It is What it Is

Well it's no secret that I'm disappointed in the election results. But rather than wallow in self pity, I feel I should keep doing what I've been doing. Keep in mind, I do hope our tribe prospers. I do hope now that Michell Hicks can get a compact expanding gaming, and I do hope he straightens out the tribe's finances. I do want the best for our tribe regardless of who leads it. However, I don't have faith that Michell will do those those things, and I don't trust him. Since we have no free press to serve as a watchdog for our tribal interests, its up to private media like this (I'm not considering this journalism since I'm clearly advocating one side). We've got to offer an alternative to the One Feather, a rebuttal to the chief's newspaper if you will. So that's what I intend to do. Those of you who don't like it, start your own blog, or stick with Michell's newspaper. At least right now you have a choice.

Why Support Patrick Lambert?

I'm not going to argue why I'm not supporting Michell Hicks, as that could fill a 1,000-page book. Instead I'd rather focus on why I'm supporting Patrick Lambert. First of all, I've taken my past with Michell Hicks out of the equation, looked at the state of the tribe now and what's he's accomplished over the last eight years and decided, well before the primary, that Patrick Lambert was the best choice for Principal Chief. Here's why I came to that conclusion:
* Patrick Lambert supports our civil rights and will back a constitution to recognize that.
* Patrick Lambert supports transparency, sunshine laws, access to information and a free press.
* Patrick Lambert supports the rights of possessory holders and life estate holders to enjoy their property.
* Patrick Lambert already has good relations with the only decision maker in Raleigh on expanding the gaming compact to include table games, that being Gov. Beverly Perdue, which can go a long way toward making table games happen.
* Employees who excel at their jobs, are qualified to hold their jobs and conduct themselves professionally, can be secure in their jobs in a Patrick Lambert administration. The low turnover rate and high employee morale at the Gaming Commission demonstrate that Patrick Lambert is capable of creating a positive working environment.
* Patrick Lambert, through his work safeguarding the tribe's assets with the casino, has already established a reputation for strictly adhering to standards when it comes to accountability. That's exactly what's needed at the tribe.
The ultimate reason I've decided to support Patrick Lambert is my son. I want a better tribe for him than what exists now. I want a better tribe for us all. Patrick Lambert gives me hope that we can achieve that.
I know there's a certain clique that's been going out of its way to try to make Patrick Lambert look bad, but I've ignored the personal attacks and attacks on his family and pathetic attempts to discredit his campaign. Patrick Lambert is the best choice for principal chief, and I urge all who seek a better future for our tribe to vote for him on Thursday.

Pro Free Press Commentary Rejected By Citizen-Times

I've questioned the Asheville Citizen-Times' commitment to objectivity in its coverage of the Eastern Band political scene. So far, they've done nothing to convince me that they are indeed committed, among other things, "holding those with power accountable." Here's the piece the paper rejected:

Tribal Free Press? Not Under This Leadership

In the recent tribal atmosphere of mudslinging, this chief’s election, it’s all too easy to lose focus on what’s important. What should matter more than anything to tribal members is the ability to hold their elected representatives on Tribal Council and the chief and vice chief’s offices accountable.
They need a watchdog, and with a free press there is such a watchdog. There is no free press in Cherokee.
Yes, there is a free press law. Yes, there is an open meetings law. Yes, there is a public information law. However, those laws aren’t worth the paper on which they’re printed if there’s no enforcement.
Under our current tribal leadership, there not only is no enforcement, but there have been circumventions, blatant violations, and there were no consequences.
Take a look a the One Feather and what it’s turned into since Principal Chief Michell Hicks directly took a meddling role in its editorial process:
* There is no editorial.
* Rarely, if ever, are there published critiques of the chief or Tribal Council.
* There is nothing to encourage a free exchange of ideas.
* The free press act was watered down to remove independent and professional oversight of the paper through an editorial board.
* An award-winning reporter and writer has been reduced to writing propaganda designed to puff up a tribal deputy with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
* And as evident in the July 21 edition, the chief can use this publication to denigrate an entire family who did nothing more than to have the chief’s challenger as one of their own.
The changes in the publication have not resulted in the community having a better paper. It has lost circulation. It has lost credibility. It has lost respect, and a look at the paper itself will show that advertisers have noticed.
We need elected officials who support a free press and will back up that support with strong legislation to ensure it. We need elected officials who will resist and oppose pressure to censor or shut out the media, whether tribally owned or otherwise. And we need elected officials who realize that the One Feather belongs to 14,000 + people, not 14.
Any candidate who doesn’t support a free press, open government and transparency does not care about your best interests.

