In 1990, CERA board member Elaine
Willman visited a tiny town on the Columbia River (Cascade Locks) to help some
folks form up a community group to stop a proposed Warm Springs tribal casino.
These people were few in numbers, had limited financial resources, and had
absolutely no idea how to preserve their bucolic community way of life and
prevent becoming a neon-studded “casino town.” Elaine Willman helped them
get started and stayed connected to them all these years.
In January 2012, Elaine received an
email from Carol Taylor of that group! We WON! We WON! She said. CERA asked her
to do a short article for our next CERA newsletter and website. Below is the
article.
This is another example that “just a few people” can make a big difference,
and proof that delay, delay, delay and continuous NOISE can bring success.
Carol Taylor, No-Gorge-Casino
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Cascade Locks,
Oregon has been under the gun for a proposed casino for over 12 years. Cascade
Locks is in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge surrounded by the National
Scenic Area. Threats did not stop our group, NO Gorge Casino, from fighting it
constantly. The property the tribe wanted was located in the Port industrial
park right next to the Columbia River. It consisted of 35 acre and 25 acre
parcels. What started out as just a small casino ended up being the size of
several super Wal-Mart's, plus a resort hotel, plus huge parking lots. They have
held up development in this town for 12 years. My opinion is that other
companies did not want to locate in or near a casino town. In the meantime we
lost our high school, our middle school, two churches and several businesses.
People moved out of town, not only because of the economy, or no jobs, but
because they did not want to raise their families in a casino town.
The powers
that be put all of their eggs in two baskets, one the casino/resort & the
other a Nestle water bottling plant. Neither of these projects would be good for
our little town of less than 1,000. The MOU that the tribe put together, and
presented to the town was full of “mays” and “ifs” and of course was
signed by the mayor at that time. It would have turned the town over to the
tribe for pie in the sky. The former Governor signed a compact with the tribe
and left office before the DOI approved anything (thank God).
The new
Governor, John Kitzhaber, is totally against an off reservation casino and
especially one in the Gorge near the National Scenic area and would not approve
it. They tried to go around him, give everyone the old guilt trip and were in
bed with the BIA and the DOI. I am elated to say that none of their efforts
worked. The new Port Commission refused to vote them another lease option
extension.
The tribe is
not happy. Should they decide to try again it will cost them plenty. Their FEIS
is out of date and the data must be updated. The EIS cost them over $20 million
the first time.
Things started
going downhill for the proposed casino when the tribe wanted to build an
overpass into the industrial park. That would have entailed closing the East
freeway entrance into town, basically cutting us off. People in town started
doubting the lies being told. There would have been major environmental
problems.
NO Gorge
Casino worked hard at getting everyone to write letters to the editor stating
the facts. When the BIA came to town for a review and supposedly to hear from
the citizens, the venue was taken up with tribal members bused into town with
many wearing their finery for the TV cameras. We gathered citizens and kids
together & picketed the entrance to the park where they were meeting. We
were very visible. A special thanks from our group to Elaine Willman, CERA Board
member, and Philip Brendale for attending two round tables in Cascade Locks.
Their expertise and encouragement was so greatly appreciated. Every group needs
a shot in the arm.
Everywhere
they held meetings we were there with signs and speakers. With the enormous help
of the conservation group Friends of the Gorge we held meetings and
fought hard. To encourage people to come to our meetings we had picnics, potluck
dinners preceding meetings, beer & wine parties & even a seminar. We
started out trying to meet in the different towns in the Gorge and getting their
officials to write letters against the casino. The traffic would affect the
Gorge on both sides of the river. Everyone was encouraged to participate.
Sometimes we would only have 3 people show up, but that did not stop us. We sent
out a colored flyer to all residents with a simple question (are you for or
against a casino?). It contained statements on the damage to the environment,
the questionable improvement to the economy, etc. The truth is that it was about
50/50. We did door-to-door surveys. Finally, we voted in new people to the Port
Commission. They were against the casino and also the lack of development and
jobs in the last 12 years. They voted down the additional option extension for
another 3 months. If the tribe wanted the land they would have had to come up
with over a million dollars by midnight on January 4th. It did not
happen. We are so happy we can’t stand ourselves, and we are getting ready to
party hearty. We deserve it, as it has been a long haul.
FYI we were like panhandlers asking
for signatures on petitions and for donations. We set up booths at fairs,
parades & any event where there would be a crowd. Orders were placed for
printed banners, pins, stickers & bumper stickers. We campaigned for those
seeking office that were against a casino.
Our best wishes to any groups who
are still fighting their tribes and proposed casinos and those just starting
out. It is hard work. Try to get your elected officials off their chairs to help
you. Any town, group, or citizens that would be affected should be contacted,
given the true facts, and asked to help. You can do it!
WE DID IT AND ARE PROUD!