SJ Commission, Legislation, and Litigation ~~ 2/15/19

News in the West

San Juan County Commission Meeting

Tuesday Feb. 19 -- Monticello

Bluff Town Hall Meeting  

John Curtis is hosting a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 21st and wants to hear your perspectives and feedback. Please join him at the Bluff Community Center from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Follow link to reserve ticket.

Follow Bills in the State Legislature

Lee and Romney See New Lands Bill Differently

State Legislature Considers Bills Impacting San Juan

San Juan Record Live News Coverage Feb. 13

Fired Editor Starts Indian Creek Observer

Canyon Echo Revives

Newest Edition of Canyon Zephyr

==================

Week-long Poll garnered 782 Responses

Asking Should San Juan County Be Divided? Results: 

 68% voted Yes, Divide

32% Voted No

         ==================

~~ Laws/Greyeyes Suit Appealed to Utah Supreme Court

~~Rep. Bishop Confront's Patagonia Falsehoods 

~~Aneth Shuts Down Maryboy's Effort to Change Position on Bears Ears

~~ 4X4 Event Raises Money for Public Land Use Organizations

~~Colorado Commissioners Environmental Lobbying Spurs Recall Effort 

~~States Deserve a Voice When Determining Endangered Species

~~Native Group Fights for Jobs and Wise Use of Resources

"National environmental groups Sierra Club and Grand Canyon Trust are behind the campaign to stop NTEC from acquiring Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine by spreading false information and pitting Diné against Diné. Their desire to close both facilities threatens the lifeblood of our Navajo Nation – our tribal sovereignty."

~~Twitter Senator Mike Lee

~~House Bill Would Expand Bears Ears Monument Back to 1.9 Million Acres

~~Despite $500 Million in State Benefits, Friends of Cedar Mesa Sues Over BLM Leases

~~Oil and Gas Lease Money Pose Contradictory Reactions

" Hypocrisy at work in Bluff? CIB (Community Impact Fund) money has been used by the Bluff Community for years, ALL of which comes from The Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund (CIB) which is 100% directly appropriated from [tainted?] Mineral Extraction on Federal lands and BLM lease royalties.

iRONICALLY, we learned this week that Bluff’s Friends of Cedar Mesa filed a lawsuit against the very federal oil and gas leases that help fund the CIB. Is this an example of "Biting the hand that feeds you? or a game of Extreme Double Dipping? 

Suggestion: Use the lawyer fees now being paid to Advocates for the West lawsuit, to pay for Bluff improvement projects, instead of draining tax payer's money from two directions for extreme no industry agendas. JW"             

Summary of Bluff CIB Projects below: 

~~ More Irony, New Green Deal Won't Allow Mining of Required Minerals

"The Green New Deal proposes a massive expansion in the use of renewable energy technologies that rely on critical minerals we are not allowed to mine in the United States."

~~Conflict over Canal Roads/ vs "Urban Trails" in Colorado

~~LaPlata Commissioners At Odds With Ranchers/ Farmers

~~Vultures: the Emerging Federally Protected Livestock Scourge 

~~ Urban Vultures Use SL Tribune to Attack Representative Phil Lyman

~~ Four Corners Free Press:  Overview on Greyeyes Hearing

Conflict, CRA's, Commission: Bear Essentials 2/8/2019

What's New In San Juan and the Rest of the West?

Should San Juan Be Divided into Two Counties?

Possibility of Dividing County Studied 20+ years ago

San Juan Election Battles Continue by Jim Stiles

Commission Meeting: 2/5/19

Discounts for Sr. Citizen Camping, Likely to End

Pros and Cons of TIF/ CRA Financing for New SJC projects   by Stacy Young

"To date, San Juan County has formed a Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) and invited applications for tax increment financing. (Blanding has formed a separate CRA; however, since it is the county that assesses the lion’s share of local taxes, most TIF action is likely to occur within the county’s CRA framework.) So far, two projects have applied for tax increment financing from the county-wide CRA. Both projects are seeking a property tax abatement of up to 75% and 20 years.

