Letter: Rep. Gallegly plays politics on Chumash land-into-trust

Thursday, March 24, 2011  

"I read that Congressman Gallegly was very upset at some people for being “too aggressive” in trying to stop him from writing legislation to put 1,400 acres into federal trust for the Chumash.

Here we have tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta proclaiming his tribal nation is a sovereign nation with the right to self-govern, while at the same time entitled to taxpayer subsidies, contribute to politicians, and use hundreds of millions of dollars to buy back and do whatever the tribe wants with the tribe’s native lands — and those of us who oppose this are too aggressive?

The sad truth is that if this land goes into federal trust, anything can be built on it. Bottom line is there is no one to enforce anything on land in trust.

That 1,400 acres is plenty of room for a huge new casino and a golf course. Can you imagine the traffic and accidents on Highway 154?"

Get the Story:
John Jakers: Aggression in tribe plan (The Solvang Valley News 3/24)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Chumash Tribe should forego land-into-trust process (3/17)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe lobbying Rep. Gallegly on land-into-trust (3/10)
Local official claims Chumash Tribe doesn't need land-into-trust (3/8)
Opinion: Groups fight Chumash Tribe land-into-trust application (2/24)
Groups claim Chumash Tribe can't follow land-into-trust process (08/23)
Groups question BIA review of Chumash land-into-trust (4/29)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe wields influence on land-into-trust (04/08)
Chumash Tribe purchases ranch property for reported $40M (4/6)
BIA reaches MOU for California land-into-trust consortium (4/1)
Groups claim BIA wants to study Chumash land-into-trust (3/29)
Groups file first brief over Chumash land-into-trust (02/22)
Groups battle BIA over Chumash land-into-trust (11/12)
California a battleground after land-into-trust ruling (3/6)