With the recent formal naming of
Highway 154 “The Chumash Highway,” some community members have voiced outrage,
others understanding, and still others apathy about the controversial act of
legislative imprimatur.
PIC1:
Mario Mora,
Santa Ynez Resident:
“I think it’s absolutely terrible. I think the way they went
about it was pretty underhanded. The motivation is to get more publicity for
the casino.”
PIC2:
Clair Bowen, Santa Ynez Resident:
“I am one-forth Chumash and I think that enough is enough.
The Chumash have gone too far this time. I read a statement by Armenta and I don’t think that the Mission Band is
benefiting from the name change. I’d like to know how it happened. Was [Joe Coto] paid off? Was he promised campaign money? Could they
not find someone in this area to sign off on it? I’ve been driving that pass
since I was 15, before they straitened it.”
PIC3:
John Times,
Orcutt Resident:
“I read about it in the newspaper. I think it’s been the 154
for a long time and they ought to have left it. They should have reviewed it
and seen what the people wanted, because you look at it and now you think that
the guy was paid off.”
PIC4:
Mike Fordyce,
Santa Ynez Resident:
“From a historical point of view, they’ve been using the
highway as a foot trail for 5,000 years.”
PIC4:
Mike Belko,
Solvang Resident:
“I guess it’s fine because it’s part of the area. It’s
native here and the Chumash are part of it. But they probably could have held a
vote and got more public input.”