One proposed project is a 54-unit boutique resort hotel called Bluff Dwellings, which is already well under construction at the mouth of Cow Canyon. That project is seeking tax increment financing of $458,000, which consists of a $300,000 turn lane into the property from Utah Highway 191 plus $158,000 in other utility improvements serving the project.

The second project proposing TIF is a 70-room limited-service flag hotel identified specifically as a Marriott Fairfield. That project location is targeted for a vacant parcel on the north end of Blanding and is currently in the pre-construction feasibility stage of development. The investors in that project are seeking $1,250,000 described as general site improvements like parking, utilities, and storm drain facilities.

Kudos to School Board: article continues...

"Postscript. At the end of January, the Board of the San Juan School District voted unanimously not to participate in either the Bluff Dwellings or Blanding Fairfield CRA. I personally think this was the right decision, but what was probably even more positive than the result was the independence the board demonstrated in reaching their decision and the seriousness with which they took their fiduciary duty to all of the county’s schools. As outlined above, a sound TIF process is one that closely analyzes “but for” and “opportunity cost” concerns prior to implementing a TIF incentive.

Unfortunately, in far too many instances and in far too many jurisdictions, the participating government entity merely goes through the analytical motions when it comes to such questions. But the School Board in San Juan County treated these questions with great care and concluded that the proposals on the table did not satisfy this more rigorous standard of review. To the credit of the Board, the members spent a good deal of time and effort to become well-informed about the pros and cons of TIF, which enabled them to ask difficult, pointed questions and independently evaluate the answers they were given. Prior to the vote, Board President Steven Black produced a solid conceptual and financial analysis, which concluded that both proposals fell short for “but for” and “opportunity cost” reasons."  Stacy Young

~~ Senator Mike Lee Works to Protect Utah and San Juan County 

Against Aggressive Monument Designations:

  Lee's response: "Very honored to receive this letter of support from State Senate and House Majority Caucuses. Limiting the power of the federal government in Washington to unilaterally restricting how Utahns can use our public lands is one of my top legislative priorities. We all have heard from many constituents about the profound negative impacts monument designations can have on some communities in our state.   I am honored to continue the fight with my Utah legislative colleagues against this unjust law."

~~ Preliminary Budget for San Juan County

~~Get to Know your Navajo Neighbors

~~Executive Order on Managing US Forests

~~Navajo Tribe Negotiating to Purchase Generating Plant and Coal Mine

~~ Retired Mine Inspector: Info Provided by Environmental groups is Wrong

~~ Emery County Supports John Curtis Public Lands Bill

~~Ted Cruz and ChucK Norris: How to Pay for THE WALL

~~ Could be Good, Could be Bad: Larry Echohawk as State Counsel on Indian Affairs

~~ A Little Satire Now and Then is OK:  So I'm Sharing this Video  Enjoy!

Facts Speak Louder Than Opinions

~~ Maryboy Pressuring Aneth Chapter 

Aneth Chapter Meeting: Feb 13 @ 3:00 PM * * *

Commissioner Maryboy is currently lobbying the Aneth Chapter for a return to the original 1.9 M. Acres for Bears Ears.  In the past the Aneth Chapter courageously voted TWICE AGAINST BEARS EARS MONUMENT.

Their strong Independent Voting Membership is needed again Wednesday February 13th, 2019 @ 3:00 pm, chapter meeting.

Aneth Chapter understands the true nature of NOT allowing the monument to expand, cutting off resources like firewood to Navajo people who need to use the resources that public land provides. Free thinking Navajo people who are against Expanding the Monument currently in place need to exercise their right to vote, and not be controlled by outside puppeteers. Protect our local public lands via state and county action, not through a debt ridden Federal Government that operates with a $21 Trillion cash deficit.

