Los Angeles Times: United Coalition to Protect Panhe continues opposition to toll road to save San Onofre. Only one faction of Juaneño band OKs deal with transportation agency.
The Los Angeles Times reports on Jun 14, 2008, that United Coalition to Protect Panhe, a grassroots coalition of Native American tribal members, continues to oppose the toll road to save Panhe and San Onofre State Beach. One faction of the Juaneño band headed by David Belardes has approved a deal to receive $350,000 for mitigation if the toll road is built.
United Coalition to Protect Panhe and The City Project remain committed to stopping the toll road to save the sacred Native American site of Panhe and protect the rights of Acjachemen people. “Rebecca Robles, a Juaneño from San Clemente who helped found a coalition to save Panhe, was disappointed but reluctant to criticize Belardes publicly. ‘It’s not over yet,’ she said. ‘We just have to continue to build support to protect our sacred site.’”
Robert Garcia, Executive Director and Counsel of The City Project, told the Times that the TCA has been trying to buy compliance for the toll road since September 2007 when they offered $100 million to others to buy compliance. If they are now offering only $350,000 to Native Americans to buy compliance, why does TCA value Native American rights so cheaply? TCA has spent more time and money studying pocket mice than studying Acjachemen life, culture, and history.
Mr. Belardes as one tribal leader does not speak for all Acjachemen tribal members on the toll road, just as Arnold Schwarznegger does not speak for all the people of California on the toll road.
The Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) submitted public comments to the United States Department of Commerce May 27, 2008, stating that the Commission agrees with the California Coastal Commission: “The NAHC agrees with the determination of the Coastal Commission that the proposed mitigation will not reduce adverse impacts to below a level of insignificance. The NAHC believes that the impacts to the Juaneno people who use the site of Panhe for ceremony are completely unmitigated.” The NAHC letter is available for downloading here.
Tribal Chair Joe O’Campo, Tribal Chair Sonia Johnston, and the United Coalition to Protect Panhe sent letters in May to the Native American Heritage Commission asking the Commission to continue prosecuting the litigation against the toll road.
According to Mr. Belardes, discussions with TCA to establish safeguards in the event the toll road is established should not be interpreted as supporting development. Letter from David Belardes and Joyce Perry to The City Project, May 14, 2008.
This information is included in the public comments to save Panhe and San Onofre and stop the toll road that United Coalition to Protect Panhe and The City Project submitted to the Commerce Department in May 2008. The public comments are available for downloading at www.savepanhe.org and www.savesanonofre.org.
