A view of the Lytton Rancheria's land-into-trust site in Sonoma County, California. Photo from Lytton Residential Development Environmental Assessment
California newspaper urges compromise and cooperation over plans by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians to acquire land in trust for housing, economic development and other projects:
It’s also fair to say that communication with Windsor residents about the details of the project has been poor. It’s regrettable that it’s been six years since the tribe first applied to have 124 acres taken into trust and six months since the county announced a 22-year agreement with the Lyttons and the first public forum for Windsor residents wasn’t held until Aug. 24. Nevertheless, it’s also true that efforts to prevent tribes from having land taken into trust have largely been fruitless, giving weight to arguments that the county and the town of Windsor are better off trying to work for the best agreement possible with the Lytton tribe. Opponents of the plan dispute that contention as noted in today’s Close to Home (“Future of Lytton tribe land is not inevitable”) on the Forum front. They claim the circumstances surrounding the Lytton band property and history — and a recent Supreme Court decision that limits the ability of some tribes to have land taken into trust — casts doubt on the supposed inevitability of this proposal. We have our doubts. In any case, history has shown that little comes from staking extreme, no-compromise positions in these disputes.Get the Story:
Editorial: No room for extremes in tribe debate (The Santa Rosa Press_Democrat 9/6) Another Opinion:
Michael Robison and Mike Healy: Future of Lytton tribe’s land is not inevitable (The Santa Rosa Press_Democrat 9/6) Also Today:
Rep. Jared Huffman surprised at opposition to Lytton tribe’s plans near Windsor (The Santa Rosa Press_Democrat 8/29) Committee Notice:
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1157, H.R. 2386, H.R. 2538 (June 17, 2015)
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