Lytton Band faces opposition to land-into-trust bill in Congress

A view of the Lytton Rancheria's land-into-trust site in Sonoma County, California. Photo from Lytton Residential Development Environmental Assessment

Politics | Trust

Lytton Band faces opposition to land-into-trust bill in Congress

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Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians saw support for a land-into-trust bill on Capitol Hill last month but the situation back home in California appears to be different.

More than 100 people attended a Windsor Town Council meeting on Wednesday to object to H.R.2538, the Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act of 2015, The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported. They questioned the tribe's plans for the land that will be taken into trust if Congress enacts the measure.

“The people of Windsor are waking up and realizing what’s happening,” one resident said at the meeting, the paper reported. “People are outraged about this.”

The tribe signed an agreement with Sonoma County and has offered to finance a new aquatic center in Windsor as part of its effort to gain support for its development plans. Housing, a winery and a resort are all in the works if the land is placed in trust.

Even if Congress doesn't take action, the Bureau of Indian Affairs could still approve the application. The agency issued a finding of no significant impact in June 2012 but there's no timeline for a final decision.

Get the Story:
Opponents of Lytton tribe’s plans swarm Windsor meeting (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 7/16)

Committee Notice:
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1157, H.R. 2386, H.R. 2538 (June 17, 2015)