Morongo Lays of 95, after Pechanga Laid of 400

The Morongo Resort Casino & Spa has laid off 95 people, making it the latest Indian casino in the region to scale back in the face of the growing economic downturn, the tribe announced Tuesday.
All of the employees are dealers or table-game operators and represent 5 percent of the casino's work force.

The casino, which sits along Interstate 10 near Cabazon, closed 28 table games months ago. Management also began reducing the casino's work force through attrition more than a year ago and froze managers' salaries

The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians laid off about 400 employees at its Temecula-area resort over the summer, citing the economic hard times. That was AFTER shedding 400 jobs previously.
LOOKS LIKE THE STATE WILL NOT GET the $9 BILLION the tribes promised us with Props. 94-97. I believe we at OP's Blog told you so.

Tribal Self Reliance in California, Have they Had Enough Time? Let's expand gaming throughout California.

A couple of commenter raised good questions about SELF RELIANCE that tribes have touted since Indian Gaming.

It's been 2o years for gaming in CA, and 10 years since Class 3 gaming was allowed. Tribes have expanded businesses and done pretty well. Is it time for the rest of Californians to have that same opportunity?

Shouldn't gaming be expanded throughout California, so that the state will benefit? Tribes pay very little to the state, much less than Las Vegas/Nevada gaming businesses pay.

Have tribes taken that money to improve all the infrastructures on their reservations? Water delivery, power, greenbelts, sewers, HOUSING FOR MEMBERS? IF NOT, WHY NOT? Pechanga has paid their members over $1.5 million each, much more than the average of Americans. (It would be MUCH less, had the tribe not terminated 25% of the tribe, and EVEN LESS had the tribe allowed all those who had a right to be in the tribe, IN) Had they taken that money to develop the rez, it would seem to be the right use of funds.

Is it PAST TIME to level the playing field in California?

Nevada Contemplating Lowering Gaming Age to 18

There are many responsible youth who can handle gambling. Is it better to allow them to gamble, rather than spend their funds on drugs and drinking?

If Nevada could have instant access to millions of new customers in these hard economic times, would the state’s Legislature and governor go for the potential windfall of new business?
We may soon find out.

The ability to bring millions of new customers to Las Vegas if the state’s minimum gambling age was lowered to 18 was the reasoning behind the suggestion raised by a gaming industry lawyer in a question-and-answer session with regulators at Friday’s gaming law conference sponsored by the State Bar of Nevada.

State Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander and Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard were asked their feelings about changing Nevada’s gambling age limit from 21 to 18. Neilander said he would take the suggestion to Steven Horsford, the new Senate majority leader, and Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley.

I say YES to lowering the gaming age in Nevada to 18. What say you? After all, California's age is 18.

Pechanga's New Golf Course on Culturally Significant Property

MEDIA ADVISORY November 9, 2008

Pechanga builds golf course on culturally significant property

TEMECULA, CA – The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians will officially open The Journey at Pechanga, a daily fee golf course, this week. The Journey, a new addition to the Pechanga Resort and Casino complex in Riverside County, California, cuts through the Great Oak Ranch which was once the home of “Perry Mason” novelist Erle Stanley Gardner.

The Great Oak Ranch was the subject of a heated and costly battle from 2000 to 2003 as the Pechanga Band fought to keep SDG & E from running a power line through the property. Throughout, tribal officials stressed the need to protect the Great Oak and the many significant and invaluable cultural and archaeological resources on the Ranch from the impacts related to development.

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) sponsored several bills aimed at protecting the Ranch from development. In a hearing on one of Congressman Issa’s bills, Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro testified to the House of Representatives Committee on Resources that, “The sole purpose of the (land) acquisition is the preservation and protection of the Luiseno people’s natural and cultural resources.”

And, when specifically asked if the Pechanga Tribe had “any plans for development of any kind on the Great Oak Ranch property”, Chairman Macarro responded as follows:

“No, we don’t. As stated … the intended use and purpose is to preserve and protect the resources that are there.”

Needless to say, the development of the golf course and other projects on land that was supposed to be free from impacts in no way reflects the “no change in use” testified to by Mr. Macarro. While the transfer of the Ranch property protected it from the proposed power line project, the transfer did not protect the Ranch or its resources from tribal development projects, including the golf course.

“The transfer of the Great Oak Ranch and eventual development of the property is tragic,” stated John Gomez, Jr.* “If the golf course project, or any other development, had been proposed on private property as culturally rich and significant as this, you better believe that tribal officials would have taken every action, whether it be lawsuits or acts of Congress, to stop it. Unfortunately, the duty to protect and preserve does not apply to tribal projects that may add to the bottom line.”

