The project for the establishment of a tribal village and casino in South Bend was backed by Oliver Davis, a Common Council member of the region. Mr. Davis compiled a resolution in order to show his support to the plan proposed by the tribal leaders.
The project itself was submitted by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and according to the plan, the future properties would spread over 165 acres of land. The village will feature a casino with 3,000 slot machines and will offer hotel accommodation of the highest class. According to preliminary estimates, the tribal village will be visited by more than 4 million people per year, which would, therefore, be beneficial to the economy.
In point of fact, that was the reason why Mr. Davis expressed his support to the tribal project. He was quoted saying that such an opportunity for economic growth should not be neglected.
Davis further commented on the matter and said that many people made it clear that the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is not welcome in the state of Indiana but he considers the establishment of the tribal village an excellent opportunity for the city and the well-being of the local communities.
As soon as the project is started, more than 1,400 construction job positions will be opened and once it is completed as many as 2,000 workers will be hired for the needs of the casino and the hotel. As a result, the unemployment rate in the area will be reduced by almost 3%.
However, the construction of the tribal village would inevitably lead to serious environmental issues. Apart from that, the state will annually lose about $36,000 in taxes because tribal casinos are not obliged to pay the taxes applicable to state ones. The intensified traffic also needs to be taken into consideration.
Mr. Davies said that the boosted economy would result in improved living standard of residents but opponents of the tribal village construction said that the region will never be quiet and the enthusiasm of Mr. Davies was premature.
Citizens for a Better Michiana emphasized on the fact that there were some values that should not be sacrificed for economy diversification. South Bend residents have chosen to live here because of the reduced traffic and minimized levels of pollution and the tribal project will take these two away.
Next Tuesday, a Public Meeting is scheduled to take place at the South Bend Century Center and residents will be given the opportunity to take up a stance on the matter. Meanwhile, the Community Relations Committee members are expected to review the resolution of Mr. Davies.
