On behalf of your JAC board, thank you very much for the show of support during the recent 2-day ABC hearing. We know that attending this proceeding posed a challenge to many of you. Your presence and support is greatly appreciated. Our collective presence at such proceedings no doubt has an influence on the hearing officer. YOU MATTER!!!
After two challenging days, we believe the hearing officer, Judge Lewis, appears to be a man of integrity and concern for hearing all the issues.
He listened to our concerns, including potential impacts of serving alcohol, and the increased risk to motorists and a host of additional information under consideration. The pivotal argument came with Patrick Webb's (representing himself, his wife Debra and a number of his neighbors) argument that Jamul Village Development and San Diego Ventures LLC do not qualify for an ABC license because the land does not qualify under the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Commission as a reservation or a tribe under the Carcieri decision.
The applicant's attorney and the attorneys for the ABC requested a continuation of the hearing. Judge Lewis has continued the hearing likely into January of 2017.
We will let you know the date as soon as we know. Meanwhile the status of the "interim-operating permit" remains unchanged for now.
Thanks to all the witnesses who testified! Every one of you did a fine job of representing the community's concerns. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!