Chemehuevi Perspective on S.B Co. Supervisor Brad Mitzlefelt

 
From: iePolitics.com THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!
From Havasu Lake 

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San Bernardino County
First District Supervisor
Brad Mitzlefelt 
From a:
Chemehuevi Perspective







From our informant:

Dear Sharon

“A Chemehuevi Indian has succeeded in life when he or she learns how to dream properly. Dreams are the central part of Chemehuevi life- essential to all types of people, whether a Windum, Warrior, Medicine man or Gambler.”
(Miller, The Chemehuevi indians, Interveiw with David Chavez 1967)

Brad does not live in the real world, but the real world has to live with Brad.

Let’s review how Brad treats his constituents:

1-Ignores Federal Law in favor of special relationship with Indian Gaming, this led to the deaths of five citizens,thousands of doped up kids and further enrichment of his Indian Gaming masters.

2-If you don’t have $50,000 to donate, and some times even if you do, Brad will not even speak to you in preference to Indian Gaming Dollars. (Havasu Water Co.)


3-Brad appointed and maintained a Violent Triple felon on a M.A.C. board at the behest of Indian Gaming interests.This continued for an entire year, after both Zook and Silva promised that the Felon would be removed.What was so important about maintaining a violent Felon on our board?

4-Brad has continued to maintain the Triple Felon’s wife as un-appointed secretary of our M.A.C. and allowed this individual to repeatedly obfuscate official County documents in an effort to shield her husband and Brad Mitzelfelt from scrutiny.

5- As of 9-2-10 Brad is himself failing to comply with Public Records Requests filed in attempt to bring some clarity to the sad situation that Brad has created at Havasu lake. In the recent past Brad took Eight months to fulfill a Previous Records request. This negligent attitude is S.O.P. at First District.

6-Brad has never seen fit to attend even one meeting of our M.A.C. meetings, a whole decade of neglect from First District, Brad cannot attend the meetings held under the auspices of his own office due to his special relationship with Indian Gaming. Brad’s representational duties to the town of Havasu Lake are far outweighed by his commitments to Indian Gaming interests here in San Bernardino County. If no conflict exists, then why the decade of no-shows?

Brad has never refuted the record of events at Havasu Lake, nor his special relationship with Indian Gaming, Brad’s silence speaks volumes.

P.S. What was Brad’s M.O.S.?

Mayor Dale and Tom Shields (still NOT) the Final Authority of Ancestral Rights

Not so fast (self appointed) "Professors" Dale and Shields, there is a couple of things you just may have over looked! Next time do some (ANY) Research!

It is incredible to think that in the past 250 years since we slaughtered Native American in the worst case of genocide in world history and forced them on to God forsaken reservations, that Native Americans could have ever survived at all without BarWest, Tom Shields, and Mayor Dale to explain their Ancestral Rights to them.

In his letter to the Department of the Interior, (no doubt written by Shields) Mayor Dale clearly establishes himself as the final authority on local Ancestral Rights with his vicious attack on the Chemehuevi. Who died and left you ‘THE Decider’ of matters relating to Ancestral Lands anyway Dale? Here is some of those pesky little facts that you had to overlook in the process:

Never mind the role of the U. S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.

What do they know anyway? Well, this is what their website says:

There “are 561 federal recognized tribal governments in the United States. Developing forestlands, leasing assets on these lands, directing agricultural programs, protecting water and land rights, developing and maintaining infrastructure and economic development are all part of the agency's responsibility.”

Office of Indian Gaming Management
“The Office of Indian Gaming Management, under the supervision of the Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs for Economic Development and Policy, is responsible for implementing those gaming-related activities assigned to the Bureau of Indian Affairs by the Indian Gaming regulatory Act of 1988 and other Federal laws. The office develops policies and procedures for review and approval of: tribal/state compacts; per capita distributions of gaming revenues; and requests to take land into trust for purpose of conducting gaming. Work is coordinated with the National Indian Gaming Commission and with the state, local and tribal governments that may be impacted by gaming proposals.”

Never mind the role of the role of the National Indian Gaming Association

Mission and Responsibilities
"The Commission's primary mission is to regulate gaming activities on Indian lands for the purpose of shielding Indian tribes from organized crime and other corrupting influences; to ensure that Indian tribes are the primary beneficiaries of gaming revenue; and to assure that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both operators and players.
To achieve these goals, the Commission is authorized to conduct investigations; undertake enforcement actions, including the issuance of notices of violation, assessment of civil fines, and/or issuance of closure orders; conduct background investigations; conduct audits; and review and approve Tribal gaming ordinances.

