SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Nations Indian Gaming Association
(CNIGA) claims a report that appeared on an Oakland-based television
station’s Web site and aired as a news segment contained erroneous
information.

Bay Area FOX affiliate KTVU reported on its Web site Feb. 7 that CNIGA
opposed an urban casino in an old neighborhood card room in the town of San
Pablo, just a short distance from the main Bay Area metropolises of San
Francisco and Oakland.

Susan Jensen, representing CNIGA, claimed that the KTVU report falsely said
that the organization had taken an opposing position to San Pablo casino.

“We have not taken a stand on the [San Pablo] casino,” said Jensen.

Jensen claimed the problem was due to a mix-up during the annual CNIGA
conference held at the end of January in southern California. One speaker
at the conference was Michael Lombardi, a gaming consultant who currently
works with the Augustine Band of Mission Indians. Lombardi, who is
personally opposed to the San Pablo project, made his opposition known to a
KTVU reporter.

The Web site story also mistakenly claimed that Lombardi was the “head” of
CNIGA, though this reportedly did not occur in the televised segment.
Though his employer is a member tribe and he has been active in the
organization, Lombardi does not hold an official position within the
organization other than “professional member,” and professional members are
not members of the Executive Committee, an elected body.

Lombardi was not aware of the report and was surprised to hear it.

“No one checked the facts with me,” said Lombardi bemusedly, adding that he
was “flabbergasted.”

“When you allow the press in, anything can happen.”

Apparently part the problem emanated from a transcripted version of the
newscast. KTVU reporter Roland De Wolk, who presented the broadcast version
of the story, attributed the misidentification of Lombardi to an error by a
transcriber who wrote the story for the Internet version.

“I know who Michael Lombardi is and I know his title,” said De Wolk.

De Wolk feels that CNIGA is being a bit “disingenuous” by claiming not to
have a position on the San Pablo issue. He points out that in addition to
Lombardi, at least two CNIGA-member tribes have come out against the
project. He also added that CNIGA chairman Anthony Miranda previously told
him on the record that he opposed the project.

Jensen, however, points out that while individuals and even coalitions of
member tribes can take a position on “a wide array of issues,” an official
CNIGA position can only be established by a majority vote from a quorum of
tribes.

She also disputed De Work’s claim that Miranda said he was personally
opposed to the project, saying that she was there when Miranda made the
comments.

“The chairman [Miranda] had only said that he had ‘concerns’ about the
project. But, he never said he was ‘opposed’ to the project,” maintained
Jensen, who added that several other reporters were present and that
Miranda’s comments would have been “big news.”

The proprietor of the proposed establishment at San Pablo is the Lytton
Band of Pomo Indians, whose main office is located some 50 miles away to
the north in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. The tribe has repeatedly tried,
unsuccessfully, since 2000 to build the new facility but was found wanting
at the end of each attempt.

The tribe previously attempted to develop a home base closer to its
ancestral home in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley, almost 80 miles north
of the San Pablo site, but faced stiff opposition from a local homeowners
association. Eventually, the Dry Creek Band of Pomo overcame local
opposition and opened a casino in the Alexander Valley.

Lytton gained the right to take the San Pablo site into trust in a rider
slipped in by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., in an omnibus bill in 2000.
However, former Gov. Gray Davis opposed the plan and refused to sign a
gaming deal with the tribe because of his opposition to urban casinos.

Gov. Schwarzenegger had a deal with the tribe last year, but later backed
down following protests from Bay Area lawmakers opposing the initial plans,
which called for a massive casino. The tribe said they had only floated the
idea of a casino of that size, and more modest plans were in the works.