Santa Clara Pueblo seeks delay in Espanola casino meeting

Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 | 9:26 a.m.

Lucero had planned to meet with pueblo officials Wednesday, but said the meeting was canceled because the pueblo wanted to have a meeting with tribal members before discussing plans with the city.

Calvin Tafoya, Santa Clara's director of economic development, said Friday a meeting is expected in mid-November to give tribal members information about various economic development initiatives. He said the exact date of that meeting and any meetings with city officials would be up to the pueblo governor.

Lucero has said he is concerned about the impact of a casino on traffic and city services such as police and fire protection.

"I don't think any of us have any answers to this until we meet with Santa Clara," Lucero said.

Construction on the casino is already under way in a building the pueblo owns at Big Rock Shopping Center. The plans include a bowling alley and expansion of an existing restaurant.

In a letter to the pueblo's attorney last month, City Attorney John Lenssen said federal law requires the pueblo to get permission from the U.S. secretary of Interior to take the land off the Rio Arriba County tax rolls and have it considered as American Indian land for purposes of the casino.

Pueblo officials and pueblo attorney Richard Hughes have maintained that government approval is not necessary because the property lies within the historic confines of the original pueblo grant. Hughes also has said the shopping center is next to other pueblo land.

Espanola sits between two Indian-owned casinos at San Juan and Pojoaque pueblos.

Attorney General Patricia Madrid has sued 12 casino-operating tribes in federal court, arguing that they must either share revenue with the state as called for under gambling compacts or shut down.