Hundreds Oppose Tribe's Oklahoma City Casino Plan

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- More than 1,000 government leaders, politicians, educators, business leaders and citizens have written letters of opposition to the Shawnee Tribe's plans to build a Vegas-like hotel and casino in Oklahoma City.

The letters were submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Muskogee during a 30-day public comment period in 2008.

The Bureau will have the final say on the tribe's application to put land near Remington Park into trust. If that happens, the Shawnee Tribe, which is based in Miami, Oklahoma, plans to build a $400-million destination casino and hotel along I-35 near Remington Park.

"This is the one thing that could pull the plug on the Oklahoma horse racing," said Scott Wells, Remington Park General Manager.

Some say the project would not only spell doom for Remington Park, it would also put an end to Oklahoma's horse racing and horse breeding industry.

"That's why so many people stepped to the plate when it mattered," Wells said.

He said he's surprised only six letters supporting the project were submitted to the Bureau.

"I figured with the hundreds of thousands of dollars they spent on publicity for the project, and direct mailings to thousands and tens of thousands of people here in Oklahoma, you would have thought they would have been able to convince a few more people."

Greg Pitcher, Chairman of the Shawnee Tribe Development, says the Bureau will hold public hearings for this issue and that's when he expects supports of the project to speak up. The tribe launced a media campaign last year to try and convince Oklahomans that the project would benefit Remington Park and its neighbors - not hurt it.

"One of our most important efforts is to work here in the community to convince the people of Oklahoma City that we will be good neighbors", said Pitcher.

The public comment period came to an end on June 09, 2008, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs has just recently released copies of all the letters to NEWS 9 following several requests under the Freedom of Information Act.