Never mind The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

“The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) rquires that any project that causes a substantial adverse change in the significance of an historical resource, that includes archeological resources, is a ‘significant effect’ requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The lead agency should include “all appropriate native American groups culturally-affiliated to the project site. Certainly from the NAHC date, that would include persons and tribes of Chemehuevi, Mojave, Kawaiisu, Vanyume and Serrano decent.”

Never mind California Senate Bill 18

SB 18 places the responsibility of initiating consultation on local governments. The purpose of SB 18 is to provide time for tribal input early in the planning process. Besides city staff and tribal representatives, the process may also include applicants and consultants. The local government should contact the tribe first to determine the appropriate level of private landowner involvement, because there may be occasions where the tribe prefers to maintain strict confidentiality without the inclusion of a private, third-party landowner.

The bill requires that, prior to the adoption or amendment of a city or county’s general plan, the city or county conduct consultations with California Native American tribes for the purpose of preserving specified places, features, and objects that are located within the city or county’s jurisdiction.

Never mind the CA Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

In a letter dated, 8-13-07 the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), a California government agency, the Commission stated that they “are concerned that state law may have been violated if the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe was not given full and reasonable opportunity to comment on and express concerns on either a project planned under the California Environmental Quality Acti (CEQA) or Government Code Senate Bill 18. If consultation was not provided, under either of these two acts of the California legislature, by the City of Barstow or it’s agent, then the tribe in our opinion, has a right to file a complaint with the California Attorney General and the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). The City ….must offer the tribe the opportunity to make it’s case regarding a project that it feels may have an adverse effect on the Native American cultural resources in the Barstow/Mojave Desert areas.”

Never mind Barstow’s own General Plan that has already complied with SB 18 and CA Native American Heritage Commission

Barstow General Plan/Technical Report
IV.2 Cultural Resources Management Plan
Preface – Native American Concerns
(pages IV.2.6 – IV.2.7)

"Therefore, any project must involve consultation with and involvement from local and regional Native American cultural entities as listed by the Native American Heritage Commission. The local Barstow office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) maintains a listing of representatives of Native American groups who claim an association with the Barstow area; specifically the Serrano, Kaaiisu, Fort Mojave, and Chemehuevi."

Never mind the Fort Irwin Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Prepared by Professor David Earl, and commissioned by the military this EIR is hailed as the definitive work on the Ancestral documentation of the presence of the Chemehuevi Tribe. Ft. Irwin sits on a rich archeological site with a history of artifacts that have been unearthed and documented as from the Chemehuevi Tribe. The EIR report and other research on the subject is archived by the Ft. Irwin Base Archeologist, Ms. Lewes Ramirez who can be reached at (760) 380-4865 for confirmation of those findings.

Never mind the Ancestral Rights claims of the Chemehuevi Tribe

Local tribes have historically been carrying the burden of establishing and preserving those Ancestral Claims. Furthermore, under SB 18 and the CA Native American Heritage Commission has empowered tribes as the ultimate authority on these matters. Chairman Wood, of the Chemehuevi tribe, has given the following documentation regarding the history of Chemehuevi presence in the greater Barstow area:

“…the Chemehuevi have used the Newberry Springs, Calico, Daggett, Yermo, Barstow, Silver Lakes, Victorville, Stoddard Valley, Apple Valley, Lucerne Valley, Adelanto and Hesperia areas for thousands of years. Most of these cities are built on the ancient village sites and cemeteries of native peoples. There are ‘sleeping circles’, village sites, individual burials, cemeteries, petroglyphs, and very possibly intaglios throughout the areas. These intaglios are often identifiable from the air and would correspond to those found on the Ft. Irwin Military Reservation just a few miles to the north.

There is the large and ancient village site and cemetery found at ‘Lane’s Crossing’ on the Old Spanish Trail, present day Oro Grande. The “last Indian Battle” in southern California history is said to have occurred at Chimney Rock involving a reported 150 to 200 Chemehuevi, there battles in the Rodman Mountains and the famous Camp Cady military campaign. There is the grave of Maria Chapula who was born in 1856 and lived in a Chemehuevi village now known as Victorville and died at the age of 104, but remembers having lived a short while in a Chemehuevi village in Barstow during her life.

