California Tribal Casino Compact Amendments: A bad deal for the state, local communities and most California tribes

Thank you Professor Dreier for taking the time to thoroughly research and address the issues. You hit the nail squarely on the head as opposed to Ms Carole Goldberg's recent article in the Sacramento Bee where she addressed none of these issues and chose instead to blame unions for costing the State $500 million in lost revenue. I appreciate your professionlism.

Professor Dreier, I look forward to your next articles on Indian casinos.
My blog is discussing issues on the Pechanga Reservation.
One point not mentioned is that Pechanga has disenrolled 25% of the tribe, so that the remaining members can have more per capita payments. They have illegally kept rightful members out via an illegal moratorium. They have gone against the will of their own people by not following the rule of law.
They have violated their members civil rights by denying them due process, including having attorneys present at the disenrollment hearing and appeal. They were not even allowed writing instruments.
I URGE all your readers and students, as well as your government contacts to look at the blog.
Pechanga SHOULD NOT be rewarded for massacring more Pechanga Indians than were killed in the great Temecula Massacre.

KNBC did an expose of how Pechanga disenrolled a whole family of over 120, going against the research that their own expert provided.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/09/24/news/californian/20_45_019_23_06.txt

Watch the video at this address:
http://video.nbc4.tv/player/?id=64156

There is much to learn about Pechanga BEFORE they get more machines, especially when there are tribes that need it.

As pointed out by other posters, the Pechagna tribe has kicked out hundreds of long standing tribal members in a process called disenrollment on very flimsy evidence that would not stand up in a real court of law.

And yes we disenrollees were not allowed attorneys present at any hearings, we were not allowed to take notes at hearings, we were not allowed copies of any hearing transcripts, and we were not allowed to ask any questions at our appeal hearings.

The tribal council also ignored the fact that in July 2005 the tribe voted to stop all disenrollments but the latest large extended family, the Hunters, were still kicked out in 2006.

In addition, as also pointed out by others in this forum, there has been an illegal moratorium on new membership since 1997 even though the Pechanga constitution and bylaws says open enrollment is supposed to be every January.

But who can make the Pechanga tribe follow their own rules?

For for now, it appears nobody, as the tribe hides under the cloak of sovereignty.

Yes financial oversite, environmental issues, and labor issues are important considerations. It is also unfair that a few of the rich tribes are getting richer while other tribes have little or no piece of the pie but what about the rights of California citizens?

The California legislature is on record as supporting the Indian Civil Rights Act so rights issues should be at least as important as other issues when it comes to letting the Pechanga tribe expand its empire further.

Knowing the difference between wrong and tight is of no consequence, however, there will always be some who through fear and intimidation will bend the will of the people. This is nothing new at pechanga the people that did this started over twenty years ago, Its a shame that the honest people were not able to stop the corruption when it first started, but Thad's the way of the world. My family were members who belonged to the res and it is our hope to be so once again. I look forward to reading more on the issues that all California are affected by there is something that can be done.

As an Occidental alum, I look forward to seeing you prove how increasing the slots at five tribes will harm tribes in other parts of the state. These other tribes either have casinos already or are free to build them now. They aren't competing with the big five any more than casinos in Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon are.

As with opening Wal-Marts in Los Angeles or San Diego, I'd say the new compacts will have zero impact on tribes elsewhere. But you've implied that other tribes will suffer somehow. Good luck proving this thesis...you'll need it.

The publisher of this website is in cahoots with Jack Gribbon (UniteHere), Cheryl Schmit (Stand up for California) and others who seek to control California's Native American interests.

It deserves noting that several weeks ago, Mr. Russo meant to forward communications I sent to him/his blog to Ms. Schmit but mistakenly returned it to me.

Mr. Russo's intended note to Schmit included, "looks like we're getting to them."

Labor Unions have historically held power in Sacramento and dumped hundreds of millions into political campaigns and programs ... probably billions depending on the span of time you consider.

Now they face a formmidable adversary and they're pulling out all the stops. Not to mention it creates a platform to promote job stability for the likes of Jack Gribbon. Russo provides a forum for his old friend.

Ms. Schmit's group has ties to Las Vegas casino interests. Of all things, Schmit has backed the controversial proposal by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians to open what would be the largest off-reservation casino in California, in the community of San Pablo -- a proposal that Senator Diane Feinstein and others have blocked in Congress.

Schmit has never opened her books and revealed the specifics of where "Stand Up for California" gets its funding; but most believe it's along the approach of those organization Jack Abramoff set up and funded with Ralph Reed and others.

Ah, Mr. Lee is trying the guilt by association move. Very nice.

So let's see, Abrahoff was in cahoots with Agua Caliente Tribe,was he not? Some questions remain whether Morongo had ties.

Pechanga Tribal Chairman Macarro called unions corrupt, and that may have value, in the "takes one to know one" vein.

The Pechanga Enrollment Committee has ties to an imprisoned sex offender, whose word they took into consideration when they disenrolled families from Pechanga. 25% of their tribe!

WITHOUT A TRIBE

All is NOT pure just because it's involving native Americans. Macarro was caught in a lie in 15 seconds in the link above.

http://blog.myspace.com/paulinahunterofpechanga

Professor of Politics or anachronism?
1) "... and it is not adequate compensation for the exclusive right the tribes are given..."? So the rights of sovereignty should be sold to Indians? The right is given by the State's constitution, Mr. Professor.
2) Who listened to the voices of the Indians when the communities developed around the reservations, encroaching on their resources of air, water, orchards, etc, etc?
3) "Five tribes get the lion's share while the other tribes struggle"...? Are you lacking the facts or the knowledge that Tribal Government Gaming Enterprises voluntarily share a portion of their profits with non gaming tribes? And please tell us again: Who put the tribes in the economic and social disadvantages position?
4) Short of demanding that Tribal Governments should make their Casino Enterprise earning public, there is no gaming jurisdiction in the United States that is more regulated, inspected,and supervised than Indian Gaming. You will also not find a single statistic that supports your claim of increased criminal activities linked solely to Indian Gaming.
So lay off making politics, Dr. Dreier, and teach political science in the balanced and objective manner that it deserves.
Make it a great day, Thomas

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