Shameful, Just Shameful

I was absolutely floored when I heard of Elizabeth Poscich's situation. I know the issue of descendents and property has been a controversial one since they were first given inheritance recognition in 1986. However, what concerns me is the fact that Tribal Council can invalidate a will for whatever they determine to be a loophole, and that's something that should concern Cherokees from full bloods down to first generation descendents. All but two council members, Terri Henry of Painttown and Teresa McCoy of Big Cove voted to pass it. Diamond Brown, the Cherokee County/Snowbird rep. has now said he'll lead the charge to advocate support of the protest filed last week. Diamond has admitted making a mistake voting to pass it, and the truth is he, like the other council members, was duped. He wasn't provided all of the information, and he was misled and manipulated, as well as lied to.
Well that's three council members who I know will back it. I hope more of them have enough of a conscience to get behind it as well. Most Cherokee County residents want a casino here but not like this.
One thing I have to point out is how callous this whole thing was. First of all, Poscich's husband died not too long ago. Tribal Council passed this days after she buried her husband. She hasn't even had time to grieve. Michell Hicks signed it before the 10-day protest period was over. And just to point out one more example of how ultimately callous the Michell Hicks camp is, here's a direct quote from the Committee to Re Elect Michell Hicks Facebook page (grammatical errors included):
"This story leads me to ask: Are we supposed to give Cherokee land away? Their blood degree ran out..What is the issue? and we should compensate them? Tribal Council did the right thing..Yes, If your descendents did not meet the blood degree requirements, it could and should happen to you. Anyone of us, as Cherokee's, know this."
First of all the soon-to-be evicted descendents are the late Lee Craig's people. Lee Craig has done so much for this tribe and the Cherokee Community, probably a whole lot more than these whiners on facebook. And Elizabeth, through her work as a pharmacist, and her husband, known for his generous nature, have given far more to the Cherokee people in Cherokee County than those who'd scoff at the fact they don't meet the tribe's blood quantum. As far as I'm concerned, they are Cherokee, and they don't deserve this.
I'd also like to point out to those non resident voters who may have received communications asking you to keep Michell Hicks in office will allow them to keep their land, well this is who Angie Kephart has told you to vote for, and he's the one who actually took someone's land. Ironic isn't it.
Furthermore let's put this in historical perspective for comparison. A leader of a nation forces the rightful occupants of an area of land to leave without compensating them. Who does that sound like? Kennedy? Nope. Roosevelt? Try again. Here's a hint, pull a $20 bill out of your wallet. Actually this could be worse since the people who survived Andrew Jackson's Manifest Destiny got land in Oklahoma. These people are getting nothing.

They Can Cover This But Not the Primary

I've said that the Asheville Citizen-Times was more than capable of covering the primary results from last week, which still have not been published in the region's only regional daily newspaper. If they can cover this event, they could've had the primary results published.

It Looks Like the Citizen-Times Isn't Doing a Primary Story

It looks like the Asheville Citizen-Times isn't doing a story on the results of the tribal primary where incumbent Michell Hicks, came in second to Patrick Lambert. In fact of those who voted for someone other than Michell Hicks, number 2,044 to Michell Hicks' 1,378. It's safe to say that Michell is in danger of losing. Being that he's the leader of the largest employer in western North Carolina, why the Citizen-Times doesn't find that newsworthy is a mystery. I will say this, I'm terribly disappointed in the Citizen-Times, and they are capable of much better than this.

Day Four Citizen-Times, Where's Your Primary Story?

It's been four days since Patrick Lambert took first place in the tribal principal chief's primary, 220 votes more than incumbent Michell Hicks. There's still no story in the Asheville Citizen-Times. Here's a story the paper evidently deemed to be more newsworthy. Man charged with scooter theft.

Day Three, Where's the Primary Story Citizen-Times?

Just had to note, three days since Patrick Lambert was the top vote getter in the tribe's primary election, and not a single word reported by the Citizen-Times. I should also note that two years ago when half the Tribal Council was replaced in an election, the paper had no coverage of it either.

