Remarks by Julie Huff, Tribal Member, To the Placer County Board of Supervisors on amending the Memorandum of Understanding
Council members, good afternoon. My name is Julie Huff and I am a member of the United Auburn Indian Community. I stood before you back in August to ask that you approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Well, I am back today asking you to provide a simple amendment to the original MOU.
Our Tribe has identified gaming as the only enterprise that can adequately provide economic self-sufficiency for its members. Those opposing the gaming facility will often state, "There are many businesses that can provide the Tribe with economic self-sufficiency other than gaming." This is not quite accurate.
Gaming is the one enterprise that attracts enough capital to develop our reservation and to generate sufficient income to meet the housing, medical, and various other needs of tribal members. The federal government specifically allows Tribes to conduct gaming for these very reasons.
Former Governor Phil Batt of Idaho once opposed Indian gaming in his state until he was able to see the benefits and changes that occurred for the better due to Indian gaming. He has now written a book entitled, "The Complete Phil Batt - A Kaleidoscope," which explains why he now supports Indian gaming. Batt has stated, "One should weigh circumstances before settling on an absolute course of confrontation."
As you know, our Tribe is continuing forward with the process to acquire land at Athens and Industrial Avenues - land identified by the Tribe and County as conducive to developing an entertainment and gaming facility. Once the federal government approves our application, we will need sewer and water service to operate the facility.
As a resident of the Lincoln area, I am disappointed that the City of Lincoln has decided that it does not want to offer us these services. However, this has not provided a setback for the Tribe, for we have looked into other options. I appeal to you to add these alternatives to the MOU.
I know that you want to mitigate any impacts that the development may create on surrounding communities. In order to help achieve this goal, you must approve the amendments to the MOU. In making this decision, you remain constant to your position as well as provide an effective solution that balances the needs of the Tribe with those of residents. Thank you.
