Two lawsuits are pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for approving the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's application to take 152 acres near La Center into trust. Both lawsuits are assigned to Judge Richard W. Roberts. The defendants have a June 10 deadline to respond, after which further proceedings will be scheduled.
Plaintiffs in lawsuit filed Jan. 31:
o Clark County (represented by Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Lawrence Watters): The county "will lose jurisdiction over the land, experience a reduction in revenues and be unable to collect taxes on the site as developed .... Further, the citizens of the county will be harmed by the environmental, social and economic impacts of the casino project."
o City of Vancouver (represented by Assistant City Attorney Brent Boger): The city argues the project will strain housing, transportation and law enforcement resources.
o Citizens Against Reservation Shopping (represented by attorneys from the Washington, D.C. office of Perkins Coie): A nonprofit organization consisting of business and civic leaders, including Scott Campbell, publisher of The Columbian. It claims the federal review process was flawed and the project would damage the area's "economic, social and environmental resources."
o Al Alexanderson (represented by Perkins Coie): Lives on five acres near the trust land. Concerned the "casino will increase crime, noise and light pollution, and will pollute the East Fork of the Lewis River, harming his ability to enjoy his property, decreasing his property values and in general diminishing his quality of life."
o Greg and Susan Gilbert (represented by Perkins Coie): Live across Interstate 5 from the trust land. Concerns include a stream that runs through their property and eventually empties into the East Fork of the Lewis River. "The Gilberts enjoy the deer, blue heron, bald eagles and many other forms of wildlife that come to their property because of the habitat the stream provides. The Gilberts are deeply concerned that the proposed casino development will result in an irreversible change in the rural character of the area; the loss of enjoyment of the aesthetic and environmental qualities of the agricultural land surrounding the casino site" and other concerns shared by Alexanderson.
o Dragonslayer Inc. (represented by Perkins Coie): Owns two cardrooms in La Center. Generates $1.4 million in annual tax revenue for La Center. Estimates casino will result in the loss of 60 percent of their business.
o Michels Development (represented by Perkins Coie): Owns two cardrooms in La Center. Shares same concerns as Dragonslayer; predicts loss of business will "directly affect La Center's revenues and the city's ability to provide services."
Plaintiff in lawsuit filed Feb. 1:
o Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (represented by Washington D.C. firm Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber): The Grand Ronde argues, as do other plaintiffs, that the ruling runs contrary to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. The Grande Ronde also argues the trust land "is not located within the Cowlitz Tribe's aboriginal territory, is not historically or culturally significant to the Cowlitz" and is "approximately 25 miles from the Cowlitz administrative offices in Longview and 50 miles away from Cowlitz Tribal housing and the Cowlitz Elders Program and Senior Nutrition Center in Toledo." The Grand Ronde says it "has culture and historical connections to the north shore of the Columbia River, including Clark County."
