“Amador County is in this alone” was heard several times during the meeting. However, the majority of the spectators appeared to agree with Plymouth resident Butch Cranford when he said, “the rule of law must eventually prevail and we should continue to fight!”  But Andy Rodriquez seemed to express the board’s dilemma when he said “the cause against casinos may be just -- but can we win?” 

In an effort to urge rejection of the agreement, several concerned citizens recited examples of courage and persistence from the United States Revolution, Winston Churchill and the local telephone book. In the absence of a court decision and if the ISA is rejected by the board, a “baseball” style of arbitration will become mandatory.  During arbitration it is uncertain what monies will be forthcoming from the casino operators. There is also a cloud of uncertainty concerning the pending lawsuit that has stalled in the federal court system for 34 months and it is impossible to know when a judgment will be rendered. In addition, the board explained even if the decision were in our favor, the casino might well be in operation by that time and the ruling would not have the desired effect.