South Tulsa Residents, Council Set To Take Action Against Rumored Casino

Tulsa's city council is keeping a close eye on developments to bring a casino to Broken Arrow. The Red Clay Casino has come under fire from residents as well as city and state leaders.

Now there's concern the same thing may happen in south Tulsa. The casino in Broken Arrow is being built by the Kialegee Tribal Town which is affiliated with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Homeowners at 111th and Yale are worried that a Creek Nation smoke shop there could be the next site for a casino.

01/10/2012 Related Story: Council Worries About Rumored Casino In South Tulsa

The South Yale Smoke Shop is on land owned by a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. But the city of Tulsa is worried that a casino may soon replace the smoke shop.

There hasn't been anything official but city councilor Phil Lakin believes the rumors are based in reality.

"It makes for a much better rumor that one person is hearing it from an attorney associated with an LLC, one person is hearing from a land owner, one person is hearing it from another source," Lakin said.

The land in south Tulsa covers around eight acres. But it's surrounded by neighborhoods and an elementary school is close to a mile away. The rumors have neighbors upset.

"I can't believe they would allow a casino to be built around an elementary school because when you have a casino you have everything that goes with it like the drinking and the crime," said area resident Staci Pursell.

George Tiger, the chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, said he doesn't know what may or may not happen with the property, and only learned of the rumored casino through the news media.

But he says he does have plans to speak with the tribe's legal team about this situation.

Tulsa's city council is expected to pass a resolution this week asking the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to keep a casino away from the neighborhood. 

"You lose property valuation, you lose a sense of place, community, and family, and everything else that comes with purposely deciding where you live," Lakin said.

Residents hope whoever is making the decisions listens to their plea.

"I don't know why they don't do things for the greater good. Why would they do what's good just for the people that want to make money and the casino, but not what's good for everybody else that lives in this area?" Purcell remarked.

Again, there hasn't been anything specific or official from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. But Tulsa's city councilor's say they'll do what they can to support Broken Arrow if it helps prevent a similar casino from being built in Tulsa.