, the tribe's “donation” must be viewed in context. It is the Graton Rancheria and its partner, Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas, who are planning a giant casino complex in Rohnert Park, virtually at Petaluma's back door."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Will casino money help open Tolay park? (The Petaluma Argus-Courier 8/3)

Related Stories:
Graton Rancheria seeks cooperative agreement for county park (7/28)