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Posted on 09/28/2003 9:30:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Mayor Dennis Nowicki is accustomed to interviews with local journalists about the casino issue. Now newspapers from much farther away are interested in Hesperia’s story.
Last week, Rick Green, a staff writer with the Hartford Courant in Hartford, Conn., traveled 3,000 miles to talk to Nowicki and others about Hesperia’s agreement with the Timbisha-Shoshone tribe. Hesperia’s proposal is particularly interesting to Green, who writes exclusively on tribal and gaming issues, because it involves a proposed off-reservation casino.
“I am particularly interested in communities that are dealing with the question of off-reservation casinos,” Green said. “Off-reservation casinos are potentially a big deal in Connecticut. I was attracted to Hesperia because the proposal is for an off-reservation casino.”
Green also met with members of the tribe and Concerned Citizens Against the Casino, which is attempting to put the casino issue to a vote.
“I am interested in both sides of the issue,” Green said. “I’m talking to the tribe and their representatives as well as the folks who are concerned with the tribal casino. As a reporter it’s essential that I’m not thrown in on one side or the other.”
Green was impressed with representatives of both sides of the issue.
“He makes a pretty persuasive argument,” Green said about Nowicki, who stressed Hesperia needs to find revenue streams.
“It’s a very fast-growing community,” Green said. “He was very helpful to speak to.”
Similarly, Green said, CCAC representative Vivian Houser “seemed like a very sharp individual.” According to Green, “I found both sides persuasive.”
Connecticut has two of the biggest Indian casinos in the country, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Although they are both on-reservation gaming facilities, other tribes are looking to build casinos. “They potentially could be on off-reservation locations,” Green said.
During his visit, he also met with tribal leaders in Las Vegas and went to San Manuel and Cabizon casinos.
“I’m trying to cover as much ground as I can,” he said.
Covering Indian gaming is a fascinating beat for a reporter, Green suggested, because of its emotional aspects and complexity.
“It’s history. It’s politics. It’s economics,” Green said. “It’s pretty remarkable
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