Las Cruces City Council Votes to Support Jemez-Anthony casino project

The Las Cruces City Council tried to resurrect plans to build a new casino in Anthony through a resolution during Monday's City Council meeting.

All but one City Council member voted 'yes' to support the Jemez-Anthony casino project.

Councilor Greg Smith voted against the resolution, expressing concern over respect for tribal community laws and possible safety risks.

Plans to build the casino were stopped last year because of a technicality. The federal government rejected the Jemez Pueblo's proposal because the location was considered too far from tribal land.

Mayor Ken Miyagishima said that the city was hoping to be able to give the project new life through the resolution.

"We don't want the issue to just be completely dropped," Miyagishima said.

Miyagishima said that the City Council felt that it wasn't given the time it was supposed to have during the application process to express its support for the plan.

"We don't believe we were given that time and they went and just closed the application process and didn't really allow us to give them our input," Miyagishima said.

The proposed casino would sit in Anthony off the freeway, encompassing around 100 acres of land. It's expected to bring in 950 permanent jobs to the area and 570 construction jobs.

Anthony residents like Irma Ayalla said that she hopes the casino is built because it will boost the area's economy.

"It's good for Anthony because it's going to bring a lot of jobs," Ayalla said. "The restaurants will have more business because there will be more people."

The project was first proposed in 2004 and a lot of locals felt it was all but dead after last year's federal rejection.

Miyagishima said that he hopes the project will now be seriously considered again because of the council's resolution.

"We feel that it's necessary to keep it on the forefront," Miyagishima said.