Is there a NEW “Nüwü” Casino in the making?

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Bill Ford, Founder

JOSHUA TREE CALIFORNIA
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Rumor has it that the 29-Palms Band of Mission Indians has proposed a “new” proposal for their casino vision to be in Joshua Tree close to the intersection of the 29-Palms highway at White Feather just east of  “downtown” Joshua Tree. 

The Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) will hold an open community meeting Thursday evening August 18, 2011 to discuss the matter starting at 7 p.m. in the Joshua Tree Community Center about half a mile north of the 29-Palms highway at 6171 Sunburst Ave. (P.O. BOX 1245
Joshua Tree CA 92252.) The MAC, formed in 1992, is the official liaison between Joshua Tree residents and business entities and the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors 3rd District – Currently, Neil Derry is the 3rd District Supervisor. 

Update: Thursday Aug 18, 2011 – The “MAC” meeting tabled discussion on the Casino issue until the next MAC Meeting scheduled for Thursday September 15, 2011 at 7 p.m. See above for location. County Supervisor Neil Derry is scheduled to attend the meeting. It is unknown if any representative of the Casino proposal will attend. This writer had contacted the Tribe’s CFO Steve Gralla  (see below for details) but has not responded to my inquiry. \\\ 

The previously proposed Nüwü Casino Resort & RV Park  (see link note below) to have been located on Indian reservation property at the southern end of 29-Palms town started around mid 2007 and was abandoned in 2009 amid controversies and environmental issues. 

The link above to the impressive but archived “old” Nüwü website was designed by Claudiu Calaican of La Habra, California. Link Note: ((Calaican, the designer, has removed the archived website and cannot be viewed as of 8-6-11))

This “new Nüwü” Casino would be the second casino owned by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians augmenting their successful Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, (just east of Palm Springs) California. For an overview click Casino View.

The local newspaper, Hi-Desert Star, reports on this latest proposal.

Tribe eyes Joshua Tree for casino

By Kurt Schauppner
Twentynine Palms Correspondent
Published: Saturday, July 30, 2011 1:05 AM CDT
JOSHUA TREE — The Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians is considering building a casino here, rather than in Twentynine Palms as originally planned [planned in 2007, abandoned 2009]. County Supervisor Neil Derry and Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Council member David Fick both expressed opposition to the notion. Leaders of the Twentynine Palms tribe did not respond to requests for comment by presstime. READ MORE at Hi-Desert Star

Just how much opposition or support for this latest proposal remains to be revealed. Certainly, conservation enthusiasts are sure to oppose the project on environmental issues and county government will likely oppose it on grounds of loss of property tax revenue should the rumored 130 acre land be put into a federal Indian Trust making the site sovereign Indian land not subject to many local government regulations including county building permits and property taxes.

(Before anyone jumps on that, let me say that “our ancestors” stole the property from “their ancestors”.)

As of 8-5-11, Hi-Desert Star’s survey results seem to be 51 no, 54 yes, 11 yes & no, and 2 don’t care.

\\\ 

UPDATE: August 5, 2011

The Hi-Desert Star newspaper has more information. Link: CASINO

In part, Desert Trail Reporter Kurt Schauppner writes:

“…Statement coming…
Steve Gralla,** a spokesman for the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians, said Monday, Aug. 1 that tribal officials are working on a statement addressing what he called misinformation about the proposed casino.

That statement, he said, would address several of the options facing the tribe.
As of presstime, The Desert Trail had not received that statement.
Comments? Questions? Email Kurt Schauppner at kurts@deserttrail.com.”

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**Who is Steve Gralla?
In a February 2011 press release, RAM Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Mr. Gralla to the Board of Directors of its operating subsidiary RAM Reinsurance Company Ltd. RAM Holdings Ltd. is a Bermuda-based holding company. Its operating subsidiary, RAM Reinsurance Company Ltd., provides financial guaranty reinsurance for U.S. and international public finance and structured finance transactions. More information can be found at www.ramre.com.

