Education     Representation     Water Resources     Land Use

August 27, 2005 

Letters to the editor/Valley voices

The Fresno Bee

P.O. Box 12504

Fresno, CA 93778-2504 

Re: Our Views 8/27/05 – “Still a lousy idea”  

Dear Editors, 

Your editorial piece in the Bee today, on casinos and their location is, in our opinion, completely off base. What more rational place, based on prudent land use, to locate casinos than where existing or easily acquired infrastructure and major transportation access exist. You seem to advocate, through ignorance, that casinos be located in rural areas. Please note that the rural areas upon which many Indian lands exist are located in the foothill areas of the Sierra Nevada. These areas are historically water short, fragile ecosystems that also serve as critical source watershed providing the valley with much needed high quality water. To introduce major impact “Las Vegas” style mega casinos into this water short and transportation poor area, along with the vast increase in population that would result, would compromise this area beyond belief. Multi-lane highway access would, by necessity, be constructed creating more air pollution and destroying the existing designated scenic highways. Major additional ground water usage in a troubled water area would be devastating to the existing residents. Remember also that the foothills are now located with-in the boundaries of the recently legislated Sierra Nevada Conservancy. And by the way, the “all out Las Vegas gaming in California” horse has left the barn. 

Sincerely, 

Sierra and Foothill Citizens Alliance 

Gary L. Temple, President

For more information:  info@sierrafoothillwater.org

To contact the webmaster:  webmaster@sierrafoothillwater.org