Casino in Vallejo faces obstacle as the Department of Interior (DOI) announces intent to reevaluate decision on Scotts Valley project

Casino in Vallejo faces obstacle as the Department of Interior (DOI) announces intent to reevaluate decision on Scotts Valley project

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' controversial $700 million casino project in Vallejo, California, has taken a significant step forward, following a recent federal court ruling that confirmed the trust status of the 160-acre parcel of land designated for the project.

The project, which includes not just the casino but also 24 residences, a tribal building, and a 45-acre biological preserve, had faced substantial opposition and legal challenges, including from competing tribes and a reconsideration by the Department of Interior (DOI) under the new administration.

The approval of the project by the DOI in January 2025, just before President Biden left office, was unusual due to the casino's location, which is nearly 100 miles away from the tribe’s ancestral lands. Following the DOI's reconsideration under the new Secretary Doug Burgum, the tribe filed a lawsuit to defend the project's trust status, which is still pending.

Local opposition persists, with other Vallejo-area Native tribes disputing the Scotts Valley Band's historical connection to the area. However, the tribe has gained some allies, such as the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), which supports their casino proposal.

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, and the United Auburn Indian Community have filed federal lawsuits to halt the casino project, alleging that the Biden administration's decision was arbitrary, capricious, and illegal, and that officials violated federal policy by not consulting with impacted tribal governments.

The Scotts Valley Band has described these lawsuits as commercially motivated and "anticompetitive" because two of the filing tribes operate casinos in the region. The tribe has expressed resolve not to be bullied and will not back down in the face of the lawsuits.

The new Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, is working to right the wrong of the perceived stripping of the Scotts Valley Band's land, according to Roberts, the tribal chairman. Burgum has expressed a desire to protect the tribe's lands and cultural resources for future generations.

Chairman Shawn Davis of the Scotts Valley Band stated that the reversal of the decision disrespected the sovereignty of the Scotts Valley Band and is inconsistent with law and appropriate process. He finds the greed of the opposing tribes, such as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, disgusting, as they have billions of dollars but are not satisfied.

Yocha Dehe Chairman Anthony Roberts, on the other hand, stated that the lawsuits were about ensuring all tribal voices are honored and heard, and that protecting ancestral homelands is crucial.

While the project remains legally and politically contested, the latest federal court decision confirming the land trust status marks a significant advancement, bolstering the tribe’s position against federal and local opposition and ongoing litigations. The project has not yet been finalized, as legal processes continue to unfold.

1. The United Auburn Indian Community, the Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation have filed lawsuits, alleging that the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' casino project in Vallejo, California, was arbitrarily and illegally approved by the Biden administration.
2. The Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, along with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the United Auburn Indian Community, claim that officials failed to consult with impacted tribal governments in the approval process, which they argue violated federal policy.
3. Despite the legal challenges and opposition from other Vallejo-area Native tribes, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' casino project, which includes a casino, 24 residences, a tribal building, and a 45-acre biological preserve, has taken a significant step forward with the recent federal court ruling confirming the trust status of the project's 160-acre parcel of land.

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