Yocha Dehe slams Vallejo Council over rushed casino deal approval process
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has sharply rebuked Vallejo leaders after a divided City Council approved an agreement clearing the way for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians to pursue a temporary gaming facility. Tribal leaders said the city rushed through the decision, limited public scrutiny and weakened confidence in local government. Council members voted 4-2 in favor of the Memorandum of Understanding. Councilmembers Tonia Lediju and Alexander Matias voted no, while Mayor Andrea Sorce was absent from the meeting. Under the reported deal, Scotts Valley would pay Vallejo $502,000 in each of the agreement’s three years to offset demands on police and other city services. The package also includes an additional $100,000 up front in the first year. City documents say that the annual total contains $12,698 in lieu of property tax and $27,302 for administrative support. Another $100,000 each year would go to a local nonprofit selected in coordination with the city. The proposed temporary site would sit on tribal land near the Interstate 80 and Highway 37 interchange. In a statement …

