The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians (traditional name Ye-Ma-Bax) is moving ahead with a $700 million casino resort in Vallejo, reports NBC Bay Area (KNTV-TV). The U.S. Department of the Interior approved placing 160 acres of land into federal trust, marking a significant milestone for the landless tribe.
The tribe is planning to build an eight-story, 400,000-square-foot casino, 24 homes for tribal members, an administration building, and a biological preserve on the land.
The project has faced opposition from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which says the land is part of its cultural heritage and disputes the Scotts Valley Band’s historical ties to the site, according to NBC Bay Area. Its objections include potential traffic and environmental impacts, as well as cultural disruptions. Nevertheless, the Vallejo City Council voted in November to collaborate with the Scotts Valley Band if the land were placed into trust, writes the Vallejo Times-Herald …