More Fluff Conveniently Published Near Election Time

The Citizen-Times published this little gem as the primary elections for principal chief occur this coming Thursday. The article cites a UNC study that states that "Cherokee Casino raises incomes." There's the "duh!" factor. That in and of itself isn't what's so irritating about this article.
I will highlight what is so irritating:
* It's misleading. It makes it appear like Cherokee is somehow bucking economic trends while the rest of the area is struggling. That's not true. The casino itself hasn't exactly been on a hiring frenzy, and the consistent decline in per capita payments since 2007 is a clear indicator that all is not well there. Yes incomes have risen in the past 10 years, but the last four years will tell a different story.
* Michell Hicks, while he doesn't deserve blame for the decline in casino revenue, he certainly doesn't deserve credit for its success. Yet the article quotes him, and only him. There are four other candidates for his position and not a word from any of them is in the article. The result is a happy little puff piece published right at a time when non residents, who tend to be largely uninformed about tribal government, are likely to be in town, coincidentally right before election time.
* The tribe and casino revenue-funded Cherokee Preservation Foundation paid for this study along with Harrah's and AdvantageWest, a regional tourism promoter. That's right, tribal money was used to "study" this assertion that we all already knew to be true. That's like paying for a study to conclude that the sky is blue. It's another waste of tribal money, something for which the Hicks administration has become notorious.
Of course my greatest irritation is the Citizen-Times is capable of much better than this. Among the paper's ethical standards is that they'll be a voice for the voiceless. Right now the people of Cherokee have no voice. While it's understandable that some of them are fine with that, the people of Cherokee deserve better out of the "Voice of the Mountains."

Politics Invade Recognition of Students

Tribal politics in and of itself is bad enough. But it particularly leaves a vomitous taste in my mouth when children are dragged through the sludge that is tribal politics. My niece was ignored for recognition in the Tribal Council awards for students a few years ago while she was a student at Murphy Elementary School. She made straight A's. Of course at the time I assumed it was because she was daughter of a candidate who opposed Angie Kephart.
Now she's a student at Smokey Mountain Elementary School. Last year she won the Principal's Award, but when it came to Council again, no recognition. But Council saw fit to recognize a student in her class who didn't even pass the End of Grade test.
Maleaha Brings Plenty's father isn't an enrolled member, but she is. And she resides in Yellowhill. B. Ensley and David Wolfe, you've got to do better than this. Maleaha deserves better from her representatives.

Asheville Citizen-Times Does Piece on Chief's Election

I've been pretty hard on the Citizen-Times lately. I have friends who write for that publication, and I hope they don't think I'm picking on them, but frankly, that paper has really diminished into what is a spineless publication. Gone are the days of bold reporting of tribal news based on the model of "If your mama tells you she loves you, get a second opinion."
My criticism is based upon a desire that this paper:
1. Get back to reporting on Cherokee and the portion of North Carolina that is west of Waynesville on a regular basis. The paper's motto is "Voice of the Mountains." Be that voice again, particularly since the voice of the people in Cherokee has been silenced.
2. Hold those in power accountable. The Citizen-Times was a really ballsy publication under the direction of Virgil Smith and George Benge, with some credit given to Bob Gabordi as well. When it comes to reporting on the Eastern Band of Cherokee, please remember that. The tribe's "newspaper," and I use that term loosely, is not allowed to be a newspaper. I don't see letters criticizing those in power at all, but I see plenty of fluff designed to make the incumbents appear as though everything is wonderful under their leadership. Some of this fluff has made its way into the Citizen-Times.
That said, the piece written by Jon Ostendorff, who in the past has done some pretty hard hitting stuff, was fairly done, but I'd like to see more in-depth pieces, particularly in regards to how bad the economic situation in Cherokee really is, which Ostendorff did touch on.
I bring up the economy because Michell Hicks would like to pretend everything is just milk and honey there. For verification one only need to read this story, which appeared in the weekly Smoky Mountain News. Hicks' comment was "I’ve helped bring us through the worst economy we’ve ever seen, and the tribe is doing great." We're far from being through the worst economy. Tribal entities have put out press releases claiming that Cherokee is bucking economic trends, despite evidence from countless sources, even other tribal ones that state just the opposite. Tribal PR Coordinator Lynne Harlan wrote in the Citizen-Times, that in Cherokee people don't even realize there is a recession. Add to this the fact that Cherokee's tourist-based economy was in trouble during good economic times.
Someone (other than me) needs to call tribal government on its BS, and the Citizen-Times is just the paper to do it. First of all, they're a privately-owned publication. Second, they're a daily newspaper, and dailies don't exist in western North Carolina west of Asheville.
Come on Citizen-Times. Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee depend upon you.

The Manufactured Controversy Over Patrick Lambert's Salary

Some are making a huge deal over how much Patrick Lambert gets paid as director of the Tribal Gaming Commission. I don't know exactly how much he gets paid, and to me it isn't really an issue, not anymore than what Chief Hicks gets paid (and unlike Chief Hicks, the director of the Tribal Gaming Commission does not set his salary).
This is a whole lot to do about nothing, even manufacturing quotes from Lambert. (It's an old tactic of this administration.) To me it seems like a smoke screen in hopes that people won't focus on real issues, like Chief Hicks' lack of ethics, his irresponsible spending, his hiring of his unqualified friends and family members for positions for which they aren't even remotely qualified, along with his governing style that borders on racketeering.
Whatever Patrick Lambert is being paid, it pales in comparison to what the tribe is going to have to cough up when Chief Hicks is finally sent into retirement (which will hopefully be this year), and Chief Hicks set that up too.

