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Remember the old adage "The flower of the lemon tree is beautiful and sweet, but the Fruit of the lemon is impossible to eat." Such it is with this so-called (INDIAN CASINO) which is being proposed by the Maidu Indians whose tribe resides in Plumas and Tehema Counties in northern California, some three-hundred miles north of the Oxnard Factory Outlet. Contrary to the claim circulating that the Maidu tribe owns no tribal land, the word is that this is a False Claim. Rumor has it that this tribe in fact does own land but has avoided placing this land in trust which would Federally designate it as Maidu tribal land. This could greatly affect local individuals who have empathy for a "landless" indian tribe seeking to build a gigantic casino complex in Oxnard . Let us not miss the forest for the redwoods. Would elected officials of Oxnard entertain the idea of a Las Vegas/Reno gambling corporation seeking to build a gigantic casino complex in our City? Is there any doubt that the local residents would surely reject such a corporate proposal from neighboring Nevada? This is exactly what is occuring. Remove the plight of the Native American Indians from the equation and the entire complexion of this proposal changes from Dr. Jekyl to that of Mr. Hyde.

Now for the truth which quite often slips through the cracks in the decision making processs of Oxnard. This project calls for a 150,000 sq. ft. Casino featuring 2,000 slot machines and 176 table games. A 250 room hotel, a range of restaurant dining options, lounges and showrooms, resort retail stores and 'Flex' facility for concerts, meetings, tradeshows, sporting events, and etc.

BUT, Wait A Minute! How does this poor landless Maidu indian tribe propose to fund such a huge project? This is the point where this story takes a frightening turn. Enter PARAGON GAMING. Paragon is a Limited Liability Corporation that plans to develop gambling projects across the United States and in Canada using Native American Indian tribes as a front. If Paragon Gaming rings a bell, maybe it's because not long ago Paragon attempted a gambling proposal in Port Hueneme, but Port Hueneme's decision makers had the wisdom to reject the proposal. I fear that kind of wisdom does not exist in the City of Oxnard. Wisdom has no place when there are pockets in need of lining and potentially large sums of money to be made by the same priviledged few that always seem to profit from actions and decisions of the Oxnard City Council. (Editor's Note: Remember the Pacific Suns debaucle...) These decisions of the city leadership are most often contrary to the wishes of the citizenry who elected them.

Kudos to Mayor Lopez and Councilman John Zaragoza who wasted no time taking a stand of opposition to the Casino proposal and no doubt see the project for what it really is, a Front for Big Nevada Gambling to grab a foothold in California. Once again, history repeats itself and big corporate money has found a loophole in the system by taking advantage of Native American Indians who will serve as a bona fide FRONT to cloak Paragon's plans to build full-blown gambling casinos here in California and also nationwide in states where gambling is otherwise illegal. When Paragon left Port Hueneme, they said they would "find an indian tribe" and they did. A recent phone call placed to Pragon by one of Oxnard's Neighborhood Coucil, (now known as the INCF) Chairpersons requesting a copy of the Oxnard Casino project and business plans as well as projected earnings was promptly denied under the pretext that Paragon is "currently in negotiations with the City of Oxnard."

What Negotiations? Gee, and we, the citizens of Oxnard have been told by our elected officials that there is nothing more occuring than a staff report on the project. Would Oxnard's elected officials outright lie to the Community?????

In response to that question, on March 12th, the Oxnard City Council received a full report endorsing this project from the Economic Development Corporation (EDC). However as April rolled around, certain members of the City Council claimed they knew nothing of the proposal until it appeared in an April 8th article in the Star Press. I'd say once again, they've been caught with their hand in the proverbial cookie jar.

