Proposition 48 is not about Indian gaming, it is about a Nevada casino corporation (Station Casinos) trying to use a rural tribe to build a casino on off-reservation land in an urban area.  

Prop. 48  would ratify the first off-reservation gaming compacts between the state and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe to place a casino nearly 40 miles away from the tribe’s primary reservation.    

Proposition 48 breaks the promise that Pechanga and other tribes made when Indian gaming was overwhelmingly supported by California voters: that Indian gaming would be limited to Indian lands.  This is why we are voting NO on 48.   

“Prop. 48 is bad public policy for California families. It would be the first to break the promise made by tribes in 2000, with the passage of Prop. 1A, which confined Indian gaming to original reservation land only.  If passed, it would not be the last.”  

-    U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

The fact is that the North Fork Rancheria currently has land in trust that is eligible for gaming. That the land is not as commercially advantageous as a site closer to population centers is neither unique nor a compelling reason to break the commitment tribes made to the voters. 

Honoring the Trust

Newspapers across California urge a NO on 48:

“The North Fork compact departs from long-established precedent…The North Fork reservation is located in the Sierra National Forest, while the North Fork Rancheria Resort Hotel and Casino would be nearly 40 miles away, near the city of Madera, on Highway 99.  Prop. 48 not only would give the North Fork tribe the green light, it also would incentivize other as-yet-nongaming tribes to acquire land far from their reservations for purposes of building casinos.”

-    Riverside Press-Enterprise

“The parcel on which the casino is to be built is 38 miles away from the nearest North Fork Tribe property and was only acquired in 2012. If this project is allowed, it sets a precedent for ‘reservation shopping’ that could lead to a big influx of casino proposals on newly acquired land near heavily populated areas.”

-    U-T San Diego

“…one of the most audacious examples of ‘reservation shopping’ by a tribe that has partnered with a Las Vegas interest and made a sudden territorial claim on a plot of land that would be well positioned to draw gamblers.”

-    San Francisco Chronicle

“…the casino is a classic example of ‘reservation shopping’ and isn’t what voters intended when they approved Indian gaming.”

-    Fresno Bee

“The question for voters is how many other tribes will be looking to build off-site casinos if Prop. 48 succeeds. Our bet is: plenty.”

-    San Jose Mercury News

 

January 23, 2016

UNRATIFIED: A Symposium on the Eighteen Treaties between California Indians and the United States, 1851-1852

The longtime chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians’ Tribal Council, Mark Macarro, was re-elected to his 10th consecutive two-year term, the tribe announced Tuesday. Macarro, 50, was chairman during the recent Liberty Quarry battle, which ended when the tribe purchased a wide swath of acreage on the Riverside/San Diego County border that Granite Construction had eyed for a controversial quarry project.

That land is sacred to the Pechanga and it includes a mountain, Pu’eska, that’s integral to their creation story. The tribe has vowed to preserve the land for future generations.

In other election results, Andrew Masiel, Sr.; Robert “R.J.” Munoa; Russell “Butch” Murphy; Catalina R. Chacon and Corrina Garbani-Sanchez all retained their seats on the seven-member council.
The seventh seat was secured by a former councilmember, Marc Luker.

The council term begins August 17.

August 31, 2011 -- LA Times Article

Riverside County panel rejects proposed rock quarry
The city of Temecula and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians strongly opposed the 414-acre project on a mountain overlooking Interstate 15. The site is sacred to the tribe.

LA Times

The Riverside County Planning Commission on Wednesday rejected an application for a massive rock quarry proposed near Temecula that was strongly opposed by the city and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.

Granite Construction of Watsonville wants to develop a 414-acre rock quarry operation on a mountain that looms over Interstate 15, a peak the Pechanga say is within one of the most sacred sites for all Luiseno people.

The commission voted 4 to 1 against the proposal, citing concerns about the effect on the environment and health of residents in the Temecula area and because of the tribal leadership's objections.

Click here for article.