There is the burial site in the Ord Mountains and the Chemehuevi Cemetery near Zyzxx at Soda Lake. There were three cowboys killed in 1856 by 20 to 30 Chemehuevi at the Old Duncan Ranch, which was known as the ancient village of Guapiabit, now knkown as the historic Las Floras Ranch in Summit Valley. According to the US Federal Census, there were 44 Indians living in Hesperia through 1900 to 1910. Further research has shown that 37 were Chemehuevi and the remaining 7 were Kawaiisu. Given all these facts, you can be assured that Chemehuevi lived in and around the present day city of Barstow.”

Finally, Never mind the research BarWest commissioned on the question of local Ancestral Rights

In the hopes of debunking any notion of Ancestral Rights for the Chemehuevi, Barwest commissioned a highly respected local historian to conduct extensive research to try and establish even the most remote connection with either Big Lagoon or Los Coyotes. After thorough studies into the matter, the results of that research revealed the exact opposite findings. Not only was there not a shred of evidence connecting the BarWest tribes to this entire region but in fact the study added even more documentation to the ancestral claims already established by the Chemehuevi Tribe.

But Professors Dale and Shields say: Screw all the facts, laws, Federal, State agencies, and 250 years of history. They are writting their own book on local Ancestral Rights. Just don't confuse them with the facts!

The Barwest Scam in Barstow

The Barwest Scam in Barstow
by
Larry D. Halstead,
Political Scientist

Since the idea first surfaced, I have been supportive of Indian gaming in Barstow for several reasons. First and foremost, as many as 80% of our citizens are in favor of one or more casino projects. The hope and promise is that it would bring jobs, entertainment, and economic development to a region that has long suffered with a depressed economy. Resort-style casino projects have the potential to make Barstow a destination city rather than just a pit stop on the way to Vegas or the river.

I also believe that Indian gaming has done much to increase the quality of life for Native Americans. Besides the much needed funding for housing, health care, education, jobs, and basic infrastructure that gaming has provided, it has done much to provide self respect, self determination, and the power to negotiate with strength.

As an individual of European decent, it does my heart good to see the scales of social justice lean in a direction of compensation for the ugly history of atrocities and genocide that my people committed on Native Americans throughout the history of this country.

I was originally project neutral on Indian gaming in Barstow and was eager to network with representatives from all tribes involved. But early on, I had difficulty in understanding the strategy that Barwest had for getting these compacts through a Democratically dominated State legislature in Sacramento by buying Republican influence in Barstow. The more I came to understand the question of "reservation shopping" and how that relates to Indian Souvernty, Prop 1A, Prop 5, the more baffling it was that Barwest could be so confidant that their project would ever get approved.

Barwest sign in Barstow, notice the lack of any tribe names and the
deceptive reference that this is a Community of Barstow backed project
when Barwest and Mayor Dale refuse to take it to a vote of the people.

I quickly retracted my support for Barwest when some simple internet searches exposed Barwest as a right wing developer with ties to former Rep. Pombo and the Jack Abramhoff scandal. It didn't take long for Barwest to demonstrate exactly what their strategy and style is, as they began buying up influence in Barstow and the state capitol in Sacramento. The good people of Barstow have been hood-winked, bamboozled, and led a stray as our leaders have compromised themselves and sold out the institutions they represent.

Two elections bought and paid for by Barwest and millions of dollars in influence later, Barwest now owns the old guard of Barstow. They ownMayor Dale and the two members of the Council that they had elected. Tim Silva was promised a seat on the council if, as president, he could deliver the support of the Chamber of Commerce and against the competing project. Julie Hackbarth was on the Fire Board and active from the beginning with the Barwest formation of their PAC, Barwest Citizens for Real Economic Development as was Tim. Her family was one of the sellers of the land for the Barwest project. Both Tim and Julie have accompanied Mayor Dale on numerous trips to Sacramento to lobby on behalf of Barwest, both before and after their election to the city council.

