May 8, 2020 The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Greg Cox, Chairman San Diego County Board of Supervisors 1600 Pacific Highway San Diego, CA 92101 Dear Governor Newsom and Chairman Cox: On behalf of the undersigned tribal leaders representing eight sovereign Native American gaming tribes located within San Diego County, it is our pleasure to communicate with you the public health and welfare measures we are undertaking in conjunction with the limited, phased re-opening of our casino operations. We commend your individual and collective management of this unprecedented public health crisis and appreciate the regular reporting of data and guidance. While it is understood that the state and county do not maintain civil or regulatory jurisdiction over tribal reservation property or enterprises under Public Law 280, we closed our facilities to the public as a matter of governmental comity and in the overriding interest of public health. Since the closures on March 20, 2020, each of our tribes have taken various actions to address the pandemic and its impact on our tribal members, employees and communities. These include, but are not limited to: tribal declarations of emergency, reducing financial impacts on employees to the best of our ability, aggressively pursuing various federal relief funds for our essential tribal government operations and employee benefits that have still SAN DIEGO COUNTY GAMING TRIBES GOVERNOR NEWSON and CHAIRMAN COX May 8, 2020 Page 2 of 3 not been forthcoming, and assistance with front line essential response with our public safety, fire and medical staff where applicable. Collectively, tens of thousands of San Diegans rely on our economic activity to support their families, dependents and communities – and an innumerable number of small-and mediumsized businesses depend on us for purchase of various goods and services. Tribal government gaming is the only lifeline for essential government functions on each of our reservations including, but no limited to: police, fire, medical, education, child care, housing, water and wastewater, eldercare, environmental protection, recreation and more. We received the April 20, 2020, letter from Ms. Christina Snider inquiring about 10 specific measures, and we each independently affirm our tribe’s positive responses to each question. In addition, our respective tribal governments, gaming commissions and casino management teams have worked diligently to monitor and communicate with federal, state and local public health authorities. We have communicated with each of your offices and reviewed daily updates of public health guidance beginning with the gating criteria established by the White House and CDC, Governor Newsom’s six critical indicators, County of San Diego Business Safety Framework, as well as criteria for re-opening issued by the NIGC. Based upon the most recent announcement of the Governor expediting his Phase 2 criteria, as well as the County of San Diego’s actions on May 5, 2020, approving a local framework for non-tribal business openings, we have developed and promulgated directives, policies and/or regulations to begin the limited, phased re-opening of our facilities no sooner than May 18, 2020, and thereafter. This decision on our part is driven first and foremost with the knowledge that we can maintain and protect the public health and welfare and, if required, scale back if local conditions develop or warrant. And this action is premised on the fact that the five key metrices tracked by local public health have been and will continue to be met as evidenced by the regular data report from county public health. Our individual plans are unique to each tribe and reflect our unique culture, operations and characteristics. However, we can attest that they all incorporate that framework approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on May 5, 2020, and include mandatory measures including, but not limited to: signage, temperature checks of all patrons and no admittance if symptomatic or fevered; masks for all employees and patrons; enhanced sanitization efforts floor-wide and back of house; delayed openings of high-traffic outlets including bingo, valet, buffet and pools; reduction of in-use slot machines to achieve necessary social distancing; and numerous other operational and policy changes related to employee training, public health awareness and measures to further control potential spread. In conclusion, we value and appreciate the government-to government relationship we have developed with each of you. We fully share and embrace your primary concern for public health and welfare. We believe strongly our governments and business operations are ready, willing and able to maintain public health and welfare while we responsibly reopen our gaming operations in a limited and phased approach. SAN DIEGO COUNTY GAMING TRIBES GOVERNOR NEWSON and CHAIRMAN COX May 8, 2020 Page 3 of 3 Thank you for your serious attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of us directly. Sincerely, CODY J. MARTINEZ Chairman Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation THORPE ROMERO Chairman Barona Band of Mission Indians ERICA PINTO Chairwoman Jamul Indian Village JOHN CHRISTMAN Chairman Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians STEVEN COPE Chairman San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians ROBERT SMITH Chairman Pala Band of Mission Indians BO MAZZETTI Chairman Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians FRED NELSON Chairman La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians CJM:ad cc: San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore Ms. Christina Snider, Tribal Advisor, Governor Newsom Mr. Jacob Appelsmith, Director, California Department of ABC Ms. Helen Robbins-Meyer, San Diego County Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten, M.D., San Diego County Public Health Officer