Editing Richmond, California (section)

==Casinos==
Many casinos have been proposed for the West Contra Costa area. [[Point Molate Beach Park|Point Molate]] would have a casino, resort, and a luxury shopping mall. Sugar Bowl Casino proposed a casino, a steakhouse, and a buffet promoted by the [[Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians|Pomo Tribe's Scotts Valley Band]] near the border between [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]] and the city of Richmond's [[Parchester Village, Richmond, California|Parchester Village]], whose residents have lauded it as a boon to fighting crime by adding more of a police presence and creating jobs for shiftless youth, but residents from neighboring newly developed sub-divisions along the [[Richmond Country Club]] were fervently opposed based on potential losses to property values.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vega|first=Cecilia M.|date=October 14, 2004|title=RICHMOND / Neighbors at odds over casino plan / Proposal pits poor community against new subdivision|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/richmond-neighbors-at-odds-over-casino-plan-2717680.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref> Casino San Pablo has already been built in neighboring San Pablo, with 2,500 slots. The projects have been the subject of much civic debate; supporters contend that the often cash-strapped government would get a major new source of revenue, while opponents air their concerns over the ramifications, including an increase in already high crime rates, lowered property values, and worsening neighborhood quality of life.

Point Molate is currently slated to either become a housing and conference center, a [[casino]] resort shopping area, or a large regional park.<ref>{{Cite web|last=DelVecchio|first=Rick|date=April 9, 2001|title=Time Bomb Or Treasure / Old Navy depot at Point Molate has stunning views for housing but is loaded with environmental red flags|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Time-Bomb-Or-Treasure-Old-Navy-depot-at-Point-2933355.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2010, the city approved the environmental review of the plan in which the tribe agreed to contain development of the casino to the footprint of the buildings on the former naval depot site.<ref name="nogame">{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Carolyn|date=April 6, 2011|title=Richmond rejects tribe's plans for casino resort|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/richmond-rejects-tribe-s-plans-for-casino-resort-2375902.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref> The lobbying and reports required by Richmond have cost the tribe $15 million.<ref name="nogame"/> This approval won over the region's strict environmentalists and many council members.<ref name="nogame"/> Later that year residents were given the opportunity to weigh in on the issue and voted on the non-binding measure U to determine their approval of the project.<ref name="nogame"/> 58% of voters opposed the $1 billion project.<ref name="nogame"/> Citing the people's opposition and the inability to negotiate several key points with the developer, the city council voted down the project in 2011.<ref name="nogame"/> Councilman Nat Bates remained a proponent of the plan with its projected 17,000 jobs, while the remainder of the council was chagrined at the fact that there was no guarantee that the jobs would go to Richmonders.<ref name="nogame"/> The city of San Pablo, whose lifeline is their card club, [[Casino San Pablo]], was elated. The [[Guideville Band of Pomo Indians]] was given the opportunity of 150 days to create a non-casino plan for the site such as alternatives in the environmental report for a convention center, conference center, hotel, spa, and housing.<ref name="nogame"/>