March 19, 2008
By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer

Hood River Mayor Linda Streich surprised Cascade Locks officials on Monday by weighing in against a tribal casino being built in their city — or anywhere else in the Gorge.

Streich told Bureau of Indian Affairs officials that she wanted to “make it clear” where the Hood River City Council stood on the issue. She said recent media reports had erroneously listed the city among agencies backing the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs’ plan for Cascade Locks.

“At no time has the City of Hood River supported the siting of a casino in any location in the Columbia River Gorge,” said Streich.

She concluded her testimony with this statement, “I believe that siting a casino in the Gorge would not only be a mistake, but it would be a mistake of catastrophic consequences; affecting the livability and quality of life in our region for all time.”

In a Tuesday follow-up interview, Streich said her final comment should have been attributed to her personal viewpoint so that it did not appear representative of the entire council.

She did not make that clarification for the record at Monday’s hearing, which took place in the Hood River Middle School auditorium. About 400 people attended the BIA’s fifth and final forum on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement related to the Warm Springs’ proposal in Cascade Locks.

Streich’s comments upset Cascade Locks officials who testified about how the casino would spur economic revitalization of the “dying town.”

“I feel let down because the mayor of our sister city is not supporting this economic development project for our town and the need is unbelievable,” said Mayor Roger Freeborn.

“It was really unexpected to have these statements made at the eleventh hour — especially when we are so far along in the process,” said Cascade Locks Port Director Chuck Daughtry.

“If the Hood River council was going to take a new position on the casino, shouldn’t they, as a courtesy, have allowed us to come and speak on the issue?”

Streich said she made a unilateral decision, as mayor, to “set the record straight.” She said the stance of the city council remains unchanged from the position outlined in a Feb. 13, 2003, letter to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Streich paraphrased that document to BIA officials as follows: “Because our good neighbors in Cascade Locks asked for our support, and we were steadfastly against a casino anywhere in the Gorge, we told them that if the legal and political process that sites Indian gaming facilities finds the law’s application, contrary to our belief and allows a Gorge casino, it should be sited in Cascade Locks. This should not be construed as support for a casino.”

The 2003 letter outlines “vehement” opposition to a casino being sited in or adjacent to Hood River. In arguments against the placement of a gaming center on the tribes’ 40 acres of trust land just east of the city, the council outlines that the development would run “afoul of both the letter and intent of the National Scenic Area Act.”

The third paragraph of the letter addresses the Warm Springs’ alternative proposal of building a casino within the Cascade Locks’ industrial park.

“… the city council recognizes the legitimate interests of the City of Cascade Locks as it addresses its own unemployment and economic development issues. A casino facility could be constructed there within an urban boundary and avoid direct conflict with the NSA. There are many practical and aesthetic reasons to favor a Gorge casino site in Cascade Locks over the trust land near Hood River.

“Therefore, recognizing that the legal and political process that sites Indian gaming facilities may find the law’s application contrary to our brief (legal arguments against development of the trust parcel), the Hood River City Council has formally adopted the policy that, if an Indian casino is to be built in the Columbia River Gorge region, it should be sited in Cascade Locks.”

Streich maintains that she did not broaden the NSA arguments against the Hood River trust land to include the entire Gorge. She said the need for clarification of the issue arose when media outlets recently misinterpreted the city’s position.

“We’re doing what our constituents have asked us to do. The opposition to any casino has been pretty overwhelming,” said Streich.

Councilors Carrie Nelson and Paul Cummings, who were in office in 2003, contend the letter to Kulongoski was intended to reiterate the city’s opposition to development of the tribes’ Hood River property.

“Our intent was always to stay neutral on the issue when it came to Cascade Locks,” said Nelson.

She declined to sign any documentation related to the casino because the City of Hood River has no jurisdiction over either site.

Cummings, who serves as council president, said Streich’s actions “didn’t follow council protocol.” Policies adopted in 2006 outline that full council support should be sought before any individual carries a message from the elected body into the community. In addition, any personal opinion expressed by an individual should be clearly delineated from the official position of the council.

“Normally, with such a controversial subject, we would have been consulted. There would have been a consensus about how we wanted to move forward,” said Cummings.

Streich plans to have the casino issue listed as an agenda item in an upcoming meeting. She believes a discussion by the full council will resolve any viewpoint differences.

“It (testimony) was exactly what we wrote in our letter to the governor so I don’t know why there would be any confusion,” she said.