Remarks by Jessica Tavares to Placer County Supervisors

Remarks by Jessica Tavares, Tribal Chairperson, To the Placer County Board of Supervisors on amending the Memorandum of Understanding

Good afternoon. I am Jessica Tavares, the chairperson for the United Auburn Indian Community. The purpose of today's hearing is simple: to approve an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the Board voted to approve in August.

Let me first state that throughout the nation and in California, tribes are having their land taken into trust - an event made clear yesterday when the federal government granted trust status to 44 acres of land selected by the Giddyville Tribe.

The United Auburn Indian Community is likewise moving forward with its application to acquire land at Athens and Industrial Avenues. And, whether there are mitigations to protect against any impacts created by the development is a decision that only you can make.

Now, the City of Lincoln has decided that it does not want to offer sewer and water services, as originally provided for in the MOU. Had we realized that the City of Lincoln would change its position, we would have not have limited the original MOU to their services. However, what happened is in the past.

The Tribe, consequently, has identified new alternatives to fulfilling our sewer and water needs to operate the entertainment and gaming facility. You supported the MOU in August, and we request that you continue to support the MOU today by agreeing to our amendments.

Let me introduce Howard Dickstein, counsel to the Tribe, who will address the proposed amendments.