SACRAMENTO – A bill by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata) to ratify the gaming compact of Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe won unanimous approval from the Assembly Tuesday, and is on its way to the Senate for approval.

“I am proudly authoring AB 1020, which ratifies this compact, because Upper Lake has done an outstanding job of working with the Lake County Board of Supervisors,” Chesbro said in his speech on the Assembly Floor. “There is an existing memorandum of understanding between Lake County and the tribe that ensures the county’s interests are taken into consideration throughout the tribe’s project.”

Chesbro noted in his comments that the Lake County Board of Supervisors officially supports the compact.

The tribe has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Northshore Fire Protection District, which will provide much-needed funding for a rural fire district that has suffered major budget cutbacks the past two years.

Additionally, the tribe has set aside more than 55 acres of land to assist with the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project.

AB 1020 passed 69-0, garnering the needed two-thirds vote by a wide margin, Chesbro's office reported.

Republican Assembly member Kristin Olsen from Modesto also spoke in support of the bill. It needed a two-thirds vote because it is designated an “urgency” bill, taking effect as soon as it is signed by the governor. AB 1020 now goes to the Senate.

“Lake County is currently experiencing a 20-percent unemployment rate, one of the highest in the state,” Chesbro said. “This compact is extremely important since it will immediately create more than 145 badly needed new construction jobs. Moreover, upon completion of the tribe’s gaming project, the tribe will provide 200 to 300 much-needed full-time jobs – with benefits.”

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