Casino Changes Tribal Life
Lester Lingo, president of the tribe's Tuolumne Economic Development Authority, is pictured in front of the casino. The Tuolumne Rancheria, where many tribal members live, was once a drug-dealers' haven avoided by most outsiders. Then, in 2001, the Me-Wuk opened their own hugely successful casino. And today, nearly every community group ? from Rotary clubs to schools and scout troops ? turns to the tribe for donations and sponsorships.
Tribal members are asked for input on everything from restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park to planning Tuolumne County's future development. Tribal Chairman Kevin Day won't reveal how much money Black Oak Casino brings in each year, but it's been enough in five years to buy more than 1,000 acres of land, start a major housing and golf course development, build an 11,000-square-foot medical center, employ more than 1,000 people, and provide a wide variety of services for tribal members.
It's also paid for Tuolumne's first stop light, built county roads, bolstered community law enforcement and firefighting services, and allowed the tribe to be a major contributor to events and causes throughout Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.
June 21, 2006
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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