Sonoma County is going bankrupt, but they don't want anyone to know. The county's deal with River Rock marked the beginning of its new approach to tribal casinos in the county: take the money and run.

I'm sure a few of you engage in recreational gambling from time to time. I hope none of you has a gambling problem. Our concerns here in this county should be the five (yes, FIVE) new, large tribal casinos that will be built in the next ten years along Highway 101, with the blessings of the Board of Supervisors, unless we all get off our duffs.

All will be along the 101 Corridor: Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, and two in Cloverdale, where there are two competing factions of the same group.

"Trick Deal" Feinstein is making sure there there will be no casinos on the Bay or in her beloved Marin County. She has sent at least two tribe up here: the Lyttons (San Pablo Casino) and Graton Rancheria.

Feinstein wants Sonoma County to be casino central. Traffic will be a nightmare, crime will increase (it always does), and all of us will eventually know someone who lost everything due to problem gambling.

Call the BOOS at 565-2241 or email them through their web site at www.sonom-county.org

You've oversimplified the details (on purpose?) as to how many and how soon... but the larger question is, if the only option we've given these tribes is wealth through gaming, then why are we surprised they want to take the Government up on it?

And don't try to present a "bootstraps" argument, as a little self-motivation won't undo the damage done by generations of hostility toward local tribes.