From a comprehensive article by William Etling at Trust and Consequences:
CA - Tombstone Trouble On The Chumash Highway
by William Etling - October 5, 2007
Last Sunday afternoon (September 30), a mock tombstone appeared by the roadside on the newly anointed Chumash Highway, near the intersection with Mission Drive.
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| A mock tombstone appeared by the roadside on the newly anointed Chumash Highway, near the intersection with Mission Drive. |
It read "RIP - Community's Voice, Sept. 2007. Killed on the Chumash 'Buy-way' by government, recklessly driving under the influence of power and money."
By Monday afternoon, it was flat in the dirt, and the flower pots formerly at its base were scattered in all directions.
It's just the latest mini-round in an old sparring match. For the Chumash people, the new name was a long overdue tribute to their ancient culture.
Chairman Armenta said, "The news was met with a round of applause from our tribal membership. The smiles in the room could have lit up all of Santa Ynez Valley. The Chumash Highway represents the respect and recognition that members of the California Legislature have for Native Americans. It demonstrates that they understand the tribe's historical significance in the area."
For Casino opponents who have long believed that state and federal legislators are in the pocket of gambling interests, it was proof once again that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't plotting against you.
"Our outrage is about the pattern of a broken representative process favoring big gambling interests," said Kathryn Bowen of Preservation of Los Olivos (POLO). "This is about how an out of area San Jose assemblyman, Joe Coto, can get a bill passed that has long reaching ramifications for a community that he has nothing to do with. This is about an appalling pattern of circumvention of the local community to create a Casino Company Town."
Chairman Armenta countered, "It is truly sad that our tribal opponents cannot accept history and appreciate, respect and revere the fact that the Chumash lived on this land for thousands of years. Instead, they prefer to hurl accusations and scream foul play."
Jon Bowen, President of Preservation of Santa Ynez (POSY) said, "Our elected officials are promoting the use of a state highway as a marketing tool for a two hundred and fifty million dollar a year tax-exempt gambling enterprise...Re-naming Highway 154 has nothing to do with honoring the Chumash culture. This is about hijacking a name for marketing purposes."
2 comments:
I heard on the news and from people in the area that community members were also leaving bouquets of flowers at the base of the tombstone. I guess for the most part it was well received. Anyone who looks will find the great number of political contributions that the tribes in California continue to give. How much did they really pay Sacramento to buy the "Chumash Highway"? Who really is in charge? The peanuts in casino money given away as political contributions is more powerful than us taxpayers. But if the tribal casinos were paying their fair share in taxes to the state, it would amount to millions of dollars per day.
Reading the whole article - I am, like Brooks Firestone "disturbed" over Chumash contributions to politicians that have nothing to do with this area. Are there any other businesses in the Santa Ynez Valley making these large contributions to out-of-area politicians?
'"I am very troubled by the letters from various California politicians that were submitted, without any real connection with this," said Supervisor Brooks Firestone.
Lawmakers who wrote the Bureau of Indian Affairs in favor, and contributions to their campaigns by the Chumash since 2000, included La Puente Assemblyman Ed Chavez ($30,000), Santa Ana Assemblyman Lou Correa ($7,000), Los Angeles Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh ($3,000), Montebello Assemblyman Calderon ($3,000), Carson Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza ($6,000), Senator Richard Polanco of Los Angeles ($10,000), Fresno Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes ($17,000), Monterey County Assemblyman Simon Salinas ($45,200), Senator Nell Soto of Ontario ($12,000), Assemblyman Herb Wesson of Culver City ($8,000) and Los Angeles Assemblyman Tony Cardenas ($130,000). All their titles are from 2002, when the letters were written.
Closer to home, "Abel Maldonado for Assembly" collected $26,000 from the Chumash. Assemblyman (now Senator) Maldonado wrote a letter in favor on April 24, 2002.
Senator Jack O'Connell (now Superintendent of Public Instruction) wrote in favor on April 30, 2002. Unlike the others, O'Connell had a reason to write. The project was in his district, and his comments were specifically solicited by the BIA. Since 2000, various O'Connell campaigns have taken in $125,000 from the Chumash." '
What other possible reason for contributing to these politicians, other than to purchase favor, I cannot see.
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