Raton had been used by Native Americans for centuries because of a pass in town that cuts through the rugged Rocky Mountains. (Image: Wikipedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Pueblo of Picuris, one of the smallest of New Mexico\u2019s 19 indigenous pueblos with a population of around 300, could then build and operate a casino complex in Raton. Or at least, that’s the hope.<\/p>\n
Raton Mayor Neil Segotta told Colorado Public Radio that the city has been negotiating the possibility of a gaming facility with the pueblo for nearly three years.<\/strong><\/p>\nCasino-style gaming is only allowed in New Mexico by tribal\/state compact with the tribes and pueblos of New Mexico.<\/p>\nThe San Lorenzo de Picuris Spanish mission, in the Pueblo of Picuris, stands where the Picuris people have lived for at least 750 years. (Image: Wikipedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPicuris 101<\/h2>\n The Pueblo of the Picuris community is located near the town of Pe\u00f1asco, where the Picuris people have lived for at least 750 years. Bccause of its geographical isolation on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, more than 7,000 feet above sea level, the pueblo was missed entirely by all Spanish expeditions until 1591.<\/p>\n
Revolts against the Spanish led to the evacuation of the pueblo in 1696, though the Spanish returned about 300 Picuris people to their reservation from the plains in 1706. Their population has remained relatively stable since.<\/strong><\/p>\nRaton is located 120 miles northeast of the Pueblo of Picuris community. However, it’s hoped that some community members would want to relocate to work and live on the casino development site.<\/p>\nRaton’s International Balloon Rally. (Image: Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDeflating Balloon City<\/h2>\n Raton, best known for hosting the International Balloon Rally, a hot-air balloon gathering held every Fourth of July weekend, has a population that’s deflating by about 500 people per decade. It declined from 8,225 in 1980, to 7,372 in 2000, to 6,042 in 2020.<\/p>\n
Current Raton city manager Richard Mestas told Colorado Public Radio <\/em>he thinks that adding the resettled casino workers would turn that trend around, boosting the local economy and schools. He also said the city would provide utilities to the casino development.<\/p>\nAt the January 23 meeting of the Raton City Commission, former city manager Scott Berry called the proposal \u201cvery much designed as a catalyst for economic development in Raton.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is the most powerful catalyst that I know of out there,\u201d<\/strong> Berry said during the city commission\u2019s January 23 meeting. \u201cIf there\u2019s a better idea, I\u2019d like to hear it. I don\u2019t think that doing nothing is a good economic development strategy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe commission’s proposal is currently nonbinding, so the city isn’t committed to a land transfer just yet. However, the highway lights are now all green.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a statement of intent to move forward,\u201d Raton Mayor Pro-tem Lori Chatterly told city commissioners. \u201cIt is not a deed. It does not transfer any property. It is essentially a show of good faith moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
A meeting is planned between pueblo leaders and Raton officials this month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
City commissioners in Raton, New Mexico, a city of about 6,000 located 100 miles northeast of Taos, have voted to move forward with the transfer of about 130 acres of vacant land there to a sovereign indigenous community. The Pueblo of Picuris, one of the smallest of New Mexico\u2019s 19 indigenous pueblos with a population […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":310532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[86433,18456],"tags":[13363,82492,89857,89858,89859],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Struggling New Mexico Town Wants Pueblo to Build Casino Complex - Casino.org<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n