Devastation in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee

The homeland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, along with its trust lands in Cherokee and Graham counties largely escaped damage brought on by a devastating wave of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes Wednesday. Residents of north Alabama, north Georgia and east Tennessee were not so lucky. The tribe does have members residing in those three states, and it's not much of a stretch to say that they were impacted in some way.
The city of Tuscaloosa, Ala. was hit particularly hard. Having graduated from Auburn, I've always looked at the home of the University of Alabama with a certain animosity. However, that animosity begins and ends with sports. The residents of this town are hurting and need enormous assistance to rebuild.
While there are numerous ways to help, I'd like to point out one group that started close to my childhood home in Opelika, Ala. It's Toomers for Tuscaloosa (named for Toomers Corner in Auburn). While they haven't yet set up an fund for donations, they do have lots of information about places for donations. I strongly recommend you visit. I also challenge our current tribal leaders and candidates who are challenging them to donate to relief efforts. While it could possibly help out a tribal member impacted by these storms, it definitely will help out fellow human beings impacted by an unimaginable tragedy.

The Annual Report - Ignoring the Cesspool Next to the Rose Garden

I got my annual report in the mail, just like the other two adults in my house. My first reaction was how much does it cost to put this crap out? I know the printing industry pretty well. For newsprint, it costs about $1.00 to print a 16 page broadsheet paper. That's newsprint, which is considerably cheaper than the glossy, heavy weight, coated paper used in the spine-bound publication to selectively inform us about what's going on with our tribal government. Add to that the cost of mailing, which given the weight of these reports, added to the fact they were sealed in individual flat envelopes, and I guarantee you that's not cheap, and I somehow doubt that the media rate was used. That was mailed out to probably half of the tribe (the portion that one can assume is of voting age) so that's 7,000 copies printed and mailed.
The other question I have, which was the same question I had with just about every annual report tribal government mailed out, what are they not telling me? It's all just rays of sunshine with these reports, which amount to campaigning for Michell Hicks at the tribe's expense.
Of course there's no mention of how well the tribally built, financed and funded golf course is doing. There's bragging on the improvements to the Dora Reed building, but no mention of the DSS findings that have jeopardized the childcare center's license. There's no mention of Cherokee Bottled Water, which went under, and no mention of the Cherokee One Feather, which is every tribal members' newspaper, which under the direction of what is clearly incompetent leadership, is headed the same direction. And why has it been so long (more than 10 years) since the tribe publicly released the findings of its audits?
Whether the chief wants to acknowledge this or not, we're all stakeholders in this tribe. We deserve to know the truth and the whole truth, and I'd like to remind Michell Hicks, a half truth is the same thing as a half lie. The tribal members deserve better than this.

Citizen-Times publishes major load of crap

I don't think anything highlights the glaring absence of Native Americans in the upper management of the Asheville Citizen-Times than this load of fertilizer they published April 5. In fact it shows a lack of Native Americans in the staff period (or at least turning a deaf ear to any they do have on staff).
A call to the Eastern Band of Cherokee or to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma or the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee in Oklahoma would've told the Citizen-Times that there is no such tribe as the Western Band Cherokee of Missouri, and that this is just a typical snake oil and medicine show.
George Benge, the last Native American executive editor at the Citizen-Times would've never allowed this garbage to be published, at least not without calling BS on it.

Wow One Feather, Wow

While I still haven't yet seen the print edition, for which a PDF version is downloadable on its website, so far nothing has been posted on the One Feather's website about who has filed to run for office this year.
I don't blame Scott. He actually was on vacation, and the editor is the one who's responsible for news coverage anyway, which leaves guess who. It's an election year, and the chief and vice chief's offices, along with Tribal Council are up for grabs. Yeah, that's news.

