2.  Under the governance of Mark Macarro,
the Pechanga Resort and Casino has
become the largest on-reservation casino
in the western United States. Mark Macarro
is the Tribal Chairman of the Pechanga
Band of Luiseño Indians. His commitment to
political activism to improve the lives of
Indians in California was recognized by
Capitol Weekly, when it placed him at No.
39 on its Top 100 list of political movers and
shakers.

3.  The Native American community in
California is currently facing balloting for
Proposition 48, a veto referendum seeking
to ratify Assembly Bill 277 and two gaming
compacts between the North Fork
Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot
Tribe. It also aims to exempt execution of
certain projects under the California
Environmental Quality Act.

4.  The purpose of Prop. 48 is to gain support
for off-reservation tribal gaming in special
cases, such as that of the North Fork
Rancheria, who were unable to build a
casino on their tribal lands because of
environmental issues. Tribal gaming is a
major source of revenue for Native
Americans who would otherwise be
unemployed and living off social benefits.
The Pechanga Resort and Casino, for
instance, employs 4,100 individuals and is
the second largest private employer in
Riverside County.