Vallejo Approves Temporary Deal for Scotts Valley Tribe's Casino Project

City council votes to enter MOU for preview casino and tribal offices despite concerns from neighboring tribes.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:52am

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty highway overpass at dusk, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the concrete structure, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the contentious casino development.As tensions over the Scotts Valley casino project escalate, a solitary overpass stands as a symbol of the complex negotiations between tribal sovereignty and community concerns.Vallejo Today

After heated debate, the Vallejo City Council voted to enter a temporary memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians as they work to open a preview casino and tribal offices on their trust land within city limits. The MOU includes terms for community engagement, local hiring, and environmental cleanup, though some council members expressed reservations about the agreement.

Why it matters

The Scotts Valley casino project has faced pushback from neighboring tribes who claim the land is not the tribe's ancestral territory. The temporary MOU allows the project to move forward while the larger $700 million casino and resort plan remains in legal limbo after the federal government rescinded its initial approval.

The details

The preview casino and tribal offices would be located just off Interstate 80 and Columbus Parkway in Vallejo. The MOU was amended to include more community engagement, a 15% local hire requirement, and a contribution to the White Slough cleanup. Council members Alexander Matias and Tonia Lediju voted against the amended MOU, citing concerns about the benefits to Vallejo. The tribe says the project will 'uplift the entire Vallejo community' while opponents argue it is on ancestral Patwin territory.

  • The Vallejo City Council voted on the MOU on April 15, 2026.
  • The tribe plans to start construction on the preview casino in the coming months.

The players

Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

A Native American tribe seeking to develop a preview casino and tribal offices on their trust land within Vallejo city limits.

Alexander Matias

A Vallejo City Council member who voted against the MOU, citing concerns about the benefits to the city.

Tonia Lediju

A Vallejo City Council member who voted against the MOU, expressing a desire for a clearer partnership that fully protects Vallejo and its residents.

Shawn Davis

The tribal chairman for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, who says Vallejo is their 'homeland' and the project will benefit the city.

Anthony Roberts

The tribal chairman for the Yoche Dehe Wintun Nation, which has accused Scotts Valley of 'reservation shopping' and having no legitimate ancestral ties to the land.

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What they’re saying

“Partnership requires clarity and discipline. I want to say that I acknowledge and respect the sovereignty of the tribe and the right to pursue economic development, and I support the city engaging in partnership... what concerns me about this MOU is whether we should engage but whether we are doing so in a way that fully protects Vallejo and our residents.”

— Tonia Lediju, Vallejo City Council member

“We feel that Vallejo is not just a project site, it is our homeland. This is my home now. We are developing the land with a preview casino to help build stability and opportunity for our families and to provide benefit to the city and Vallejo community.”

— Shawn Davis, Tribal chairman, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

“That is ancestral Patwin territory. It has been, it always will be... Our fight from day one has never been to hold the tribe down. It's been to protect the resources that we've protected in our ancestral lands for generations.”

— Anthony Roberts, Tribal chairman, Yoche Dehe Wintun Nation

What’s next

The city will continue analyzing the impacts of the proposed larger casino project, pending federal approval, to ensure Vallejo is reimbursed and mitigated for any impacts. Next steps will also include the approval of an encroachment permit and temporary construction of the preview casino, which is set to start in the coming months.

The takeaway

This temporary agreement highlights the complex tensions between tribal sovereignty, economic development, and community concerns over a controversial casino project. Vallejo must balance respecting the tribe's rights while also protecting the interests of its residents as the larger casino plan remains in legal limbo.