"The Aneth Chapter also requested that No More National Monument designations be established in the State of Utah (2017)"
#NoMonumentalExpansion #VoteAgainstExpansion

--Alliances with Rich Environmental NGO's Taints New SJC Commission

"Here’s the $64,000 question: Will the policies of the new pro-Bears Ears county commission begin to align – to varying degrees – with the goals of a grand alliance whose members include the foundation established by multibillionaire Hansjorg Wyss ($2.2 billion, see sidebar), Utah Diné Bikéyah, Round River Conservation Studies, Friends of Cedar Mesa, the Conservation Lands Foundation, the Grand Canyon Trust, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Earth Justice, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, Packard Foundation ($7 billion), William and Flora Hewlett Foundation ($9.8 billion), Wilburforce Foundation ($115 million), Pew Charitable Trusts, Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation and some of the nation’s most prominent and politically aggressive outdoor recreation companies?"

~~ New "Green" Deal Relies on Minerals Environmentalists Don't Want Mined: Catch 22 Alive and Well

~~~~~~~~~

 Information for Contacting Your County Commissioners

Kenneth Maryboy, Chairman

Phone:

Cell Phone:

kmaryboy@sanjuancounty.org

 Willie Grayeyes, Vice-chairman

Phone:

Cell Phone:

williegrayeyes@sanjuancounty.org

Bruce Adams

Phone:(435) 587-3225

Cell Phone:(435) 459-1351

bbadams@sanjuancounty.org

Judgement vs Justice: Bear Essentials 1/29/2019

News in the West

Summary of Judge Torgerson's Decision video by SJR

San Juan County Commission Minutes: Recording--January 2019

 Bears Ears Blogs by Rebecca Robinson

Robinson Book Forthcoming

Remember: live within your budget!

Unfortunately, not much Good News

Details of Judge Torgerson's Decision: pdf file 9 pgs

"Written 1/27/2019: Joy Howell So, tomorrow (or later) we get to find out if we're still a Constitutional Republic or if we are a lawless continent. We will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, if we are a Union of States bound together with a contract--the Constitution. What does it mean if we are not lawful? If the Rule of Law has been usurped beyond the law abiding citizens having any point of reference...what do we do? Do we still pay taxes? Pretend that our Sheriff has jurisdiction? Are we required to abide by ANY law? I think not. Laws are not a pick and choose according to race, gender, creed, religion...laws are for all of us...or none.

Day Two of State Legislature

Follow Representative Phil Lyman on Facebook

2016 Article: Interviews with Phil Lyman, Mark Maryboy by R. Robinson

Judge Rules in Favor of Willie Greyeyes

New Commissioners Plan to Upend County with Resolutions 

Brian Mullahy Welcomes Phil Lyman as New Representative

Response to article: "A courtroom hoax it was, the notion that the 2014 Phil Lyman lead ATV ride in question caused archaeological damage to the route traveled. Construction vehicles and earth moving equipment tore up significant portions of that route decades prior to the ride in question; as well maintenance vehicles much heavier than the ATVs in question traveled the route’s entire length countless times before and after. A 3/4 ton pipeline maintenance truck - again much heavier than an ATV - still travels that entire route multiple times per week to this very day. But the United States Attorney’s Office ignored all that and made the judge believe the ATV ride in question caused archaeological damage.

Add to all that a recorded conversation of the State BLM Director assuring Phil Lyman that no one would be arrested. Add also the suppression of evidence that the route was a dedicated public highway.

These and other issues too numerous to mention produced an injustice for Phil Lyman. A politically and ideologically motivated exercise that cost him dearly."  Balanced Resources

Colorado River Shortage Serious; States Join to Solve Problems

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Hearings, Hearsay, and Hope: January 23, 2019

News in the West

~~Mitt Romney's First Town Hall Meeting  Jan. 22

Lake Powell Pipeline Project

~~Despite Education and Warnings, Tourists and Bison Don't Mix 

~~ Paradise Lost:  St. George's Unchecked Growth

~~ California Hikers Not Prepared for Winter

~~ When Politics and the News get too much to Stomach  Try some humor

