There has been some accusation of racism and envy directed at those opposed to the Chumash request to annex 1,400 acres of agriculturally zoned land to their existing reservation.
This type of unfounded accusation only inhibits constructive discussion on the Chumash tribe’s request for “fee to trust” application with federal agencies.
The Chumash Indians enjoy a unique treaty with the federal government on their reservation. They pay no local taxes and are exempt from all Santa Barbara County land-use regulations. In reality, if this exemption were not in effect, the gambling casino they built on their reservation land may have never been approved. No one is opposing the reservation privileges of the Chumash.
If they add 1,400 acres of non-contiguous land to their existing reservation and pay no local taxes or are not subject to local land-use regulation like all other Santa Barbara residents, the issue of inequity arises.
The Chumash members can vote in Santa Barbara County as residents of this county to influence our political process. They enjoy the police and fire protection as county residents, which are funded with local taxes. Our local education institutions are funded with local taxes.
The opposition to their request for “fee to trust” is not based on racism or envy, but to ensure all Santa Barbara County residents pay their fair share of taxes to fund all the necessary services our local governments provide.
Their monopolistic gambling enterprise can purchase many more acres in Santa Barbara County in addition to the current 1,400 acres they invested in, therefore if their current request is approved, it can further erode the county’s tax base, which can only add to the tax burden for all other Santa Barbara County residents.
This article appears in Oct 10-17, 2013.
