A newly formed group has filed a lawsuit against Shasta County, claiming that the agreement with the Redding Rancheria to move the Win-River Casino to a new location is illegal and harmful to the public interest.
The lawsuit alleges multiple violations
The group, called the California Land Stewardship Council (CLSC), was registered on Feb. 5, 2024, just eight days before it filed the civil complaint in Shasta County Superior Court. The complaint alleges that the county board of supervisors violated several laws and regulations when it approved the intergovernmental agreement with the Rancheria on July 25, 2023.
The agreement allows the Rancheria to relocate the Win-River Casino, hotel and event center from its current location on the tribe’s reservation to a 232-acre parcel of land next to Interstate 5 and Churn Creek Road, known as the “Strawberry Fields”. The agreement also grants the Rancheria various benefits, such as tax exemptions, law enforcement services, fire protection services, and environmental mitigation measures.
The complaint claims that the agreement is illegal because:
- It was not properly disclosed or analyzed by the county staff, the county counsel, the sheriff, the fire chief, or the public, who all opposed the agreement.
- It constitutes a gift of public funds and resources to the Rancheria, which would deprive the county of millions of dollars in revenue and increase the costs of providing public services.
- It violates the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Williamson Act, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act, and the Shasta County General Plan, by allowing the conversion of prime agricultural land into a casino complex without adequate environmental review or mitigation.
- It infringes on the rights and interests of the neighboring property owners, businesses, and residents, who would suffer from the adverse impacts of the casino relocation, such as increased traffic, noise, air pollution, crime, and reduced property values.
The complaint asks the court to declare the agreement null and void, and to issue a permanent injunction to prevent the county from implementing or enforcing the agreement.
The county and the Rancheria defend the agreement
The county and the Rancheria have responded to the lawsuit, dismissing it as a political stunt and a baseless attack on the casino relocation project.
The county supervisor Kevin Crye, who voted in favor of the agreement, said that the project is moving forward despite the legal challenge. He said that the agreement was the result of four years of negotiations and consultations with the Rancheria, the state, and the federal government, and that it was approved by the governor and the secretary of the interior.
He also said that the agreement was beneficial for the county, as it would provide revenue sharing, job creation, economic development, and public safety cooperation with the Rancheria. He accused the CLSC of being a secretive and unaccountable group that was trying to influence the upcoming county elections and delay the casino relocation project.
The Rancheria’s CEO Tracy Edwards also issued a statement, calling the CLSC a “newly formed, secretive group” that was spreading false claims about the agreement on social media. She said that the agreement was legal, fair, and transparent, and that it was supported by the majority of the county residents, according to a survey conducted by the Rancheria.
She also said that the casino relocation project was a sovereign right of the Rancheria, and that it would create a world-class destination that would benefit the tribe, the county, and the region. She said that the complaint was a political stunt and possibly a misguided attempt to delay the project.
The casino relocation project faces multiple hurdles
The casino relocation project has been controversial since it was first proposed by the Rancheria in 2016. The project requires the approval of the federal government, the state government, and the county government, as well as the completion of an environmental impact statement (EIS).
The federal government restarted the EIS process in September 2021, after it was halted in 2019 due to public opposition and legal challenges. The EIS is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, and will determine whether the land can be taken into trust by the Rancheria and whether the casino relocation can proceed.
The state government approved the compact with the Rancheria in October 2023, after the governor signed a bill that authorized the agreement. The compact sets the terms and conditions for the casino operation, such as the gaming revenue sharing, the regulatory oversight, and the labor relations.
The county government approved the intergovernmental agreement with the Rancheria in July 2023, after the board of supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of the deal. The agreement sets the terms and conditions for the casino relocation, such as the tax exemptions, the public services, and the environmental mitigation.
The casino relocation project also faces opposition from the city of Redding, which passed a resolution in December 2022, expressing its concerns and objections to the project. The city cited the potential negative impacts of the project on the city’s infrastructure, public safety, quality of life, and economic development.
The project also faces opposition from some of the neighboring property owners, businesses, and residents, who have formed groups and coalitions to voice their opinions and file lawsuits against the project. Some of the groups include the Shasta County Citizens for Democracy, the Shasta County Citizens Against Casino Relocation, and the Strawberry Fields Coalition.
The project also faces support from some of the local organizations and individuals, who have expressed their views and endorsements for the project. Some of the supporters include the Redding Chamber of Commerce, the Shasta Builders’ Exchange, the Shasta County Farm Bureau, and the Shasta County Sheriff.
The project is expected to cost $200 million and create 1,500 jobs. The new casino complex would include a 69,541-square-foot gaming floor, a 250-room hotel, an event center, a restaurant, and an entertainment venue. The project is expected to be completed by 2026, if all the approvals and permits are obtained.
