"This coming Tuesday, July 10, our county Board of Supervisors will be deciding whether or not to oppose annexation by the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians of 6.9 acres in Santa Ynez across from the Chumash casino.

This annexation should be actively opposed because the tribe doesn’t need it, the community can’t afford it, and it sets a terrible precedent.

This tribe no longer needs the massive financial subsidies provided by annexation to ensure their long-term financial success. To its credit, this tribe has thoroughly demonstrated its ability to grow economically without further subsidies.

Playing by the same rules as everyone else — which is all this community asks for — in just a few years, the tribe purchased an office building in Buellton, two of the largest hotels in Solvang, and a premier 1,400 acre ranch in Santa Ynez."

Get the Story:
Bob Field: A critical moment arrives in the annexation saga (The Solvang Valley News 7/5)

Also Today:
Chumash Land Goes Federal (The Santa Barbara Independent 7/5)
County supervisors consider appealing Chumash annexation (The Santa Maria Sun 7/5)

Related Stories:
BIA cites Carcieri in backing Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (6/27)
Chumash Tribe critics hail Supreme Court's land-into-trust ruling (6/21)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash land-into-trust boosts community (6/7)
Richard Gomez: Chumash Tribe shares $16M with local charities (5/24)
Rep. Young won't introduce Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bill (5/21)
Opinion: Chumash report ignores land-into-trust issues (04/20)
Chumash Tribe cites economic benefits of land-into-trust (4/11)
Opinion: Putting an end to land-into-trust for wealthy tribes (03/29)
Richard Gomez: Chumash Tribe needs more land for housing (3/1)
Opinion: Land-into-trust wasn't intended for 'wealthy' tribes (1/19)
Opinion: A lack of leadership over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust (1/5)