What's New In The West
San Juan County Residents should have received this ballot in the mail.
"Shall a Study Committee be appointed to consider and possibly recommend a change in San Juan County's form of government?
This is only forming a committee to look at 4-5 different options on how
San Juan county Government might be configured.
by Stacy Young
" It has been my experience during the years of the Bears Ears controversy that one very common rhetorical strategy of monument proponents is to include economic indicators unique to the Reservation to make the case that San Juan County as a whole is desperately poor and in dire need of the sort of fixing Industrial Tourism is good at. The reasons for doing this are simple enough. To start with, it is the steadfast belief of elitists everywhere that they come not to condemn a place and its people but to save them. And many Bears Ears maximalists certainly live up to this axiom. Indeed, the standard sales pitch — for the New West in general and Bears Ears in particular — amounts to a sort of secular prosperity gospel in which economic prosperity inevitably follows from the proper, enlightened appreciation of nature. One form or another of this argument is made time and time and time again!" read more in the Canyon Zephyr
 |
| About 40 people attended the Town Hall Meeting |
A Town Hall Meeting was held in Blanding
Oct. 9. Panel members and local citizens addressed the issue of “B”
roads, and the ballot initiate to study possible changes in SJC government. Panelists included Cheryl Bowers, Charlotta Lacy,
Nicole Perkins, Kim Henderson, Shannon Brooks, and Gail Dalton Johnson. Perkins emphasized the point of holding
Federal, State and locally elected officials and judges accountable to Citizens.
Many people from the audience asked questions and shared
ideas. Kim Henderson, organizer of the
event expressed a desire to take Town Hall meetings into communities on the reservation,
if there are those who will help make it happen. Davina Smith and Mary Benally
were two who attended who will hopefully help.
New County Administrator, Mack MacDonald told of his
experiences in Afghanistan, helping different tribes/ groups to work
cooperatively as they set about to create a workable government. A detailed article of his experiences is in
the new San Juan Record.
The main topic of discussion
related to the condition of “B” roads in the county. Past history shows since 1988 San Juan County
had maintained BIA roads, but in June of 2018, the Navajo Tribe told them to “cease and
desist”. Unfortunately, those without
the historical background and facts have used this as racism” propaganda
against San Juan County. Phil Lyman
noted, “A lie can travel ½ way around the world, before truth can get its pants
on.” He gave credit to former Commissioner Benally, who had started the
cooperative wheels on road repair going again, “before the carpet was pulled
out from under her.”.
The next discussion led by Cheryl Bowers emphasized four possible governing styles that are approved by State guidelines as listed:
1. 3-member Commision (current form)
2. 5-7 member commission
3. Elected County Council with appointed county manager with executive powers
4. County council with elected mayor with executive powers
If the initiative passes, a study group will
be organized who will make recommendations. Ballots have been mailed out, and voters
should mail them back quickly.
~~ What are the Pros and Cons of Changing SJC Gov: Read SJ Record Article:
Free Range Report: "Co2 is not a pollutant that threatens human civilization as has been ridiculously claimed by global warming doomsday pushers. CO2 actually increases plant yields, accelerates “re-greening” and improves reforestation of the planet."
"UNDP Projects will recognize that indigenous peoples have collective rights to own, use, and develop and control the lands, resources and territories that they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired, including lands and territories for which they do not yet possess title.
“If the Project involves activities that are contingent on establishing legally recognized rights to lands, resources, or territories that indigenous peoples have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired, an action plan will outline the steps and timetable for achieving legal recognition of such ownership, occupation, or usage (see paragraph 14 below).
“In such cases, UNDP, with the consent of the relevant authority or Implementing Partner, will support such activities aimed at delimiting, demarcating and titling such lands, resources, and territories with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned.” (UNDP= Standard 6 of the United Nations Development Programme)
Beyond the Bears Responds: In reality BENM was orchestrated by one of the nation’s strongest environmental lobby groups, The Conservation Lands Foundation. (All quotes below come from the Conservation Lands Foundation Minutes held San Francisco, CA 24 October 2014)
The Conservation Lands Foundation intended to control the dialogue and efforts of all players in the drama. The illusion they perpetuated was that this was a “bottom up” effort driven by indigenous people.
In reality native leaders were targeted by CLF organizers. This was a Top Down masterplan and they were carefully watching all players from Secretary Jewel, down to each tribe as illustrated in their Oct. 2014 board meeting minutes. “Struggles with Secretary Jewell, she is not being a strong advocate for the Antiquities Act, but continues to show gradual improvement. With strong leadership from the White House this has become less of a roadblock.”
Another CLF member admits to relying on the Navajo Nation, but asks, “What happens if we separate from them or disagree with them? Without their support the White House probably would not act.”
They were using coalition leaders as kings in a grand scale game of chess, and tribal members as pawns. For more information go to https://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/2016/11/big-money-environmentalists-and-bears.html
"Ultimately, and for years, I’ve wondered why public land management agencies feel the compulsion to “improve” Nature. No matter what grievous damage human activity imposes upon the environment, it always seemed like a safer and wiser strategy to–of course— stop continued degradation, but then to just leave the land alone and let it recover on its own. Too often the best of intentions can backfire and only exacerbate the problem." Jim Styles, Canyon Zephyr Oct. 2019
News in the West
