Pechanga's Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro showed quite a bit of chutzpah, when speaking before Riverside County Commissioners this week. A man who lied to Congress as we discussed HERE, and HERE when he told them the tribe would not use 296 acres of pristine environment the tribe wanted put into trust. Anyone want to guess where the new Journey Golf Course is built upon?
Here's a quote by John Macarro, shorter brother of Mark, from the Press Enterprise: In response, Pechanga's General Counsel John Macarro, wrote, "Once the land is placed in trust, a tribe has complete zoning and planning authority over it and can change land uses just as a county or city can change or update its general plan or zoning designations."
This past Thursday,Temecula's efforts to derail a proposed gravel mine near a pristine environmental reserve just outside of town were dealt a severe setback, when officials voted against letting the city annex the land.
Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, told commissioners the annexation would protect the place where tribal tradition says the Earth was created and the tribe was born.
"This is our Eden," he said. "We cannot re-create where the world was created. There is only one Eden."
The Pechanga tribe, led by Macarro re-created Eden by throwing out the elderly and children of two large families that we've discussed HERE and HERE
Here's Macarro's quote to Congress on the Great Oak Property:
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.”
Former Pechanga Legal Analyst John Gomez Jr. had this to say: “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.”
Temecula Area People, Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro has desecrated the land but want YOU to protect land. He LIED when he said HE would protect the land, but REALLY REALLY means it when he says he wants to protect the land NOW. He has put the safety of OTHER culturally significant sites in jeopardy, because he LIED to Congress. Put no stock in what he says.
There is lots of information at the links, please take a look.
14 comments:
I wonder if Mr. Macarro would admit that part of the "Eden" of the Luiseno people that he spoke about is where the Journey at Pechanga golf course now sits just a few hills from where the proposed gravel pit may be put in.
So he told congress that there would be no changes made to this land and he in effect aided and abetted destroying a part of "Eden."
In case anyone thinks we have taken Mark Macarro's testimony to the United States Congressional Resources Committee on April 17, 2002 out of context and he didn't promise that Pechanga would do no changes to the Great Oak Ranch property if the land was placed into trust making it part of the Pechanga reservation, below are his own words from the congressional record:
Mr. Hayworth: "Thank you, Mr. Avery. Chairman Macarro, does the Pechanga Tribe have any plans
for development of any kind on the Great Oak Ranch property?"
Mr. Macarro: "No, we don't. As stated in our application to
Interior/BIA, we stated or have designated there is no change
of use in the property, and the intended use and purpose is to
preserve and protect the resources that are there."
Mr. Hayworth: "Without objection, we would welcome that.
Just one follow-up, and for purposes of the record, Mr.
Chairman, does the tribe plan to use the Great Oak Ranch for
gaming purposes or any purposes other than what you have just
outlined?"
Mr. Macarro: "No, the tribe does not."
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_house_hearings&docid=f:78759.wais
And little brother John Macarro said screw you to the general public when he said the tribe can develop trust land once the tribe has jurisdiction over it despite promises of no changes made by the tribe in the past.
FOLKS, LET THE MACARRO BROTHERS WORDS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE ANY INTEGRITY OR NOT?
It used to be that an Indian's word meant something but I guess the bottom line of money trumps everything, even an Indian's word.
Mark Macarro, a champion of the environment and Lusiseno culture?
I don't think so.
Corrupt Mark Macarro's word does'nt
mean crap, every word out of his mouth is a lie....
the only thing that makes him important to the politician's is the money he throws at them to bribe their votes.
What a self important ugly little man he is.
He uses words like culture and heritage, remarks like that show
just how phoney this Indian is.
Good thing he does'nt use the word "HONOR" he would probably choke on it....
...on the other hand...
maybe he should study what that
word means, get the definition, practice it.....
Honor and Truth, could you handle it Mark Macarro ?
Mark Macarro also fails to mention is that Pechanga at one time not too long ago was considering having their own gravel mine on tribal land or on land that they would purchase.
So if they had purchased that very part of "Eden" that Macarro said the tribe is against the private company putting a gravel mine on, the tribe itself may have had their own gravel mine there and Macarro would have been strangely silent about tearing up the land if it added to the bottom line.
Macarro is just trying to do some P.R. and he really doesn't care one bit about the environment or the Luiseno people.
Ironic, that in kicking us out of the tribe, we are critical about what the tribe does while if we were still in the tribe, we would have stated our objections internally.
So why didnt the city Of Temecula try and stop the Golf course while it was being dug up?..does he pay all of them off as well?...or is the city messing with him a little with the mess out on the road before the Casino...it seems like they have been working on those lanes for many months now...maybe they are trying to slow the flow of customers from getting to the casino???
This says something important about the state of the tribes’ political Mojo. Even after greasing every politician’s palm in sight, they can't even stop an open pit gravel mine from being built in the Reservations' back yard. There seems to be a line forming to poke Mark Macarro, the tribal council, and their attorneys and other supporters in the eye. Everybody line up for a free whack at the rats!
You can tell how much Pechanga cares about the environment, look at what they drive. Have you ever seen a hybrid driven by a member? Or do they drive Hummers, trucks, etc. New Money.
Why does the comments link say 0 comments?
If the site is truly venerated and and should be saved from desecration, than the words of someone with less credibility needs to be put in context to the greater good of the people. The site should be preserved, though not placed into the trust of persons who have proven untrustworthy with such a sacred responsibilty. The time may come when the dis-enrolled will re-inherit their tribal legacies, and I am sure they would want to know that their Eden is still there when they return
Mr. Lee, it is hard to trust Mr. Macarro with the responsibilty with safeguarding the land as he has shown us to be unreliable to be counted on to do the right thing.
His little speech at the planning commission meeting was just a P.R. opportunity.
He is just hard to stomach as the land the golf course is now on is not too far from where this proposed gravel mine would go and look how trustworthy he was with that land.
He gave a big speech to the congressional resources committee and what did it get us?
A golf course on land he promised not to change.
That being said, I hope the city of Temecula and the people opposed to the gravel pit are succesful in their efforts to block that development.
To 'aamokat
I understand your point about trustfull-ness
What is amazing about Mark Macarro's line of B.S. at the planning commission meeting is that I have always heard that the creation story of the Luiseno people centered around the Lake Elsinore area, which is nowhere near the area were the proposed gravel pit would go.
So while I oppose the gravel pit, I am amazed how Macarro, in an attempt for some P.R. for himself and the tribe, would spin yarns about the site being a part of "Eden."
But like I said, the golf course is on land he promised not to change. So can we trust anything the man says?
He needs to go...!! He doesn't do much for the tribal members and the business which should be "Indian-owned" and operated. I for one won't be voting for his ass next time!! Time for some changes!!
The ONLY reason in my opinion he keeps winning is the horrible people the CPP keeps trying to replace him with, (better the snake you know than the serpent you dont). Get halfway someone decent to run against him, and they will be a shoo-in.
Tribal members receive approx. $30,000 per month - per cap and the Pechanga National treasury has to ask another sovereign to save one of it's national treasures(Eden) because they don't have enough money in the National Treasury(Pechanga) to purchase a gravel mine in a buyers market.
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