Tribe given land for preserve
By
Victor Morales, Today correspondent
Story Published:
Nov 7, 2008
Story Updated:
Nov 7, 2008
TEMECULA, Calif. – The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians will add nearly 1,200 acres of real estate to its reservation.
President Bush signed a bill Oct. 10 that transferred the Riverside and San Diego County land from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, becoming Public Law No. 110-383.
The land must be used for the protection, preservation and maintenance of archaeological, cultural and wildlife resources. The building of roads is prohibited except for maintenance, according to the bill (H.R. 2963),which was refined after environmental concerns of the local community, said Fredrick Hill, press secretary for Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista. Issa introduced the bill in July 2007.
Concerns centered on potential additional casinos in a region that already has several.
“[The city of Temecula] had concerns initially but supported it after the language was improved. In the end it was a good deal for residents and Native Americans,” Hill said.
The land transfer does not include about 12 acres that includes power transmission lines and other infrastructure.
The BLM considered the land dispensable while requiring maintenance, Hill said.
Tuesday, Nov 11 at 5:12 PM Anonymous wrote ...
wealth of the tribe? you got to be kidding me. i believe the pechanga people will keep their word. why would they not? native people have always gotten the short end of the stick for hundreds of years. now they can help themselves and others in their investments.
12183558 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 8 at 2:36 PM Guero Nunez wrote ...
With this new land transfer the government is taking a chance with Pechanga even with the new language it is uncertain that Pechanga will keep its word. There was a time when the Pechanga tribe was a friend to the community. Now with the wealth the tribe, it appears as if they, Pechanga, can buy, lie, and manipulate the public, local residents, and the state and federal government with slick advertising and generous contributions from special interest lobbyist that the tribe uses to further
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