By Caitlin McGlade | The Arizona Republic
The Peoria City Council approved two grants from the southern Arizona tribe that seeks to open a casino on the Glendale-Peoria border.
The Tohono O’odham Nation is poised to give $60,000 to the Police Department for a surveillance tower. Theater Works, which runs the city-owned Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, would receive $44,000.
In 2011 and 2012, Peoria had applied for funding for the tower from the Gila River Indian Community, but the tribe rejected the requests. Council Office and Grant Program Manager Tammy Shreve said the applications were similar, but all grants are highly competitive.
Mayor Bob Barrett said he was “dead solemn certain” that Gila River’s past rejections related to Peoria’s support for the Tohono O’odhams’ proposed casino. Barrett has been an advocate since it was unveiled nearly five years ago, calling the planned resort and casino near 95th and Northern avenues a job creator.
