Tuesday, May 12, 1998
By Josh Richman
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge will contemplate the fate of the state's American Indian-operated casinos Wednesday, the same day the government could start shutting them down.
The Coalition of Northern California Tribes on Monday asked U.S. District Magistrate Bernard Zimmerman for a temporary restraining order to keep the government from seizing their lucrative video slot machines. Zimmerman told both sides to submit their information by noon today and return to court for a hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
About 900 Indians protested the looming shutdown Monday by rallying in United Nations Plaza and at the federal courthouse on Golden Gate Avenue. They claim closing the casinos would usurp tribal authority and leave them without a means of supporting their families. Another
Gov. Pete Wilson wants tribes to sign a pact to replace video slot machines with lottery-style games and to limit other electronic games. Indians claim Wilson has illegally refused to negotiate unless they agree to the restrictions.
Wilson set midnight tonight as a deadline to take the deal or cease gambling until some other accord is reached. U.S. Attorney Michael Yamaguchi has said if the Indians don't comply, he could start seizing their machines as early as Wednesday -- which, coincidentally, is National American Indian Day. Wilson can negotiate pacts with the Indians, but only federal authorities can enforce the law on Indian land.