As reported by: San Bernadino County Sun
Looking at its Barstow casino project as "a shot in the dark,' The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe has a fall-back plan to build a resort casino on its reservation with the help of the San Manuels.

Les Marston, the Chemehuevi's attorney, said the Chemehuevi have been talking to the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians about the project since the San Manuels loaned the Chemehuevi $2 million for a casino renovation in 2000.

He said the San Manuels agreed to pay for a project planner and a marketing firm for a development on the south end of the Chemehuevi reservation, including a golf course, casino, hotel, marina and spa.

A marketing firm is looking at what projects would work and, if something is possible, the Chemehuevi have agreed to talk to the San Manuels before any other developer. The San Manuels would likely be the project's developer and help the Chemehuevi secure a loan.

"It is definitely an action that should be taking place between tribal nation and tribal nation versus outside the tribal nations,' said Deron Marquez, chairman of the San Manuels, whose reservation borders north San Bernardino.

"We are not there to gouge and get as much out of the Chemehuevi as a traditional developer would do,' he said. "We also know that the London Bridge is one of, if not the tourist spot in Arizona. Why not try to capitalize on those visitors with a Chemehuevi development?'

Marston said the San Manuels' involvement isn't a payoff to stop the casino project in Barstow. There are those who believe a successful casino in Barstow could take High Desert gamblers away from San Manuel Bingo and Casino.

Marston said the Chemehuevi tribe is still moving forward on the Barstow project and is close to giving U.S. Secretary of Interior Gale Norton an application for approval.

The Chemehuevi proposed its resort casino near the Factory Merchants Outlet Mall in Barstow in August, two months after the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians in north San Diego County signed an agreement with Barstow for a similar project.

Chemehuevi leaders said they had been talking with Barstow for years and noted that the Los Coyotes are proposing a casino far from their aboriginal land.

But Marston said the climate for an off-reservation casino is not favorable, anyway.

"I think the Chemehuevi have always viewed Barstow as a shot in the dark,' Marston said. "But because of the market, it was a shot in the dark worth pursuing.'

Norton and California's governor have to give their approvals for an off-reservation casino. Marston said Norton has been cold toward off-reservation casinos and Gov. Gray Davis said he doesn't want to see tribes build casinos in urban areas or outside their aboriginal lands.

Davis already brushed off the Chemehuevi proposal for Barstow three years ago, Marston said.

"We have heard from this governor what he won't support, but we haven't heard what he will support,' he said.

Davis and Norton want to see that there is little or no conflict in a city that will host an off-reservation casino and that neighboring tribes are OK with it as well. Many Barstow residents have already said they don't want a casino in their city.

"Because casinos are hot political issues, the governor is going to think these through and is going to have to establish some policies,' Marston said. "Until that is done, I don't see these projects going anywhere.'