Dear
Nancy Crawford-Hall:
I couldn’t believe it,
but I do thank you, for running the “Ante Up the Pot” letter...perfect timing
too, what with David Lazarus’s Sunday L.A. Times article and a same subject
article in the Santa Barbara News Press. I wasn’t looking for a response, kinda curious now if there’d be one.
But thanks again for the
running it, and kudos for you and the Valley Journal!
Most
kindly,
Ruth
Allan Raymond
Dear
Nancy Crawford-Hall:
I want to send a brief
note from “inside” the tribe. The community claims that the tribal chairman
does not inform them about HIS plans. I want to tell you that he doesn’t even
tell the tribe what his plans are for the future. He is so wrapped in secrecy
and suspicions, one would think it’s only HIS
business. He and his advisors get a family member to pass a resolution to buy
some property somewhere.
He claims economic
diversion, well one example of that was renting our property to the “stoneman” on Numancia; he didn’t
discuss that with the tribe either. How much income is that for the tribe, or
someone?
If anyone in the tribe
goes against him. he will do his best to neutralize
them. He won’t even acknowledge their existence if he happens to run into them
on the street. We do not have a democratic government like he wants everyone to
believe. If we did, more members would voice their opinion without fear of
retaliation. Believe this, he’s not above that.
In response to a letter
in the Journal last week about having the Gaming Committee enforce the alleged
compact violations, I guess you aren’t aware that tribal members are voted to
those positions. One committee member is the chairman’s brother. Besides, they
too answer to the compact and the Business Committee, not the outside. They are
under no obligation to meet with anyone other than the Business Committee.
Vince even stopped
mailing out meeting minutes in fear they would fall into the wrong hands. So
that means our tribal members are left in the dark. We have had a new
constitution for the past 10 years, it hasn’t passed yet because there will
have to be an entire election, and him and the BC
don’t want that.
We would send this
information to the tribal members, but we are not allowed to have mailing
labels, not even to send cards of condolence or happy occasions or holidays.
Does all of this sound
like a democracy?
-Due to the sensitivity
of this letter, the name of the individual who sent it is withheld upon
request- SYVJ Staff.
I thank you for writing
to the Journal and thereby the whole Valley community. It is often difficult to
know what members of the tribe think or feel about issues when there is only
one spokesperson. Many people have been concerned that we have been separated
by the current system and believe that, in fact, we are all part of the same
community with common wishes and issues. I would encourage you to continue this
conversation and we will be happy to carry your message to the rest of the
Valley. Together we can move forward to solve our common problems.
-Nancy
Crawford-Hall
Dear Santa Ynez
Valley Journal:
Solvang Friendship House
Auxiliary recently held a fundraiser called Dining by Design, which turned out
to be a great success. Your news coverage certainly played a part in that
success.
Thank
you.
[A check was] presented to
Tammy Nichols, Executive Director to Phoebe Patterson, Auxiliary President. The
check was in the amount of $13,500 and covered the cost of landscaping in front
of the Hamilton House, inclusive fountain installation. In addition, we also
covered the cost of needed furniture items for the newly refurbished Assisted
Living Building. This building has a capacity for 10 residents and they began
moving in on Sept. 10.
-Sincerely,
Pam Pilcher,
Auxiliary Member
Dear Pam:
We are always happy to
share the news of the selfless, hard-working people in our community who make
other’s lives so much more bearable. Thank You
-NCH