City apologizes to Pechanga Band for suing over gaming deal

The city of Temecula, California, apologized to the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians for taking the tribe to court over a gaming deal.

Mayor Ron Roberts personally delivered a letter to the tribe to mend their relationship. He said the city won't appeal the dismissal of the lawsuit.

"The Temecula City Council is committed to working diligently to rebuild a strong, cooperative working relationship with the Pechanga Tribal Council and its members," Roberts wrote in the letter, The Riverside Press-Enterprise.

The tribe has agreed to share about $2 million a year with the city and contribute $10 million towards a highway project. The payments are on hold while the tribe finalizes an agreement with Riverside County, where Temecula is located.

The agreement was required by the tribe's Class III gaming compact.

Get the Story:
Temecula tries to fix relationship with Pechanga tribe (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 5/6)

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