In addition to the impacts development has had on the cultural and archaeological resources on the Great Oak Ranch and the surrounding area, it appears that the tribal officials’ double-talk was reason enough for the City of Temecula and others to raise serious concerns regarding a recent bill sponsored by Congressman Issa to transfer additional lands to the United States government for the Pechanga Band.

The bill, HR 2963, which was passed in September, transferred land in Riverside and San Diego Counties for “the protection, preservation, and maintenance of the archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources thereon”. Based on their experience with the Great Oak Ranch transfer, the City of Temecula and local residents sought and received language in HR 2963 that would restrict development. However, only time will tell if the bill language is enough to protect the invaluable cultural and archaeological resources from the development plans of tribal officials.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*As Legal Analyst for the Office of the Tribal Attorney for the Pechanga Band, John Gomez Jr. spent the better part of two years working with local, State and Federal officials to protect the Great Oak Ranch and the cultural and archaeological resources located thereon from development

Happy Veteran's Day to ALL who Served, including those Who Pechanga Disenrolled

Pechanga has many veterans on their list, many of them Hunter's.

My father, who Pechanga still credits as Pechanga people on their website was a decorated war veteran, awarded the Bronze Star and the Army commendation medal for heroism in Vietnam, is now considered, NOT PECHANGA.

Of course, he always knew he was, helping to build a cabin on the rez in 1957. For you history buffs, that was pre-casino, pre-cornfield (a la Macarro) and pre-Gloria Wright, who came to the rez in 1972. She's one who keeps her brother from his rightful place in the tribe.

Pechanga, shame on you, for disavowing your veterans and Fathers, and their descendents.

Letter to Riverside County District Attorney ROD PACHECO asking for JUSTICE in the Pechanga Beating of Richard Swan

Feel free to copy and past this to fax or mail to District Attorney Rod Pacheco, whom we recently saw on Good Morning America.



District Attorney Rod Pacheco
Riverside County
4075 Main StreetRiverside , CA 92501
fax: (951) 955-0196

Re: Prosecution of Pechanga Resort and Casino Employees

Dear District Attorney Pacheco:

I write this letter to request that you prosecute the Pechanga Resort and Casino employees responsible for the injuries suffered by Richard Swan during his visit to the Pechanga Resort and Casino.

Last night I saw the KNBC 4 news story regarding the assault, and I was appalled that such an incident could occur. The pictures of Mr. Swan taken immediately after the assault, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Swan’s recalling of the incident, were truly horrific.

The account of the incident, as well as the life-threatening injuries sustained by Mr. Swan, require that your office institute a thorough investigation of the incident and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

I hope that the District Attorney’s office will not be thwarted or deterred from seeking justice in this case, even if the Pechanga Tribe attempts to shield its employees from prosecution and escape any financial or other liability by invoking tribal sovereignty.

I hope that your office will take the appropriate measures to ensure that the Swan’s rights are protected and upheld. It would be a true miscarriage of justice if Mr. Swan’s injuries and the actions of the Pechanga Resort and Casino employees were merely dismissed by the District Attorney’s office.

Respectfully submitted,

Pauma Casino to Layoff workers

First Pechanga lays off 400 workers and now Pauma has announce they will also layoff employees. One good thing, Pauma is offering a buyout package of ONE week for every year of employment, PLUS continued medical benefits throught the package. This would be a reason to support Pauma.

Pechanga beats its customers, which you WON'T find in the NCTIMES, guess that's not a good enough story.

Riverside Press Enterprise SILENT on Pechanga's Violent Abuse of Power

The Press-Enterprise quickly reports crimes at Soboba and Rincon, yet is strangely silent on the criminal act of excessive force by Pechanga's security guards. Why is that?

We have sent FOUR P E reporters the information from the SWANS, contact information for Pechanga and the contacts for liasons in the Sheriff's department, yet NO story.

How MUCH is that ad revenue from Pechanga anyway? Here's some of the stories the PE wrote about:

LONG BEACH TEACHER faces prison (how local is that?)
FONTANA fireworks ban (not in service area either, and when is 4th of July?)
New Bridge in San Bernardino
Rialto School Chief resigns (So what?)
West Hollywood Protest Arrests (so not local)

Come ON, Press Enterprise, give us NEWS about the abuses at Pechanga, don't hide it.

Pechanga Abuse of It's Senior Customer is comparable to Redding Rancheria's Actions

Today, guest blogger, Carla Foreman-Maslin, disenrolled member of the Redding Rancheria, and AIRRO member compares the latest news of Pechanga's abuse of power in the beating of Richard Swan that we've been discussing for days, with her tribe's casino in Redding. Thank you Carla for your contributions

This sounds a lot like Redding Rancheria. They have harassed, threatened & beat up employees, customers, their own tribal members & other Indian people who have been invited to participate in events or have come to put their money into the casino.