Why were the citizens of Oxnard diliberately misled on this minor addition to our city's landscape? Timing IS everything! By claiming they had no knowledge of the Paragon Casino proposal until April 8th, the City Council can say there was no time for them to get a report on the project and make a decision on the issue prior to May 15th. Why is May 15th such an important date? It is expected that on or around May 15th, the State of California is going to impose restrictions on tribal gambling which would seriously disrupt the plans of Paragon Gaming in Oxnard. By taking no action on this issue prior to the May deadline, the City Council is as much as approving the project. As with Pontius Pilot, the Council is following a similar cleansing method of washing their hands of the whole issue by failing to take a stand of opposition to this Nevada backed Casino. Taking a stand too late is as good as no stand at all!

We've been told the Tribal Representatives are meeting with "community leaders". What community leaders? My bet would be that these would be the various department heads and the handful of local business people who are already lining up with their hands-out for the promises of mitigation moneys that are tantamount to bribery. The losers in this scenario, as usual, will be the ressidents of Oxnard whose hard-earned money will fuel another capitalist machine from outside the boundaries of Oxnard. This done, as is the usual way business is conducted in Oxnard, only a handful of already elite individuals will stuff more into their already fat pockets. Greed is a great motivator.

As the song says, "I get on my knees and pray, we don't get fooled again." Remember, when you read of this topic in the "RED STAR PRESS" which is most often our local purveyor of censored propaganda, that the "MAIDU INDIAN CASINO" is acutally "THE LAS VEGAS/RENO NEVADA PARAGON GAMING CASINO"

When will the people of Oxnard raise up their heads, open their eyes, and take control of their local government?

PARAGON INFO

Paragon Gaming Company Info

PARAGON COMPANY PROFILE....

Editor's Note: The Star Press has recently changed it's Archive Access and now several previously printed articles are no longer available.

This recent upgrade has de-graded our ability to access articles that would have added greatly to this catagory. In addition the LA Times charges for access to the news. The "OJ" will always be free and available.

OXNARD CASINO NEWS

OPPOSITION TO TRIBAL CASINO

American Indian Gaming News (23-Feb-2001)

PLANS FOR OXNARD CASINO

Las Vegas Take on this Item:

More Flash & Trash

MSNBC Coverage of Channel Island's Proposal

MAIDU INDIAN INFO

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You may further seek out other links by accessing:

www.google.com

A great search engine.

STAND-BY FOR NEWS OF WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BE HEARD IN PROTEST FOR THIS PROPOSED NEW CASINO -- PLANS ARE UNDERWAY....

Local Church groups will be preaching it, parents will be pushing against it, local concerned citizens will rise up in a show of protest against it, and YOU should be heard also......

This is the Original Article that prompted the previous submission of the Watchdog's. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--

(April 11 - Oxnard, Calif.) During Public Comments at the beginning of Oxnard City Council meeting on April 10th (last Tuesday) Steve Buratti revealed a letter from Oxnard's Economic Development Corporation. (EDC) dated March 14th. The letter was an informational transmittal of development information regarding the PROPOSED Gaming Casino which Oxnard Leadership wants to approve. The March 14th letter had a cc: at the bottom citing: Attached are the documents delivered to the Oxnard City Council last Monday (March 12). The Ventura Red Star Press published an article on the Proposed Casino April 8th. The April 8th article detailed a request from a non-local Native-American tribe, formally delivered on the week on March 12th to the City of Oxnard, requesting a Casino be approved and built.

Not only did the Non-Native Americans request the Casino in March; the City, inclusive of EDC roll-overs and informants in Staff and the Council along with the City's Mayor were also in the know of this grand proposal. Meanwhile, some man named Wilson is fathering a new Prop. 1A to be on the November ballot. 1A is some initiative of some sort and the deadline for finalizing it is this weekend. Who cares, this article is not about A1,1A, or even A1A (a highway along Florida's Atlantic coastline.) Buratti presented his copy of the EDC letter before the Council ........

.........he wanted to bring it to the Council's attention that their earlier March claim of not knowing anything about the Casino was not so when they recently claimed they only conveniently became aware of the Casino by reading the Red Star Press. Ho, Ho, Ho - not so implied Buratti. They knew about the Casino, and he had the paperwork to prove it. According to Buratti, he got "no reaction, just bland expression - they didn't fight back." Summary: all the Council members could do was just sit there. (Bambi in the Head Lights) Buratti nailed them.