Bill Boyle Back as Editor of San Juan Record

~~ Marathon Hearing Discusses Residency of Willie Greyeyes 1/22/19

~~ Utah Challenges Control of Federal Lands

~~Snow pack on Blue Mountains Continues to Build

~~Recording of 1st Commission Meeting Jan. 2019 

~~New County Commission Prepares Resolution to Undo Will of the People 

Example: 

-Section 1: All prior resolutions or official actions of the San Juan County Commission opposing the Bears Ears National Monument or calling for its dis-establishment or reduction, and specifically Resolution Nos. 2015-09, 2016-08 and 2017-02, are hereby immediately rescinded.

-Section 2: The San Juan County Commission condemns the unlawful actions of President Donald Trump by effectively dis-establishing the Bears Ears National Monument through the issuance of Proclamation No , 9681 in violation of the Antiquities Act of 1906,

~~ KUER New Commission Builds up Old Tensions     

Photo by Judy Fahys KUER

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Some States are MORE Equal that Others

Borders, Bundy, Bluff and Beyond; January 19, 2019

News in the West

Salt Lake Tribune Receives Grant for Full Time SJC Reporter

Watch The National Debt Clock Escalate

Fiscal Debt and Why it Matters

~~  Hearing Jan 22 to Evaluate W. Greyeyes' State/ SJC Residency;  "Decorum" Rules

~~ Want More Fiscal Responsibility? Give more Power to the States  Gov. Herbert

"...the increasing frequency of federal shutdowns . . . should tell us that the problem is deeper than a disagreement over immigration or health care or the debt ceiling. If we accept that federal shutdowns are likely to continue to occur, then we should consider long-term strategies to mitigate their scope and severity—including the return to a robust federalism that leaves more policy making power to the states. . . . One year ago, I joined with a few other governors to meet then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to discuss various policy concerns. Among other topics, I emphasized the need to devolve power from Washington, D.C., to states, where government is more innovative and responsive. Mrs. Pelosi agreed, and even quoted Justice Louis Brandeis’ famous idea that states are the “laboratories of democracy.” Usually, I’m the one reciting that phrase to federal officials, so I was happy to experience the reverse." Gary Herbert

~~ Cliven Bundy Case Dismissed

~~ Bluff City Council Disconnects "City" from Lyman Family Farms Property 

“I was not elected to engage in expensive litigation,” Mayor Anne Leppanan said. “Expensive, long, nasty litigation with an attorney who will take us through the wringer.

 Natural Resources Package Introduced in Senate   

Senator Murkowski, AK

~~ Dock Congressmen's Salary During Gov. Shutdowns?  John Curtis Agrees 

~~ Climate Change Paranoia; the Campaign for Global Socialism

~~ Conservation Easements + Land Trusts Subvert Private Property Rights

      Tom DeWeese wrote in Sustainable, that there are thousands of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with the UN to subvert property rights. Of course, they don’t just announce that property rights are now null and void. That would create a stir. Instead, they use code words and language that sound innocent and helpful to our society. One such tool that is now being used to target rural lands for takings is the Conservation Easement, and its threat is growing."

~~ FBI Recommended that BLM Waive Bundy Grazing Rights   Washington Post   

~~Farmers Under Fire: Trial Lawyers’ Attack Agriculture

"Agriculture is in the crosshairs as class-action lawsuits seek huge monetary awards against agricultural producers, said a panel of experts at a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention."

~~ Land and Water Conservation Funds Pose Problem for Stockmen

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Wall Building on the Border: Yay and Nay

~~ Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar's views on building the Wall:

"The statistics are worth repeating:

• 90% of the heroin in our country flows through our porous southern border
• 50 percent increase in family units arriving in 2018  
• First time in the history of United States family units and children make up the majority of apprehensions. 