August 31, 2011 -- Liberty Quarry

LIBERTY QUARRY: Planners deny proposed open-pit mine

BY JEFF HORSEMAN and JOHN F. HILL, pe.com

The Riverside County Planning Commission voted early this evening to deny Granite Construction key approvals needed to build a quarry outside Temecula.

The decision drew cheers and applause from audience members opposed to Liberty Quarry. Quarry opponents, most clad in orange to signify their opposition against the mine, broke out in smiles and hugs afterward following the hearing at the County Administrative Center in Riverside.

"Was I shocked? No," said Kathleen Hamilton, a member of the anti-quarry group Save Our Southwest Hills, and one of many who boarded a chartered bus or drove 35 miles to attend the hearing. "We have one of the finest Planning Commissions in America."

Temecula City Councilman Mike Naggar, a quarry opponent, said the combined efforts of the city, the public and the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, "along with the facts, I think ruled the day."

Gary Johnson, aggregate resource development manager for the quarry developer, said his company was "very disappointed" with the vote and planned to appeal to the county Board of Supervisors.

"We feel the (quarry's environmental impact report) more than adequately addressed all the concerns heard," he said, adding that Granite "look(s) forward to a fair hearing" from supervisors.

The five-member commission voted 4-1 to deny a surface mining permit and a noise ordinance exemption for the quarry. Commissioners also recommended supervisors not approve a requested zoning change for the project. They did not decide whether to certify an 8,500-page environmental study of the open-pit mine sought for a 414-acre site between Temecula and the San Diego County line.

The climactic vote comes after six meetings and dozens of hours of testimony that was equal parts passion and analysis. Emotional pleas from everyday residents gave way in later hearings to dry testimony from experts hired by Granite and quarry opponents.

Commissioner Jim Porras said the public's intense feelings about the quarry made it impossible to make a cut-and-dried decision based only on the "merits of the project."

"I can't ignore (the public's passion), and it does sway me," said Porras, the only commissioner to oppose the denial.

He continued: "I find myself having dreams and nightmares about this thing. ... This has been very tough."
Commission Chairman John Roth said he believed the quarry's potential negative effects outweighed its positives. He feared the quarry could lead to air pollution, increased noise and truck traffic. He said the quarry would ruin a key sacred site for the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.

April 26, 2011 -- Temecula, CA

QUARRY: Pechanga chairman opposes Liberty project

By — This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., PE News

The tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians pleaded with Riverside County Planning commissioners tonight to block the proposed Liberty Quarry, which he said would destroy one of the tribes most sacred sites.

Mark Macarro said the quarry, which would be just east of Pechanga's land, would hollow out a mountain that was central to his tribe' creation story. The mountain is analogous to Christians' Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Dome of the Rock for Muslims, he said.

"And this mine would literally destroy it, change it forever," Macarro said.

Macarro's speech drew rousing applause from the audience of more than 1,000 - most of whom appear to oppose the project.

 

June 25-27, 2013

20TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE ICWA CONFERENCE

At Pechanga Resort & Casino
45000 Pechanga Parkway
Temecula, CA 92592

A conference focused on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) increasing knowledge and skills for service providers, agencies, leaders, legal practitioners and judges.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• ICWA 35 Years in Action
• Expert Witness and Active Efforts
• Baby Veronica US Supreme Court Case
• Tribal Courts Panel
• Cultural Program
• MCLEs and CEUs

20th Annual California Statewide ICWA Conference

REGISTRATION FEE $50:
$50 registration fee must be mailed in separately. Fee is waived for speakers and is included in some sponsorships. Registrants will receive an email confirmation upon complete registration and payment.

You may email the Registration Form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fax to: (951) 693-2312.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
There is a group rate for a limited block of rooms at Pechanga Resort & Casino for conference attendees. The group rate is $99 per night for June 24th — 26th. Deadline to receive this group rate is May 24th. Identify yourself as part of the ICWA 20th Annual Conference.

Pechanga Resort & Casino
45000 Pechanga Parkway
Temecula, CA 92592
1-888-PECHANGA
www.pechanga.com

Hosted by:
Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians

Contact: Angela Medrano
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
951.770.6177

Tribal Caucus ICWA Workgroup meeting, June 24th.