Mr. Gralla is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognized southern California Native American tribe. As CFO, Mr. Gralla overseas the Tribe’s business interests. Previously he held various positions, including Senior Vice President, in the banking industry in areas such as compliance, commercial and construction lending and loan quality and production over a 30 year period. Mr. Gralla holds Gaming Licenses issued by the National Indian Gaming Association and the California State Gambling Control Commission. Mr. Gralla received his B.S. and MBA from Monmouth University (West Long Branch, New Jersey).
National Indian Gamnig Association   •  California State Gambling Control Commission

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UPDATE: August 6, 2011
Hi Desert Star newspaper has dramatically modified their “survey” or “poll” on this issue. The “numbers” are non distinct as to the issue.
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Editorial Comment:
A simple YES, NO or UNDECIDED poll or survey of the populace would suffice and would show more accurately, the “people’s choice.”
All to often the media contrives a “poll” by asking certain questions worded in a way that culminates in biased results. In “this” case, the questions ask if “it would hurt” 29-Palms (etc) where the only other choice is “would it help” (etc). The problem with that sort of language is “what constitutes HELP or HURT?” Furthermore, posing the situation as “they are moving the casino out of 29-Palms….” is an inaccurate statement in that the project was abandoned in 2009 and not built, therefore, it cannot be “moved.”  Now, today in 2011, the Tribe has apparently introduced a differnt proposal — the details of which are yet to be disclosed but the rumors are that a Joshua Tree location is being considered. Which, doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. A “poll” for the Joshua Tree population to consider should be a simple “Are you in favor of…”,  YES, NO, UNDECIDED. If “this website” were not so new and had lots of visitors, I would start such a simple Poll to get the “grassroot” consensus of the 100 square mile Joshua Tree resident and business population, which has nothing to do with 29-Palms Town or any previous proposal the Tribe may have entertained.
That’s my opinion — what’s yours?
–bf

About Bill Ford, Founder

Born in the late 30s - you do the math. Lots of life experiences in numerous endevors but not an expert in any that I know of. I'm a fan of challenging projects. When I'm told it can't be done I go ahead and do it anyway. This web site is one of 'em. How long will this web site last? Hard to say. Depends on how long I live. Film at Eleven. --bf
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3 Responses to Is there a NEW “Nüwü” Casino in the making?

  1. Los Mayor says:
    October 9, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    I fully support the building of NUWU casino in 29-Palms or Joshua Tree as this will create jobs to lot of the residents in this area. This will also encourge other businesses such as hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, malls, banks, etc… to invest in the area. This is a WIN-WIN situation for both the residents and the casino……… period !!!!!!!! NO BRAINER !!!!!!!!!

    • Gee says:
      January 5, 2012 at 6:30 PM

      Make it happen,,,,build the casino in 29 Palms,,,jobs, jobs, jobs!!!!! I fully support it!

      • Bill Ford, Founder says:
        January 5, 2012 at 8:03 PM

        Hello “Gee” (or “los Mayor”)

        Thanks for expressing your sentiments.

        I hate to say this, but based on information received directly from the Tribe’s Chief Financial Officer, the casino, if built anywhere in the Morongo Basin, would hire about 150 souls.

        Of that, the vast majority would be management level, dealers, pit bosses and gaming equipment technical experts, all of whom will have years of “clean record” experience in these specific fields. Most of these “jobs” will be awarded to folks outside of the Morongo Basin where there are hundreds, if not thousands, of potential casino job seekers who already have the required credentials and experience to qualify for those jobs.

        At best “guess”, any casino “out here” might employ 40-50 people in maintenance, grounds keeping, food services, house keeping, laundry and similar non gaming oriented positions – typically low paying positions.

        So, “jobs, jobs, jobs” becoming available because of a small casino is tiny. During the construction phase, yes, numerous and temporary jobs would be available but short lived. If the construction contractor brings in his/her own crew, that kills even the short haul skilled construction worker field. Labor Union contracts will further impact “who is hired” and who can work on the job.

        While any “entertainment” enterprise constructed in the Morongo Basin, such as a casino, who would focus on increasing tourism into the Basin, and ultimately to the enterprise’s doorstep, the Basin would likely benefit to some small degree from the influx of “outside tourist” money being spent within the Basin. That alone cannot be used to project how many “jobs” would become viable out here resulting solely from the slightly increased “tourist” trade.

        So, “jobs, jobs, jobs” is a poor platform on which to promote a casino or similar enterprise.

        –BF