• In the last two years alone, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records. Including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults and nearly 30,000 sex crimes.
• 68% of migrants and refugees are victims of violence along the journey
• 1 out of 3 women sexually assaulted  

When listening to the open border left discuss the much-needed border wall, they often whine that the wall will not work. They cite no facts or figures that walls do not work, nor can they, since the reality is far different. The data shows that anywhere we have built walls we have seen a massive drop in illegal crossings – usually by 90% or more.

• Tucson (built in 2000): Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 90% over 15 years
• Yuma (built in 2005): Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 95% over 9 years  
• San Diego (built in 1992): Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 92% over the past 23 years
• El Paso (built in 1993):  Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 72% in one year and 95% over 22 years"

~~ Regulatory Roadblocks in Securing the Southern Borders of US

~~ Who's Crossing the Border? 

~~Farmer Says He'll Give Trump An Easement If He'll Build the Wall

Election Fallout and New Attacks on the West

Worth a Reread or Full 1st time Read: 

A “MONUMENTAL” CHANGE: San Juan County Embraces Industrial Tourism

           …by Jim Stiles

Moab's Main Street: Is this our goal? 

Good News Bears

--Farmers Almanac Forcast for this winter:

~~Wildlife-related recreation on BLM land boosts Utah’s economy by $79.1M

Bad News Bears

~~Imagine a country that often has a corrupt authoritarian government. In that country no one knows about checks and balances or an independent court system. Private property is not recognized in that country. Neither can one buy or sell land. Businesses are reluctant to bring investments into this country. Those who have jobs usually work for the government public sector. Those who don’t have jobs subsist on entitlements that provide basic food.  Where do you think that closest Sovereign Nation is?  And how many Native Americans face this tragedy?

Be sure to read this whole article.  There is much that needs to change.

~~NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATIONS: “SOCIALIST ARCHIPELAGO” 

    "Native Americans receive more federal subsides than anybody else in the United States. This includes subsidized housing, health, education, and direct food aid. Yet, despite the uninterrupted flow of federal funds, they are the poorest group in the country. The poverty level on many reservations ranges between 38 and 63 percent (up to 82 percent on some reservations), and half of all the jobs are usually in the public sector. This is before the crisis of 2008! You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in economics to figure out that one of the major sources of this situation is a systemic failure of the federal Indian policies."  Author: Andrei Znamenski

~~Pategonia and Dine' Bekayha Celebrate Greyeyes' Historic Win 

~~SUWA Working to Defeat Emery County Public Lands Bill

~~With all the problems Salt Lake City has, somehow their Mayor, Jackie Biskupski, seems to be overly concerned about San Juan County.  Follow her Blog for more craziness

~~Public lands in Worse Shape than Privately owned Lands  True Conservation impossible without property rights. 

~~AS CALIFORNIA BURNS, JERRY BROWN TAKES HEAT FOR VETOING 2016 WILDFIRE MITIGATION BILL

Willie Greyeyes Drops County Lawsuit; Other Western News

Read: Navajo Times Article  Nov. 18  Conderning Willie Greyeyes

Utah: Updated Results of Utah Elections  (Mia Love Squeaking ahead.)

California:  Updates on Tragic California fires

Moab: Grand County Republicans Pursue Lawsuit Over Proposition 9

Moab:  Proposition 9  Big Winner in Moab

Utah:  Who's to Blame for Fires in the West

Moab:  Mountain Biker Dies on Porcupine Rim Trail

Moab: Immigration Violator Arrested by ICE 

Arizona:  State Parks Director Fired: Concerns over  Bulldozing of Archaeological Site

~~BEAR ESSENTIALS: August 7, 2018

In the News 

n  Wayne County Votes Consider Changing County Government from Three Member Commission

n  Bias Problem Plaguing Social Media Platforms

n  Intertribal Coalition Gathers at Bears Ears

n  MESA Plays Religion Card/ Letter to Chris Stewart About Environment

n  Democrats Don’t Fear Kavanaugh, They Fear the Constitution

