Shawn Davis: Scotts Valley Band ready to be Vallejo’s economic partner

Long before it became the vibrant community it is now, this land was home to ancestors of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, whose presence remains woven into Vallejo’s identity.

Today, as Vallejo sits at an economic crossroads, Scotts Valley stands ready to be a long-term economic partner – one that creates jobs, generates revenue, and invests in Vallejo’s future.

In 2016, our Tribe submitted an application to the Department of the Interior (DOI) to place land into trust in Vallejo, all within our aboriginal territory. Our plans include 24 units of tribal housing, an administration building, preserved open space, a community event venue, and a casino facility. This will not only attract tourism, but it will also increase economic growth and create jobs in the region.

Federal impact studies found the project will employ thousands of residents across Vallejo and Solano County. These developments will stimulate local businesses and generate tax and service agreement revenue to enhance public safety staffing, invest in community infrastructure, and fund essential public programs. Since Mare Island Naval Shipyard closed, Vallejo has seen a loss in opportunities and city services for residents. Our project will be the single largest investment in Vallejo in generations – injecting millions of dollars in new, taxable wages each year.

After nearly a decade of rigorous environmental review, legal analysis, and administrative scrutiny, DOI approved our request to acquire and put this land into trust in January 2025. This decision restores a homeland for our Tribe and paves the way for long-awaited economic development.

Cache Creek Casino, located over an hour from Vallejo, has used shameful rhetoric and tactics to block competition in the Bay Area to protect its own profits. Its motives are simply greed. We will not allow this group to dictate Vallejo’s economic future or opportunities to its residents.

Previous developments near this land have proceeded without objection, including a former housing project on the site. Opposition from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation only emerged once a casino was proposed. A cultural resources study deemed the property to have low potential for buried archaeological resources, despite unsubstantiated and inaccurate public statements to the contrary. The motive is clear: opposition arises only when their money is threatened.

Decisions are not determined by who is first in line for economic opportunities. They must be based on the law and facts. When well-financed casino interests use their economic power to influence outcomes and suppress tribal competitors, it raises questions about justice, sovereignty, and equal opportunity. Tribal gaming is not a favor from the government. It is a right, grounded in federal law. Political influence should never override fairness and equal treatment.

In October, a federal court reaffirmed Scotts Valley’s gaming eligibility as a constitutionally protected property interest, making clear the property remains eligible while DOI reconsiders the status. The Tribe is moving forward with a preview casino to exercise these rights, create jobs, and provide opportunities in the permanent facility. The construction phase has been completed on the preview casino, which will operate up to 100 gaming devices. We look forward to sharing updates on its opening timeline.

We have also been working with Vallejo officials to formalize an interim government payment structure to offset the minimal costs and public impacts of this temporary facility. Consistent with the City Council, we have worked closely with the City Manager’s Office in a productive partnership grounded in shared economic priorities. While our land is sovereign and not subject to local regulation, we will be a good neighbor, ensuring taxpayers benefit rather than bear any costs. The Tribe agreement for the permanent casino has already funded city-led studies to support that process.

Scotts Valley has always had challenges, and each one has made us stronger. We seek only the freedom to prosper on our homeland while supporting our neighbors. Committed to being a long-term partner with Vallejo, we will continue fighting for shared prosperity and growth.

— Shawn Davis/Chairman Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

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