GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) The City Council voted unanimously
to reject a proposal to build an Indian casino and resort just
blocks from Disneyland.
Council members said Tuesday that a casino would not fit into
the city's family oriented vision and would face strong opposition
from the community.
``It is very clear to me that there is widespread opposition to
gambling in Orange County,'' said Councilman Mark Rosen. ``We
shouldn't take it any further because of that.''
The vote put to rest a weeklong flurry of excitement and
speculation that Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn might want to
build a mega-resort on Harbor Boulevard.
The city, located in Orange County, considered selling as much
as 45 acres to the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, a San Diego
County tribe that wanted to build a resort with shopping,
restaurants and live entertainment comparable to Las Vegas.
Wynn issued a statement last week saying no negotiations were
underway and that talks were ``based on hypothesis on top of
hypothesis.''
Council members confirmed that they had met with Wynn in May in
Las Vegas. They said they met with him in groups of two and were
asked to sign confidentiality agreements.
Once publicized, opposition to the plan followed quickly from
residents, council members and local politicians who believed a
casino would bring crime and prostitution to the area.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)