Harrah's Rincon Casino San Diego California
See businesses at this location “Harrah's is a great place for mini-staycation when you're in the mood for a little casino fun and mini getaway, no need for the long drive to Vegas. Harrah's does a nice job taking precautions for Covid-19: - temperature check upon entry to the building - lots of signage on health & safety” more 2. Harrah's Resort Southern California Harrah's is the best resort and casino around. From the moment you arrive the staff is so welcoming and the go out of there way to assist you! The hotel rooms are large and clean, they are all.
| Harrah's Resort Southern California | |
|---|---|
| Location | Valley Center, California, U.S. |
| Address | 777 Harrah's Rincon Way |
| Opening date | December 20, 2004; 15 years ago[1] |
| No. of rooms | 1,087 |
| Total gaming space | 86,000 sq ft (8,000 m2) |
| Notable restaurants | Che Bello (formerly The Buffet) Earl of Sandwich Fiore KJ Chinese Restaurant Oyster Bar 'Ritas Cantina Robeks Smashburger SR76 Beerworks Starbucks The Café at Harrah's |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians |
| Operating license holder | Caesars Entertainment |
| Architect | Paul Steelman Design Group[2] |
| Previous names | Harrah's Rincon (2004–2014) |
| Renovated in | 2014, 2015 |
| Coordinates | 33°16′03″N116°57′20″W / 33.267416°N 116.955525°WCoordinates: 33°16′03″N116°57′20″W / 33.267416°N 116.955525°W |
| Website | caesars.com/harrahs-socal |
Harrah's Resort Southern California (formerly Harrah's Rincon) is an Indian casino and hotel in Valley Center, California. It is owned by the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians[3] and operated by Caesars Entertainment.
Hotel rooms[edit]
The hotel has three towers: Dive Inn (formerly Garden Tower, opened in 2002 and renovated in 2004), Resort Tower South (formerly Spa Tower, opened in 2004 and renovated in 2015) and Resort Tower North (opened in 2014). There are 662 rooms in the Resort Tower South and Dive Inn and there are 403 rooms in the Resort Tower North. The casino consists of 1600 slot machines and 51 tables, including eight poker tables. The architects for this casino were the Steelman Partners of Las Vegas, NV, providing interior and lighting design.[4]
The resort also includes a spa and nearby Woods Valley Golf Club. The North and South Towers includes non-smoking and smoking Luxury rooms, as well as the La Jolla suite (2 rooms on each floor of the South Tower and the majority of the rooms on the 20th floor of the North and South Towers), 4 Coronado Suites total on each floor which includes a balcony with a table and 2 lounge chairs facing east (South Tower) and north or south (North Tower), Catalina suite which is exclusive to the renovated South Tower and features 1 king and 2 queen beds, extra space and 2 lounge chairs and a table on the private balcony facing west and the 'Mayoral Suite' located on the top floor of the South Tower. In 2017, the resort introduced 'Resort Wellness Rooms and Resort Wellness Suites' located on the 2nd floor of the North Tower which has Vitamin C infused showers, bathrobes and slippers as well as exercise equipment in each room. The rooms are also in close proximity to the fitness center on the 2nd floor of the South Tower. Dive Inn includes non-smoking and smoking Deluxe rooms with a small balcony. The Palomar Suite is the smallest suite in this tower while the larger Laguna and Malibu suites include a private small heated pool outside the room. Rooms on the first floor facing the pool also have a private balcony with lounge chairs.
Expansion[edit]
On November 1, 2012, construction began on a $160-million expansion that included a new 403-room hotel tower and a 23,000 square foot convention center, which can be converted for meetings, concerts, and other uses. The project also consisted of many other expansions, including a renovation of the pool area featuring a lazy river and swim-up bar, a food court comprising Earl of Sandwich and the reopening of Pink's (now Smashburger), a Starbucks location, Corked (featuring regional premium craft beers), Spiked, and Rita's (an indoor/outdoor Mexican restaurant). The lazy river, swim-up bar and pool restaurant were completed during the summer of 2013, while the convention center and the bar Corked were completed by December. Starbucks opened in early 2014. The new hotel tower was partially opened in March and fully open by April 2014, bringing the resort's total room count to 1,065, making it the largest Indian casino resort by room count in the state of California at the time. Spiked and the food court also opened in April. The entire project was officially completed on April 18, 2014.[5] Upon its grand reopening, the resort was renamed Harrah's Resort Southern California.[6] In 2015, after the expansion, the south tower was modernized to mimic the newer north tower.