As is the given practice of Council, when a member is so derided during public comments, the Councilmen usually retorts or makes some vocal display in response. This time, no one on the Council had anything to say as they were caught in the de-fibulation of the truth.

Alan Wingo was the next Public Comments speaker and he added to Steve B.'s comments. Wingo questioned whether he could trust what he heard the Council say. " I'm very concerned the Oxnard City Council had prior knowledge [of the Casino] and still mislead the public, " refering to questions put to the Council in March during public comment whereafter the vacuous responses they (respondant councilmembers) crafted were not true.

Council, in essence, said it had NO FOREKNOWLEDGE of any Casino project until they read about it in the 'Red' Star Press.

The Mayor, Dr. Manuel Lopez and Mayor Pro-tem Councilman John Zaragoza are the ONLY elected Public Officials to go on record with their opposition to any GAMING facilities placed within Oxnard. Oxnard Journal gives you both a Bravo Zulu for doing the right thing and speaking up. This is not the first time Council has openly sided against Mayor Lopez. In the 1998 Mayoral Race, both Holden and Maulhardt publically endorsed challenger Herrera a mere two weeks before the election.

Where else can you find the truth? Only in this Cyber-Newspaper.....(soon to be on real non-recycled paper.....

Where has all the Land gone. It behooves you as concerned citizens to attend Planning Board Meetings to learn what new projects are forthcoming to the City Council. Planning Board meets on alternate Thursday evenings are all meeetings are open to the public. It greatly benefits you to attend as these planning meetings are where the plans are approved before going to the Council. Once the Council gets the plans presented, it is much more difficult to fight off or to object to the proposal.

The Editor had a unique opportunity to be on the SONY Pictures set last month for the filming of AMERICA'S SWEETHEART. On the set for the day's filming was Catherine Zeta Jones and Christopher Walken. Both of whom I had seen on the sound stage.

Being there was a thrill, but having a chance to speak with others who draw their daily subsistence from the Film Industry was even more educational. One background actress told of her experince on the set of THE OMEGA CODE II which was filming scenes in the cold mountains north of Castaic. A few things revealed some rather disturbing facts about the entire promotion of both the first and second OMEGA CODEs. She said, " I know the movie is about the end of the world." One other actor chirped in, "Waiting for a call time may not be any sooner." She continued saying that she thought the Catholics were in charge of the film and that she was surprized by the lack of warm waiting areas for the extras and no medic on duty for some folks who had 'slightly' injured themselves and had to leave via van to get attention.

What I came away with was a concern for what the OMEGA CODE is really trying to do.

I was dismayed by the first OMEGA CODE. The movie itself was riviting and exciting and for a Christian Film, it was a step in the right direction to stray from the former hoakiness of earlier productions that have not resembled really professional productions. The First OMEGA CODE was a fine film except for the LACK of INVITATION at the end of the film. There should have been an Invitation to all the audience viewers to avoid the devil's plans for their lives and to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It would have taken a minute to do.....people left the viewing of OMEGA CODE with no real idea what the film was based on, or why the foretelling of horrific future events was so important to us, right now. I and I hope other persons who know the Lord, came away with the same opinion. I wish the second OMEGA CODE well, but I feel that some have chosen mannon instead of God as their goal in these productions. The fact that cast and crew on the latest set did not even know that the production was to promote the Christian faith and a new life in Christ is quite disturbing. To see that folks are coming away from the OMEGA set with less than favorable memories of their shoot is even more of a problem. I know film companies like to cut costs, but if the producers are trying to reach anyone, surely, they would start with their first contacts, those who are making the movie itself.

I hope that some will come to realize that the Bible holds the keys to survival in this world and that someday, I pray that producers of the OMEGA CODE will see the light and use their film and production power to honor and remember the Lord and not to just see box office results and how they do in the daily sweeps.