Jamul Band criticized for demolishing homes

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

The Jamul Band of Kumeyaay Indians broke its promise not to demolish homes to make way for a casino, San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said.

Jacob said Jamul Chairman Leon Acebedo went back on his word to wait to demolish the homes until the homeowners could go to court. "This promise is not worth the paper it's written on," she said, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The tribe evicted longtime residents of the reservation and destroyed four homes on Monday. Acebedo had said the tribe would wait until Friday but the tribal council overruled him.

Acebedo had made the promise in response to standoff on the reservation over the weekend. Tribal police used pepper spray to remove Walter Rosales, Karen Toggery and Toggery's son from their homes after supporters came to protest.

The tribe removed the homes to build a casino on its six-acre reservation. Jacob opposes the casino.

Get the Story:
County supervisor says tribal leader broke promise not to demolish homes (The San Diego Union-Tribune 3/14)