A recent column about California’s stance on sports gambling overlooks a crucial piece of our state’s history and promise to its people. As both a tribal member and an elected member of the California Assembly, I feel compelled to highlight the commitment California tribes made nearly a quarter-century ago – a commitment that has shaped the landscape of gaming in our state.
In 1999, California tribes united under a groundbreaking initiative. For the first time, we leveraged federal policies to foster self-reliance, seizing an opportunity that would change the future of tribal communities and our state. The promises made to the people of California were clear: Gaming would be restricted to federally recognized reservations, and it would be conducted responsibly to benefit not only the tribes but also the surrounding communities.
