We had dreams of furthering our mission of environmental stewardship and social justice,” said Greg Sarris, Graton Rancheria’s tribal chairman. We had dreams of supporting the local economy. “We had dreams of providing great jobs for people. Supporters of the casino say the broader community has benefited, too, both from the tribe’s expanding charitable donations in addition to tens of millions of dollars in required contributions toward local government budgets. Graton’s profits have funded annual payouts to members of the tribe, as well as the growth of social programs and college scholarships. Tribal members have benefited greatly from the casino since it began welcoming patrons. 5, 2013, tens of thousands still pour into the massive gambling hall each week, according to its leadership.Īll the while, the 254-acre casino property has become one of Sonoma County’s largest private employers and cemented its status as a Bay Area tourist destination.Īnd the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which owns the casino, has begun flexing its political muscle in new and significant ways, launching campaigns worth hundreds of thousands of dollars while the casino generates revenue that tribal leaders say is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. While traffic has calmed since the Graton Resort & Casino opened on Nov. The true impact, however, has been more subtle - and more potent - than many had anticipated. Advocates countered it would unleash an economic tidal wave that would create jobs, fill government coffers and lift the fortunes of a tribe whose traditional lands were taken away by Congress more than 150 years ago. Thousands of people clogged Highway 101 and side streets to experience the debut of the $825 million Las Vegas-style gambling hub, built in a former cow pasture in a collaboration between a Nevada casino giant and a once-destitute Native American tribe.Ĭritics warned the 320,000-square-foot facility would lead to sharp increases in traffic, crime and personal bankruptcies while damaging the region’s environment and depleting its groundwater supply. Five years ago, the largest casino in the Bay Area threw open its doors on the western outskirts of Rohnert Park amid much fear - and hope - about the ways it would change Sonoma County.

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