Hollister – The California Valley Miwok tribe is already in
discussions with local officials in Los Banos, where casino Project
Manager Gary Ramos said the tribe’s investors had been looking even
before announcing plans to scrap a hotel and casino near
Hollister.
Hollister – The California Valley Miwok tribe is already in discussions with local officials in Los Banos, where casino Project Manager Gary Ramos said the tribe’s investors had been looking even before announcing plans to scrap a hotel and casino near Hollister.
In a press release issued Thursday, Ramos said the tribe felt unwelcome in San Benito County due to the board of supervisors’ willingness to “take any action, ethical or not” to keep the casino out. Instead, Ramos said, they’d be looking for a more friendly and welcoming environment. And he said Friday Los Banos is one location that might fit the bill.
“Yes, they have come and talked to us,” said Los Banos Mayor Michael Amabile Friday. “They met with us twice, once quite a few months ago. But I know they’re looking at other communities, too. We’re in a little bit different situation over here. We have a very high unemployment rate; jobs are very important over here. Not that they aren’t important everywhere, but personally I do think Los Banos might be a little more receptive.”
Ramos’ complaints about the hostility towards the project stem from the county board of supervisors’ February resolution opposing the casino, which he believes was approved prematurely and without all the facts.
“In all my years in this business, this is probably the most unorthodox situation with trying to deal with a government body that I’ve ever encountered,” Ramos said Friday. “I don’t see why anybody would want to come into San Benito and do anything. It’s just too difficult. It’s just too frustrating and too expensive. We kind of saw the handwriting on the wall quite early.”
Ramos said Thursday the tribe and its investors from Game Won had originally come to San Benito County at the behest of the state. The tribe and its investors began looking at Los Banos almost a year ago, along with two other locations they’re still pursuing, he added.
Ramos wouldn’t say what the two other potential locations for the casino were.