The campaigns of Tim and Julie were marked by a relative low involvement by the candidates as it was totally orchestrated by Tom Shields and his operatives. The campaign duo were billed as "the turn around team". Barwest utilized, and no doubt subsidized, the local Republican caucus to get out the absentee vote. This effort, along with the slickest color campaign literature ever to hit Barstow, and an advertising budget funded by their PAC, coupled with an all out attack on my integrity, resulted in Barwest now having a solid three vote lock on all city policy.

This means that they control the direction of policy in favor of Barwest and against any other project. Essentially, the Barstow Council has become a public relations/ lobbyist firm for Barwest. The first act of the new council was to ratify their support for Barwest, throwing out all conflict of interest ethics in favor of unconditional support and loyalty to their benefactor.

As all of these realizations have unfolded, I have made an increased pattern of exposing local Barwest influence in Barstow. When the compacts started going through the Senate and Assembly Government Organization Committees, I began contacting members if those committees and sending them relevant documents. I watched the video of those proceedings and have spoken to some of them about Barwest contributions and their influence in Barstow. The feedback they have given me has always been consistent that the compacts will never be ratified.

At the recent August 6, 2007 City Council meeting, Mayor Dale again abused his position as Mayor to orchestrate a political attack on me by Barwest, Los Coyotes, and himself. Tom Shields, chief spin doctor for Barwest, was first on the attack with a pathetic accusation that I had tried to extort him into hiring me or I would "sign on with the other side and attack him." He said that when he refused to hire me, I got hired by "the other side" and have been attacking Barwest as a hired gun ever since. He went on to say that I was "for sale to the highest bidder" and how "negative" I always was.

This "for sale to the highest bidder" and "negativity" charges were repeated by two members of Los Coyotes Shane (?) and Tina Johnson. Tina created her own lie that I had asked her "who cut the checks for the tribe" and that they needed to buy me off. Later on, it was the Mayor's turn to chime in on the "negativity" and added that this negativity was somehow damaging the image of our city and the integrity of the good people of Barstow.

Lies and accusations of extortion aside, the real truth is that none of that ever happened. While I fully expected this from Mr. Shields or even this Mayor, it is a shame that members of the Los Coyotes would bring dishonor to themselves and their tribe by engaging in these lies.

For the record, I have never received a penny from any tribe to represent them in any capacity. I have never been asked by any member of any tribe to say a single word or do anything on their behalf. Never.

Over the past couple of years, I have been networking with various other tribes. I have been doing this because I know, and they know, that the Barwest compacts as currently structured will never be approved by the Democratically dominated state legislature. The Governor has decreed that only when these compacts die their due death, then and only then can we bring a casino project to Barstow. Only then can we proceed with a casino project that will enjoy the support of the CA Nations Indian Gaming Association, the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, and those tribes that have a rightful say in bringing a casino project to Barstow.

Over the same period of time, I have come to know Chairman Wood of the Chemehuevi Tribe and have developed a deep respect for him and the Tribe he represents. He is an honorable man who would never stoop to the sleazy tactics demonstrated regularly by the Barwest Kool-Aid Club or the lies now being told by members of the Los Coyotes.

After over two years of speaking out on the Barwest grip of influence on our city, I met some representatives of San Manuel through my participation with Congressman Joe Baca and the County Democratic Party. After much persuasion on my part and some deliberation on the part of San Manuel Tribal leaders, the tribe made a one time contribution to my campaign. I believe they did so on the basis of my respect for Indian Souvernty and how that relates to Indian gaming. Since then, I have encouraged them to get more involved in the Barstow Indian casino issue but they have been quite reluctant to do so. To date, they have never asked me to do anything, say anything or take any other actions on their behalf.

I have challenged the City Council or anybody to come up with the name of a single individual outside of Barstow and the Barwest Kool-aid club that thinks these compacts stand a snowball chance in hell of succeeding. The fantasy of these compacts succeeding is something one has to wonder if even Barwest still believes. For this hoax, this corruption of influence to be allowed to delay by several years, a real project that would succeed, there needs to be proportional level of accountability we demand of leaders who led us astray for personal gain.

In the meantime, I will not stand idly by and allow Barwest and members of the Los Coyotes to slander my good name. The Barwest operatives will not be allowed to get away of accusing me of extortion in order to continue their hoax on the Barstow people. Furthermore, I will continue to shed light on their lies and corruption. At the same time, I intend to do what ever I can to help bring a casino project to Barstow that has the proper backing need to succeed.