History[edit]
The land on which Harrah's Resort Southern California[7][8] sits was officially and unanimously renamed by the Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians[9][10] to Funner on August 1, 2016, with the public unveiling of this change occurring on May 5, 2017. Together with the Tribal Council, Harrah's Resort Southern California management stands firmly committed to promoting 'Fun' as the underlying operation guide for business practices.[11]
Climate[edit]
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Funner has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated 'Csa' on climate maps. Temperatures range from 100+ degrees Fahrenheit to 32 degrees and below.[citation needed]
Local government[edit]
On May 18, 2017, Funner, California introduced its first official mayor: David Hasselhoff.[12][13][14][15][16]
On May 15, 2019, Funner, California introduced its second official mayor: Rob Riggle.
References[edit]
- ^'California Casinos'. Indian Casinos of Southern California. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
- ^Hotel and restaurant design, Issue 2. Visual Reference Publications. 2005. p. 284. ISBN1584711078. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
- ^Levine, Andrew. 'The Curious Case Of Funner, California'. Forbes.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^'Center for Gaming Research'. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^'The Resort Tower North Opens at Harrah's Resort Southern California'. Hotel News Resource. April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^Forgione, Mary (March 5, 2014). 'San Diego: Harrah's casino-resort changes name, adds 403-room tower'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^Faw, Larissa. 'Harrah's SoCal Resort Is now called 'Funner''. MediaPost. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^Graves, Brad. 'As Competition Heats Up, Harrah's Says It's 'Funner''. nbcsandiego.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^'Welcome'. Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^Boman Coates, Sanna. 'David Hasselhoff Puts the Fun in Funner, California The tiny North County town gets a fun-loving new mayor'. San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^Coffee, Patrick. 'David Hasselhoff Plays the No-Rules Mayor of 'Funner, California' in This Wacky Campaign'. Ad Week. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^Coffee, Patrick. 'David Hasselhoff Plays the No-Rules Mayor of 'Funner, California' in This Wacky Campaign'. AdWeek. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^Levine, Andrew. 'The Curious Case Of Funner, California'. Forbes.com. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^Bell, Diane. 'David Hasselhoff is here to put Funner on the map'. San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^Lake, Heather. 'David Hasselhoff named mayor of Funner, California'. Fox 5 San Diego. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^Boman Coates, Sanna. 'David Hasselhoff Puts the Fun in Funner, California The tiny North County town gets a fun-loving new mayor'. San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
External links[edit]
- Official website
Back in May and June, when Connecticut’s two gaming tribes were very publicly defying that state’s governor in reopening, California was acting out a similar tableau, but with dozens of tribal casinos considering ignoring Governor Gavin Newsom’s wishes about the safety of reopening.
One of these was Harrah’s Resort Southern California, whose general manager, Darrell Pilant, quit his job rather than reopen the resort in May, which he argued was unsafe. He later sued for wrongful termination—and is pushing back at Caesars Entertainment’s attempt to move the case to federal court—which would probably quash the suit.
Pilant’s “whistleblower” suit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego in September. In October Caesars Enterprise Services LLC, a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Inc., filed to remove the suit to the federal United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
If this succeeds, Pilant’s lawsuit could end up dead in the water, or so he argues. He would not be able to sue in federal court since he was not an employee of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, which owns Harrah’s, he says.
Caesars, in its motion to move the case, argues that because the tribe owns the casino resort it must be included as a defendant since sovereign tribes may not be sued in state court. It calls the tribe an “indispensable party” to the lawsuit since it was the tribe’s decision to reopen rather than Caesars’.
Pilant retorts that he would be unable to pursue his case if it is moved, because he can’t sue a sovereign tribe.
Pilant’s wrongful termination complaint alleges violation of Cal. Labor Code§ 6310, violation of Cal. Labor Code§ 1102.1 and breach of written employment agreement.
He claims the Rincon tribe told him Governor Gavin Newsom
Harrah's Rincon Casino San Diego California U S
was “on board” with reopening. He later learned that was not true and he refused to reopen the casino. He was pressured to resign, an action he calls
wrongful termination.
In his filing, Pilant quotes from Governor Newsom’s May 15, 2020 letter: “[The plan to reopen casinos] deeply concerns me, and I urge tribal governments to reconsider…. I cannot stress enough that the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains a serious threat for all Californians. … [It] is in the best interest of public health to move toward a reopening in concert [with California’s phased reopening plan].”
