"At the anti-tribal town hall meeting a few weeks ago, tribal opponent groups presented a variety of scenarios designed to incite panic. The problem? Their information was based on fantasy, not reality.

Please come to our public meeting tomorrow night, Sept. 16, for a dose of reality. Beginning at 6 p.m. in the Samala Showroom at the Chumash Casino Resort, you can get the facts about tribal land development, placing land into trust and the tribe’s plans to build tribal housing on our Camp 4 land.

Rather than rattle off an entire list of reasons to be afraid of an elusive nonexistent boogieman, our distinguished panel of speakers will set the record straight and provide you with solid information on tribal government, tribal land and tribal housing.

I am confident that our panel will provide the answers to questions that you may have regarding the complex issues surrounding placing land into trust, tribal land development and tribal government.

I have been disheartened to see the continued attempts by local tribal opponents to tear down the wonderful relationships we have carefully built in the community. By harping on fabrications that they know are false, they are only serving to divide a community by deceit."

Get the Story:
Richard Gomez: Face the facts on Friday night (The Solvang Valley News 9/15)

Other Opinions:
Kathy Cleary: 1,400 acres: What elected officials say about fee to trust (The Santa Ynez Valley Journal 9/14)
Chris Beebe: Opponent of Camp 4 plan (The Solvang Valley News 9/15)
Harris Sherline: Listening to tribe’s plan (The Solvang Valley News 9/15)
Bob Field: Tribal annexations harm businesses (The Solvang Valley News 9/15)

Related Stories:
Chumash Tribe to hold public meeting on land-into-trust plan (9/13)
Editorial: Chumash Tribe should be more open about land plan (9/8)
Opinion: Some 'facts' about Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (9/2)
Vincent Armenta: Opponents cry wolf over Chumash trust bid (9/1)
Opponents raise alarms about Chumash Tribe's trust land bid (9/1)
Chumash Tribe describes plans for housing on 1400-acre site (8/30)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe aggressive in pursuit of land-into-trust (8/25)
Opponents to host meeting to discuss Chumash land-into-trust (8/12)
Opinion: Stop Chumash Tribe from placing new property in trust (8/5)
Group seeks field hearing on Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (7/28)
Chumash Tribe wants to discuss land-into-trust bid with county (6/30)
Opinion: Enough is enough with Chumash Tribe's land grab (4/14)
Opinion: Evidence shows Chumash Tribe's legitimacy in doubt (4/8)
Column: The Chumash Tribe and a fix to land-into-trust ruling (3/31)
Letter: Rep. Gallegly plays politics on Chumash land-into-trust (3/24)
Editorial: Chumash Tribe should forego land-into-trust process (3/17)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe lobbying Rep. Gallegly on land-into-trust (3/10)
Local official claims Chumash Tribe doesn't need land-into-trust (3/8)
Opinion: Groups fight Chumash Tribe land-into-trust application (2/24)