Opinion

Letter: Chumash Tribe tries to skirt laws with land-into-trust bid





"I read the recent commentary from Tribal Chairman Armenta, and wonder why whenever the current laws or procedures concerning tribal reservation expansion don’t fit their desires or needs, he claims it’s unfair, and the community and local government are against their every move.

The tribe has special rights, but the citizens of the Santa Ynez Valley also have rights, as do all citizens of the United States.

The $2 million of local citizen donations to oppose this expansion seems to be justified, since the community took its fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled the citizens of Santa Ynez Valley do have standing to oppose reservation expansion."

Get the Story:
Craig Metheany: Tribe skirting all the rules (The Solvang Valley News 9/6)

Related Stories:
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe shares land-into-trust woes (8/16)
County provides response in Chumash Tribe land-into-trust flap (8/15)
Rep. Young not planning for Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bill (8/8)
Audio from House subcommittee hearing on tribal land issues (8/3)
Opposition groups appeal Chumash Tribe land-into-trust ruling (7/26)
Vincent Armenta: Land-into-trust fight shows need for museum (07/19)
Chumash Tribe battles land-into-trust opponents for 10+ years (7/12)
County won't dispute Chumash Tribe land-into-trust application (7/11)
Editorial: Challenge Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust application (7/10)
BIA cites Carcieri in backing Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (6/27)

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