On May 18 Pilant shared the letter with Caesars’s executives N. Lynne Hughes (VP Legal Affairs and Chief Legal Officer), Robert Livingston (Regional President and Pilant’s immediate supervisor} and Tom Jenkin (Global President}. Livingston later replaced Pilant as general manager.
Pilant, “expressed his health and safety concerns about reopening in contravention of advice and counsel of Governor Newsom. Later that evening, Mr. Pilant had a telephone call with Ms. Hughes and Mr. Livingston and was told that Caesars was going to proceed with the reopening on May 22, 2020,” according to Pilant’s filing.
Livingston replied to Pilant with an email later that night, CC’ing Hughes and Jenkin: “Did anyone else open today besides Viejas and Jamul? I feel better about opening in defiance of the Governor with others open.”
Harrah's Rincon Casino San Diego California Map
The next day: “Mr. Pilant telephoned Mr. Livingston and again reiterated his concerns that reopening the casino posed a serious health and safety risk. Mr. Pilant told Mr. Livingston that in good conscience he could not carry out the reopening and he felt he had no choice but to resign. Mr. Livingston confirmed that he knew Caesars’ plan to reopen was contrary to the advice of the Governor and he never once disagreed with Mr. Pilant regarding his concerns about employee and public health and safety. Nevertheless, Mr. Livingston urged Mr. Pilant to stay on and carry out the reopening.”
Caesars’ motion to remove the case to federal jurisdiction is based on two grounds:
1) federal question jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. sections 1331 and 1441(a), under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA,” 25 U.S.C. §2701, et seq.); and (2) diversity of citizenship, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. sections 1332(a), 1441(b), 13 and 1446(b) as amended by the Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011, Pub. L. No. 112-63, 125 Stat. 758 (2011).
It argues that federal law states that “district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” It also argues “that Article I Section 8 of the United States Constitution, which provides that the real party-in-interest is a federally-recognized Indian Tribe and, thus, a domestic sovereign nation.”
It notes that the casino is on the Rincon Reservation, which
It points out that the casino is located on the Rincon Reservation, and “is wholly owned and controlled by the Rincon Band pursuant to IGRA, which establishes the regulatory framework that governs Indian gaming, as well as under government-to-government agreements between the Rincon Band and the State of California and, subsequently, with the United States Department of the Interior. It also “exercises ultimate authority and control over civil regulatory matters within the Rincon Reservation, including operations and decisions concerning the business, maintenance, and management of the Rincon Casino.”
Caesars maintains that it can’t be sued about reopening the casino without including the tribe, which actually made the decision: “On May 22, 2020, consistent with the Tribal Council’s directive to reopen essential businesses, the Rincon Casino reopened along with at least 6 other local tribal casinos. Specially Appearing Defendants CES and CEI had no role whatsoever in the decision to reopen the Rincon Casino when it reopened on May 22, 2020.”
Pilant is seeking redress because he disagreed with the tribe’s action reopening the casino, says the filing.
Pilant’s lawyers argue against dismissing the case because “Caesars waived its arguments because it entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Pilant expressly providing that Mr. Pilant has a right to pursue employment law claims against Caesars (not the tribe) arising out of his employment at Harrah’s.”
They write: “Caesars has not met its burden of providing that disposing of the action in the tribe’s absence would leave Caesars subject to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations.” They add, “Plaintiff would have no remedy, much less an adequate remedy, if the case is dismissed.”
Pilant’s attorneys argue, “This is a case between an individual employee (who worked and resided in San Diego County), and a multi-billion corporation . . . It is not s dispute between Plaintiff and the Rincon Band.”
All the causes for action are made under state law. “The employment law claims are properly brought only against Caesars, which undeniably was Mr. Pilant’s employer. Mr. Pilant was not employed by the tribe. Mr. Pilant had no contract with the tribe. Mr. Pilant’s only employment relationship and only contractual relationship was with Caesars.”
Besides trying to deprive Pilant of his day in court. “The decision that is at the crux of this case is Caesars’ decision to send its own workforce back into the workplace that was unsafe and unhealthy.”
The attorneys declare, “Not only is the tribe not a proper party to this action (much less an indispensable party), but Mr. Pilant could not sue the Rincon Band even if the tribe were his employer.”