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Casino Proposal Adds Area Residents from Neighboring States of Oregon

On April 27, 2007, the proposal that would allow the residents from neighboring areas to decide on the non-tribal casino legislation passed in a committee vote in Oregon's state senate. The proposal, which is sponsored by Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, a Democrat from Gresham, will influence the decision regarding a big casino and entertainment facility in Wood Village.

Under the modified proposal, if the voters from Oregon approve the proposal calling for a casino at the ex Multnomah Kennel Club next year, the residents from Gresham, Fairview and Troutdale will be able to decide on the Wood Village issue.

The original bill from Monnes Anderson called a vote on where the casino will be built. However, in a statement before the Education and General Government Committee on April 24, 2007, Mayor Mike Weatherby from Fairview, commented that the measure did not accomplish enough.

Mayor Weatherby and the other Fairview officials collaborated with Monnes Anderson's staff to make an amendment that will allow the neighboring cities to decide when a non-tribal casino is introduced in their region.

The committee voted 5 to 0 to pass the amended proposal, which was also pushed by the representatives from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in the Senate. Monnes Anderson commented that the vote in the Senate could happen next week. If the bill is approved, it will be up to the state House to decide.

Investment Advisor Bruce Studer and Attorney Matt Rossman, who are pushing for the proposal, have yet to air their side on the proposal authored by Monnes Anderson.

Mayor David Fuller from Wood Village criticized both Weatherby and Anderson for not consulting with him or the councilors of Wood Village first. Gresham Mayor Shane T. Benis commented that it is a good idea to have the neighboring areas decide on such a big project.

Mayor Paul Thalhofer from Troutdale said that he would inform his own council about their decision regarding the vote on the casinos. Mayor Thalhofer said that he is against the idea of a Wood Village casino.

A massive casino gambling facility will have a negative effect on East County and provide Rossman and Studer with a gambling monopoly.

The pair still needs to collect signatures to take their plans to the next level for the November 2008 vote. The plan includes building an entertainment complex worth $500 million with a casino area, hotel, live music area, different restaurants, merchandise shops, bowling alley, health spa and a water park.

 

Sunday, May 27 , 2007
Brian Letendre