The union of chronic protesters (Local #94952) - AKA Occupy Wall Street / Petaluma franchise - were assembled last Saturday at Penry Park. The Argus stated that there were 150 in attendance. From what I saw, that would have meant counting everyone at least twice. The most charming sight was a about 6 people marching in a tight circle carrying protest signs - a sight that was clearly visible to nobody but the six.
The Graton Rancheria and their wise guy (I'm sorry, professional gaming company) enablers promise that the 500,000 clams to support Tolay Regional Park comes to Sonoma County with "no strings attached." I don't know about you but I consider a casino just down the road not an attached "string," but more like a noose around our necks. Truth told, casinos overwhelmingly prey on (there I go again - cater to) the under-educated, the poor, and the elderly. Additionally, statistics show that casinos bring to the nearby communities a rise in crime and drunkenness. Even the staunchest personal-rights advocates among us can appreciate the impact that increased demands on already under-funded Public Safety services will have. A regional park is a nice thing for some, but trading it for a casino as bad deal for all.
In the local gaming merry-go-round, the brass ring goes to the tribe with the casino that is closest to the City of Gold, aka San Francisco. If the casino in Rohnert Park is ever completed, the folks at River Rock will be - you'll pardon the expression - trumped. You don't have to be the "Donald" to realize were that to happen, their property near the Kastania exit would allow them to build a casino that's even closer to the COG than Rohnert Park. In that event, were I in their shoes, that's what I would do...but I wouldn't broadcast my intentions.