By Todd G. Dickson

Las Cruces Bulletin

Jemez Pueblo leaders vis ited Anthony, N.M., Friday, Oct. 29, to rekindle support for an Indian casino and said they think the second time may be the charm for the proposal.

The pueblo, located in the Jemez Mountains northwest of Albuquerque, recently resub mitted its request to the Interi or Department to acquire 100 acres in Anthony to become trust land for the purpose of developing an off-reservation Indian casino. About six years ago, the pueblo applied for the special permission because the Albu querque- Santa Fe area is satu rated with Indian casinos, and the pueblo lacks other available natural resources for economic development. The federal Indi an Gaming Act allows off-res ervation casinos under certain conditions through the acqui sition of trust lands.

The pueblo withdrew its proposal when a Bush admin-i stration official made a ruling that such trust lands still need ed to be within 50 miles of the reservation, a condition not expressed in the federal gaming law, Jemez officials contend.

With the change in admin-i stration, Jemez officials feel they now have someone more willing to look at the merits of their proposal in Interior Sec retary Ken Salazar. If he signs off on the proposal, it must also be approved by that state’s governor. The Jemez leaders who vis ited Friday, Oct. 29, before the election said they have spoken to both gubernatorial candidates and both replied they were willing to look at the analysis of the proposal and make a determination based on its merits.

“We are hoping and praying they will look at the benefits analysis,” said Ruben Smith, former Las Cruces mayor who supports the Jemez casino proposal. “That’s all we want.”

Jemez Gov. Joshua Madalena said the casino is a “win-win” endeavor for both the people of his pueblo and the residents of Anthony, which is in dire need of jobs and governmental services. The pueblo’s proposal includes paying local property taxes on the trust land, which is normally not taxed, and providing support to fire safety and police protection services in the area, as well as supporting a variety of other community projects and services.

With the state government struggling to maintain services after losing revenue to the recession, Jemez’s offer to support local services should be welcome, said Raymond Loretto of the Jemez Enterprise Management Board.

Madalena said the income will help the pueblo improve its health care and standard of living and the casino will provide badly needed jobs to Anthony.

Also receptive to the Jemez casino proposal are members of the new Anthony municipal government, which is operating on very little revenue support, said Trustee James Scott.

“If the money’s not there from state and the federal government, then we need to figure out a way to stand on our own two feet,” Scott said. “This will help them (the members of the pueblo) and in turn, it will help us.”

The Jemez casino in Anthony is opposed by the Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino and the Mescalero Apache Tribe, saying the Jemez casino could hurt their businesses in southern New Mexico. The Mescalero Tribe owns the Inn of the Mountain Gods near Ruidoso.

Santa Fe art dealer Gerald Peters is the developer of the casino for the pueblo. Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino is owned by Stan Fulton, who has threatened to withdraw his support of New Mexico State University if a competing casino opens near Sunland Park.

The Jemez Pueblo has responded that Fulton is trying to hold on to a gambling monopoly in southern New Mexico and has noted that the Mescalero’s reservation also is a significant distance from Anthony.

Anthony, N.M., Trustee James Scott listens to Jemez Pueblo Gov. Joshua Madalena talk about how the proposed Indian casino would provide assistance to the newly formed city government during a visit Friday, Oct. 29, to community groups gathered at the Dos Lagos Golf Club.