It is a very shameful time for tribes and their citizens who have allowed this type of behavior. The dictatorships and the bullying that is taking place is so outrageous and it really looks bad on American Indians everywhere.

I never thought I would see it all come down to this. I was always proud to be a part of what I felt was a historic time in this country when I witnessed my dad, who was our Tribal Chairman at a gathering of all Tribal Leaders at a Senate meeting in Washington, DC. I witnessed the Tribal Elders along with other Tribal Leaders who fought in the Vietnam war tell stories of their tribes and how they struggled with poverty, etc. I watched grown men cry as they testified on why Indian Gaming was going to help Tribes with economic development for their people to be able to have education, housing, health benefits through self reliance.

I believed in this vision and was proud to see it all come to life. I stood in the field with other Indian people and Mark Macarro when we filmed for Prop 5. I participated along with other California Indians in San Francisco when we all demonstrated for Indian Gaming in California. I will never forget the march to the steps of the Ninth Circuit Court with all the other Native men, women and children.

And now to see what has become a terrible disrespect to some tribes not only to their tribal citizens, but to our elders who have passed on and fought to live to see their children survive and make something of themselves through education. I was going to college when my rights and my family's rights were violated. I lost my education as the tribe was paying for it. Many other family members lost the same rights to their education.

I am appalled that those rights and other rights have been stolen by people who have no right to take the most sacred part of our being away from us. This is such a crime and the criminals have to answer for it. The fact that the loophole of "sovereignty" has allowed them to push their crime to other levels is a joke.

This is a major crime to any human being. Sovereignly is not for committing crimes against humanity, it is to be used as a protection for people. Whoever thought of using sovereignty as a way to protect their crimes has a very dark and evil mind. It is as evil as the mind of Hitler and other evil dictators throughout the world.

The victims need to stand up for their rights and continue to protect what is rightfully theirs. Teach your children to stand for their rights. There is nothing wrong when it is right. The only wrong is letting the criminals continue to commit crimes against the victims. In this case, the criminals have been given fame, when they deserve shame.

Greed, power and corruption has ultimately become a way of life for some of these tribal leaders and as long as they get away with it without justice, more tribal leaders will figure out that they can do the same to any tribal member, because they are untouchable. I never thought I would ever see such injustice in this time in our lives. Shame on those who don't stand for the innocent victims.

I would like to see a hero rise up and take a stand for our American Indians who have lost their voices and their rights.

Peace & Love
Carla Foreman-Maslin

Welcome to New Readers of Original Pechanga's Blog

Greetings to all our new visitors!

This blog details the bad acts by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. While the tribal chairman, mark macarro is the face of Indian gambling in California, that face hides the sinister actions of his tribal council.

Please check through the archives for many stories of the injustices that Pechanga has perpetrated on their own people. IF PECHANGA will cheat their own, they will cheat (or as happened recently, BEAT) you.

Show your outrage at Pechanga's action by avoiding their casino and hotel. If you don't play, they won't win.

The families that were disenrolled were members a century before there was a casino, and we have no problem being members when all that Pechanga has again is .... SAND.

Pechanga Responds To Their Brutality Against Their Customers

Since the uproar is growing against the brutality of Pechanga's security force,late this afternoon, Pechanga issued a statement: Spokesperson Amy Minniear of the Pechanga Development Corporation said, "We are aware of the incident. Mr. Swan was being removed from the property when the incident occurred. We have reviewed the situation carefully as it relates to compliance with our policies and procedures. The officer involved is no longer employed by Pechanga. Pechanga deeply regrets that this happened. We hope to resolve the matter with Mr. Swan as soon as possible." Amy, you are AWARE of the incident? Mr. Swan was told to leave the property and when he was going to the hotel, YOUR employees SLAMMED HIM TO THE GROUND! WHEN was this ONE employee fired? What happened to the OTHER employee? And the belligerant customer? Do you have HIS contact information. IF you regret this situation, then WHY would the sheriff SAY that this is not the first time this has happened? Clarity is needed from Pechanga and QUICKLY. RESOLVE the situation means covering the damages your people did, acknowledge that Pechanga has swept matters like these under the rug. DISCOVERY in the lawsuit will be interesting won't it? Did Pechanga PAY for the security guards silence, OR will he spill the beans about the corruption at Pechanga?

Is Pechanga's Security Guards Action an Abuse of Power?

