GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) The City Council voted unanimously to reject a proposal to build an Indian casino and resort just blocks from Disneyland.
Council members said Tuesday that a casino would not fit into the city's family oriented vision and would face strong opposition from the community.
``It is very clear to me that there is widespread opposition to gambling in Orange County,'' said Councilman Mark Rosen. ``We shouldn't take it any further because of that.''
The vote put to rest a weeklong flurry of excitement and speculation that Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn might want to build a mega-resort on Harbor Boulevard.
The city, located in Orange County, considered selling as much as 45 acres to the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, a San Diego County tribe that wanted to build a resort with shopping, restaurants and live entertainment comparable to Las Vegas.
Wynn issued a statement last week saying no negotiations were underway and that talks were ``based on hypothesis on top of hypothesis.''
Council members confirmed that they had met with Wynn in May in Las Vegas. They said they met with him in groups of two and were asked to sign confidentiality agreements.
Once publicized, opposition to the plan followed quickly from residents, council members and local politicians who believed a casino would bring crime and prostitution to the area.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
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