   San Juan County Primary Election Still a Topic of Concern
         A Very Close Race Leaves Many Shaking Their Heads

n  Free Range Journalist Lassoed by Mustang Joe

Congratulations to Joel and Majorie on their wedding, and new life in La Sal as bonified San Juan County residents! Majorie is looking for a writing/or teaching job.  If you have any leads let her know.  marjoriehaun@yahoo.com

n  Stiles Dissects CNN’s Spin on the Bears Ears & SJ Resources

“. . .Thousands of CNN viewers came away thinking there were virtually no health care facilities on the reservation portion of San Juan County. That kind of disregard by CNN for the facts, by deliberately editing them out of the narrative, could be construed as its own form of bias and discrimination against the one Native American (Eva Ewald) in the van that had the facts right.”

Blanding Mayor talking politics with Jim Stiles

n  8 Minute Video Segment Doesn’t Do Justice to Complexity of Public Lands

n  For Serious Protestors: SUWA SUCKS REDROCK EDITION FB

n  Grazing Allotments and National Monuments Get Informed and Involved

Information for Ranchers: Here is a list of challenges that ranchers face when trying to graze on lands within national monuments. Not surprisingly these challenges have led to dramatic reductions in grazing:

1.      --You can’t use materials on the monument – this means you can’t cut cedar posts to repair fences from land nearby. -- must transport all materials from range improvements to your allotment, which leads to …

2.      --You can’t use mechanized equipment or motorized vehicles to fix water lines or fences. Even if you could…

3.      Infrastructure and roads are not maintained. --The gravel pits inside the monument were no longer available, and the Monument has never had workforce out maintaining roads.

4.      Land managers will use rules and regulations to try to squeeze out private landowners to acquire inholdings left in the monument.

5.      --You will likely be required to fence off riparian areas.

6.      --You will have to fight for your water rights.

7.      --You will have to fight to make any range improvements or to build facilities like bigger holding pens.

8.       

Note from Site Manager: “If you don’t engage in this process, you can be assured that those who don’t want you grazing these lands will be there every step of the way fighting against you. We’re here to help fight for you.” Benjamin Burr @ Rangeland Strategies.com  

 

n  Federal Judge Puts Greyeyes Back on November Ballot!

“Grayeyes lists an address on Piute Mesa near Navajo Mountain as his residence. He was born at the location and has argued that his umbilical cord, buried soon after his birth, establishes his residency according to Navajo tradition.”

n  Are Monticello Bike Trails the Beginning of the Bike Borg Invasion?

“In Moab when construction began on the multi-million dollar “elevated bikeway” in 2013, I contacted the BLM to ask about environmental assessments and efforts to involve the public in the process. The BLM’s Katie Stevens informed me that there had indeed been an EA and a public comment period—in 2004—more than eight years earlier, and that no one commented. No one. THAT’s how projects like this succeed. Apathy.”  . . .” Many issues in this county deserve serious scrutiny and analysis and discussion by the local media. All I did was to provide hard facts that very few people were previously aware of. Like I said in my reply to Mr Haven in 2014, “What the citizens of San Juan County do with that information is entirely up to them.”  Jim Stiles

n  Visitors to Zions Defy Rangers Warnings, Are Later Arrested

n  Conservation in the West Polls; Do these Questions seem slanted?  Check out each state, questions asked and results.

“The survey, conducted in eight western states, explores bi-partisan opinions in each state and for the Rocky Mountain West region concerning conservation, environment, energy, the role of government, trade-offs with economies, and citizen priorities.” 

Majorie Haun:  "Conservation in the West" survey is a propaganda tool to push an industrial recreation agenda.”

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n Read Past Editions of Bear Essentials at: http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/

Documenting Bears Ears Controversy and Public Land Issues since July 2016