KNBC's Mary Parks has reported the abuse the Swan Family suffered at the hands of Pechanga's crack trained security goons. Let's see, they can beat up on an old man (sorry Mr. Swan) but not protect people from being carjacked as we reported last September HERE.

We've challenged the local newspapers: Press Enterprise and SBSUN to question the Riverside Sheriff's Department as well as Pechanga Tribal Council about the crime wave that's swelling up.

Sheriff Sniff, are you concentrating too much on the Soboba Reservation and not enough at the lawlessness at Pechanga? Are CALIF citizens SAFE at Pechanga?

I'd offer this advice to customers: STAY away before YOU are beaten too.

Tribal Disenrollments: "Like Being Raped, and Then Going to the Person that RAPED YOU for Justice"

A news story on tribal disenrollments and moratoriums had the perfect quote as a post title, from Carla Maslin, from the Redding Rancheria of Northern California. 300 Pechanga People know exactly what she means, having been "raped" of their citizenship, benefits and security by Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro, the enrollment committee led by Bobbi LeMere and certain members of the Tribal Council, Russell "Butch" Murphy and Andrew Masiel among them.

From that article:

Tribal membership disputes are also a problem across the country, with as many as 4,000 tribe members fighting for enrollment, said Carla Maslin, a disenrolled member of the Redding Rancheria in Northern California and an advocate for disenfranchised tribe members.
Maslin's case has gone nowhere in tribal court, she said. "It's like being raped and going to the person who raped you for justice," Maslin said.

These enrollment issues don't just strip away income from a potential casino, they limit access to education, health care and the cultural benefits of belonging to a tribe, she said."Someone is trying to steal away something that doesn't belong to them," Maslin said. "They're trying to steal their identity and heritage."

Here was how "those who raped us" administered J U S T I C E

• The Pechanga Tribe said they'd give us a fair hearing, but consoldidated our cases so that we couldn't individually bring our case forward. (to keep the rapists from having to listen to 95 of my family)
• We had a limit of to any written statement.
• We were not allowed to send attachments or records (such as Dr. Johnson's report that determined our family was indeed Pechanga)
• We must treat our rapists with respect, disrepectful conduct was "not to be tolerated" (lie back and enjoy it)
• You MAY NOT ask questions, or call witnesses or present additional evidence or documents (we rape, therefore we will hear no evil)
• You will be subject to a PAT DOWN SEARCH, even if you are elderly.
• NO note taking instruments of any kind permitted. (and we won't wear a condom)
• Grouping will be 15 people and you have 30 minutes (2 minutes per person and we aren't listening anyway, so who cares?)
• We, the Tribal Council don't have to be on time for your appeal. (Masiel was late, but no matter, his mind was made up)
• The enrollment committee commands you to use certified documents, however, the EC will accept hearsay from child molester in prison (Megan's Law website: Ibanez, Vincent)
• Rapist PROHIBIT the presence of legal representatives. (ACLU anyone?)

As you can see, the "rapist" in our case, had their own brand of justice. NO CIVIL RIGHTS for us. And this is who Congressman Darrell Issa and Sen. Jim Battin stand with.

CA Tribes Like Pechanga, Not Buying As Many Politicians This Year

The Press Enterprise reports that the Big 4 tribes: San Manuel, Morongo, Agua Caliente and pechanga aren't spending the money greasing the palms of local politicians this election cycle. Could it be that the money spent on the February propositions tapped out their political budget?

Word on the street is that Pechanga has been trying to get the other tribes to share some of their burden as they had to pay so much more in television ads trying to erase the STENCH of their betrayal of their tribal members. Pechanga spent about $50 million more than some of the other tribes, running an infomercial on local television filled with half truths.


The February ballot fight over casino-expansion agreements for the Morongo, Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes and the Sycuan tribe in San Diego County burned through nearly $150 million. The three Inland tribes put up nearly $110 million of that, according to state records.
The casino business, meanwhile, has slowed. In July, the Pechanga casino laid off 400 workers because high gas prices and the struggling economy (NOT TO MENTION the negative publicity)were keeping customers away.

So, here is what has happened:

Two years ago, the region's wealthiest tribes -- the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Banning, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians near Temecula, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near Highland -- spent an average of $1.3 million each in direct contributions to state candidates, political parties and independent expenditures in the months leading up to the November 2006 election, according to state campaign-finance reports.
As of Friday, the four tribes had spent a fraction of that. Much of the money came only in the past day or two, less than a week before Election Day.

Why keep paying for someone when they are already in your pocket? And, has anyone checked to see HOW MUCH, Pechanga Spokesman Macarro has donated out of his OWN pocket? Politicians, if they don't contribute from their OWN wallets, that means they don't trust OR care about you.