"Every government has processes that go through critical phases. Santa Barbara County hits one of those spots at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

The issue is the application for annexation by the Chumash tribe of 6.9 acres across Highway 246 from the tribe’s casino/hotel. The critical part is that today’s meeting provides what could be the county’s final opportunity to speak up about the annexation.

The application for a fee-to-trust annexation has been in the works since 2005. The final approval of the tribe’s request came last month when officials in the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Pacific Region signed off on the plan. The long delay between application and approval at the federal level is due, in part, to local opposition to the tribe’s plans to build a cultural museum and business center on the property."

Get the Story:
Editorial: When two governments can’t agree (The Santa Maria Times 7/10)

Also Today:
Chumash Annexation Comes Before SB Supervisors (KCOY-TV 7/9)
County to consider appeal of land annex (The Lompoc Record 7/8)

Related Stories:
BIA cites Carcieri in backing Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (6/27)
Chumash Tribe critics hail Supreme Court's land-into-trust ruling (6/21)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash land-into-trust boosts community (6/7)
Richard Gomez: Chumash Tribe shares $16M with local charities (5/24)
Rep. Young won't introduce Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bill (5/21)
Opinion: Chumash report ignores land-into-trust issues (04/20)
Chumash Tribe cites economic benefits of land-into-trust (4/11)
Opinion: Putting an end to land-into-trust for wealthy tribes (03/29)
Richard Gomez: Chumash Tribe needs more land for housing (3/1)
Opinion: Land-into-trust wasn't intended for 'wealthy' tribes (1/19)
Opinion: A lack of leadership over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust (1/5)