Alexander Valley residents hoping against hope that they had seen the worst that River Rock Casino has to offer in terms of visual impacts and traffic haven’t seen anything yet. Last week, the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians announced plans for a 260-room resort hotel to go along with the casino. The hotel will be the largest in Sonoma County.
In our lead editorial on Sunday, we look at some of the unknowns concerning circulation and public safety at this resort.
But the biggest question may be whether the North Bay can support this upscale casino resort as well as the one planned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria near Rohnert Park.

Also in Sunday’s Forum section, columnist Paul Gullixson looks at some alarming things Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, had to say at the Stanford University graduation two weeks ago. He finds a way to relate to a conversation he had with his son – about Barry Bonds.