Rohnert Park's Graton Casino breaks ground on large hotel expansion

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (KGO) -- A groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Graton Resort and Casino in Sonoma County. It is part of a $175 million expansion at the casino just west of Rohnert Park. Still, it is not without controversy.

Nothing about this tribe, casino or project has ever been easy. Especially, for critics who say that while the complex has brought money to the county, there has been problems too.

Architect Brad Friedmutter, who designed the Graton Resort and Casino, said, "You won't know you're in a casino. You're going to feel like you're in a very high-end resort hotel."

In 13 months, they will add a 200-room hotel along with local jobs and regional controversy.

Casino opponent Chip Worthington has spent 15 years of his life fighting the Graton Casino, and losing, mostly. He says the casino will just bring "more gambling, more crime, more political corruption..."

He takes no joy in this hotel, which will cost $175 million and employ 150 people, long-term plus 1,000 construction workers, short-term.

"Before the casino came to town Rohnert Park was a sleepy, little city. Our worst fears have upon us with the increase in crime," Worthington added.

And yet, not even the head of the Rohnert Park Police Department's union, Rick Bates, blames the casino.

"The casino is not the problem. The problem is the people who are left here when they are done gaming. The real problem is we don't have staffing to combat the problems left over here," Bates said.

And that is still the problem, even after the casino guaranteed Rohnert Park $8 million a year and the county $5 million more.

For tribal chairman Greg Sarris, this entire discussion, just one more distraction on a day when he and his tribe believe Rohnert Park should be celebrating.

"What I have learned, number one is patience. Number two is taking high road always pays off," Sarris said.

In this case, that high road is six stories tall.