City leaders wait and see about casino

The Pueblo Chieftain
By Nick Bonham
August 22, 2005

A number of community leaders surveyed Sunday by The Pueblo Chieftain said they want more information before supporting or opposing a casino-hotel project at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo.

American Indian tribes this past weekend announced their intentions to build a $100 million hotel-casino in Downtown Pueblo. The site they prefer is at the east end of HARP, at the location of the former Andrews Produce.

The impoverished Oklahoma tribes of the Cheyenne-Arapahoe have partnered with the Denver-based Council Tree Communications to approach Pueblo officials about they plan.

Like other tribes, the Cheyenne-Arapahoe - whom history knows as the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre, near Lamar - are trying to make a better life for their people. Pueblo, for a couple of months, has been of great interest to the development partners.

For more than a year, the tribes and Council Tree have been working to build a casino near Denver International Airport. The proposal, however, has met resistance by Gov. Bill Owens, stating he's against more casinos in Colorado.

The opportunity to boost economic development, add hundreds of jobs and improve on Pueblo's tourism appeal piques the interest of many Puebloans and local officials.

But the idea is still new, and many are waiting for more details to land before elbowing up to the card table.

City Councilman Ray Aguilera said Sunday that building the casino "certainly has a great deal of appeal, but we are going to have to really take a good look at what it will do to everything else."

"We need to look at what all it presents."

The development partners won't officially meet with City Council until the council's Aug. 29 meeting. Aguilera also noted that the state and federal government also must approve the plan.

\"We have to get the permission of a lot of people,\" he said, adding: \"I'm sure the people up in Cripple Creek aren't going to be too happy.\"

There currently is limited-stakes (maximum bet: $5) gambling in Cripple Creek, Blackhawk and Central City. There also is an American Indian casino near Ignacio and one south of Cortez.

Adding a casino to Pueblo, especially along HARP and the allure of the the Union Avenue Historic District is \"what we've always needed,\" Aguilera said.

Councilman Jeff Chostner preferred to save his opinion until further information is released. Chostner said he's concerned about the future relationship between Pueblo and the American Indian tribes, being that the land the casino's built on would have to be declared reservation status.

\"I would like to scrutinize the legal relationship between the tribes and City of Pueblo,\" Chostner said. \"My concern is, are you dealing with a sovereign nation?\"

Chostner provided this example: \"It would be like having France or Germany move in on HARP. It would be two different countries. My concern is protecting Pueblo and its city.\"

Phone calls to other city councilmen were not returned Sunday.

State Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, who also couldn't be reached Sunday, has told Denver newspaper the casino project could be a \"big boost\" for Pueblo, but said ne needed more details.

State Rep. Dorothy Butcher, D-Pueblo, said Sunday she needs more information.

"I need to know what the impact on the Downtown area would be," she said.

By attracting a large number of people to Pueblo, there naturally would be a concern for safety and crime.

Police Chief Jim Billings and Pueblo County Sheriff Dan Corsentino agreed Sunday that the casino project could shore up the local economy, but they have safety concerns.

"A big question in my mind is, if it's such a good deal, why didn't Denver jump instead of rebuffing the idea?" said Billings. "There has to be something . . . I'd like to know what that is."

Corsentino, a four-year chairman for the National Sheriff's Association's Native American Indian Affairs panel, has dealt with American Indian casinos before, both on and off the reservation.

"When (a casino is built) off the reservation, its economic impact to the community can certainly be substantial," Corsentino said.

"We have to make sure that there are some (safety) benchmarks and standards met," said Corsentino, mentioning he'll be involved with discussions between Pueblo and the American Indian tribes concerning public safety.

"I support it." Corsentino said. "I encourage Gov. Owens to rethink his stance on casino gambling in Southern Colorado."

Corsentino said he hopes the casino plan doesn't turn into a political firestorm.

"This can not turn into a political issue from the people up north," he said. "They have no stake in Southern Colorado. My message to the Denver-Metro area is" 'Do not try to regulate economic development in Pueblo Colorado.' "

Billings is concerned with vice crimes - alcohol issues, illegal drug sales, prostitution - that can accompany casino gambling.

"I'm not trying to put a black eye on casinos, but putting something like that in Downtown Pueblo, we could get people who try to victimize others," Billings said.

The increase in foot and vehicular traffic would tax police resources, according to the chief, meaning a bigger demand for police officers.

The casino, according to the sheriff, could provide security jobs, which could be filled in part by retired police officers.

In regards to the presence of organized crime, Corsentino said: \"The standards are so high and regulation so strong that clearly filter, screen and monitor any attempts of organized crime to enter the industry.\"

David Sandoval is a history professor at Colorado State University-Pueblo, and a scholar on American Indians and Chicano Studies.

A self-described avid gambler, he acknowledges that casinos have become a cash cow for tribes.

"Every community that it's come into has benefitted," he said.

He cited the popularity of Black Hawk and Cripple Creek as two examples.

\"I never thought gambling brings crime whatsoever. I recognize that there are people who gamble that are criminals. I recognize that organized crime has had control of gambling. I don't think it's going to cause any increase in crime whatsoever.\"

Sandoval remembered the mid-'80s, when plans to build several casinos in Pueblo West were opposed by then-Gov. Roy Romer and rejected by Colorado voters. He also remembers unsuccessful attempts to put slot machines at Pueblo Greyhound Park.

Now, Sandoval said, he looks at how gambling resort communities are putting money back into state historical funds and parks and recreation programs.

"I'd love to see it happen. It would benefit Pueblo on the stand of tourism, it would be a boom to the economy, and beneficial to the tribes."

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