Dora Reed to Face Closure

While I find it ironic that the agency that investigated allegations, including improper supervision, abuse and neglect at Dora Reed Childcare in Cherokee, a tribally-run preschool, is allegedly, partly responsible for the death of a 15-month-old, I have to say I'm glad some kind of action was taken in the case of this center. For years I've heard complaints from parents and former staffers about this facility, along these very same lines outlined in the notice of license revocation.
Plus, in my removal as editor of the One Feather, it was a job at this center for which I was transferred, and it was a job for which I was competed unqualified. It kind of lets you know where the tribe's leadership stands as far as the quality of supervision at this center. That's not to mention that a child molester once worked at that center in its language immersion program.
WLOS reported that Chief Hicks was in Raleigh this morning to try to negotiate keeping the center open. Uh, how about we address the serious problems immediately before going to Raleigh to berate state officials who were just doing their jobs, which most of us who know the chief know that's his preferred negotiating tactic?
Yes, I understand the need parents have in having affordable, available child care. I am a parent after all. But I'll be damned if I'm going to put my son in a facility where he could be subject to neglect and abuse. Fix those problems first chief. The welfare of the children take greater precedence than a convenience.

The Whole DSS Situation in Swain County is Outrageous

If you haven't been keeping up the huge screw up by Swain County's Department of Social Services, here it is in a nutshell. A 15-month-old girl died after being left in a car seat for 12 hours on January 10. She had only been given bites of a hotdog to eat and sips of soda. Her diaper was soaked with urine and feces.
Swain County's DSS placed the girl with a great aunt after her mother was arrested on drug charges. DSS allegedly covered up evidence of abuse, and when things came to light, the department acted by responding with slaps on wrists, certainly not the firings and possible criminal charges that should've resulted. Thank you Swain County Commissioners for asking the entire board to resign. I'm glad somebody acted.
The girl was an Eastern Band tribal member, and I can only draw from the DSS' lack of action that the lives of Native American children just aren't worth that much to them. Am I wrong? Then can you honestly say that had this happened to a white child that the same lack of action would've occurred? I think not.

The Chief's Facebook Page

Of course Michell Hicks isn't the only Principal Chief candidate who has a Facebook page. Juanita Wilson also has one. He is however the only candidate who has the control of the media in Cherokee to the degree that he does, which puts the others at a disadvantage. Patrick Lambert won't be getting all the happy stories in the One Feather about his accomplishments, nor will Wilson. But Chief Hicks enjoys all the happy fluffy propaganda pieces at his disposal through that paper, particularly now that an editor with no journalism background has been hired who likely won't question anything that could pose a conflict of interest.
Most of the "accomplishments" listed are those published in media that he controls. Also interesting to note, the number of non-tribal members who think Michell Hicks is wonderful. That goes for the non Indian media as well (Two executive editors for the Asheville Citizen-Times have told me that they were very impressed with Hicks.).
What really matters in the end is what the tribal members think. From what I'm hearing from tribal members, Michell Hicks is wasting his time and money running for reelection.

New News Outlet Offers Choice

Carolina Public Press is news outlet in the area seeking to get the untold stories told. When it comes to western North Carolina news coverage by the Asheville Citizen-Times west of Waynesville, we may as well not exist.
Needless to say, their coverage of Cherokee has a lot to be desired. The only time I see news from the tribe is when it involves the casino or some puff piece. I haven't seen a truly investigative piece on the tribal government in years. When the tribal investment committee lost $60 million of the children's money, nothing. Questionable credit card charges? Nothing. Tribal Council members endorsing a convicted rapist for elected office? Nothing.
The fact they ignored stories like this while showing Chief Hicks happily opening a golf course (that's clearly destined for failure), is cause for concern during an election year. There is no independent press covering the tribe.
So the idea of Carolina Public Press is refreshing. As for the Citizen-Times, start covering western North Carolina an the tribe more in depth, or lose your "Voice of the mountains" motto.

Anti Governor Protests in Wisconsin Are an All-Too-Familiar Scenario

Anyone who's been keeping up with union-led protests of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker knows that the whole stalemate evolves around the governor's efforts to deny state employees the right to collectively bargain.
Wow. When the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians passed a law to do the same thing for tribal employees through Ordinance 211 in 2002, not a single tribal employee stood up or voiced any opposition, aside from me through an editorial in the One Feather. Then Cherokee County/Snowbird Rep. Brenda Norville was the only council member to vote against it, citing employee rights.
The excuse tribal lawyers offered for passing this terrible legislation was that unions interfere with tribal sovereignty. That's crap. The issue was and still is fear of tribal member employees who may start demanding such silly things such as job security before and after elections, the right to recall elected officials, abandoning the sovereign immunity defense when tribal members sue the tribe and removal of the chief and vice chief from the hiring and firing process.
The prospect of workers are losing their rights should be frightening. It's happening at a much quicker pace for tribal employees.
I have mixed feelings about unions, but while some may have contempt for unions, the fact is those unions would be nothing without their members, each of whom has inherent civil rights. Union membership at any employer should be a personal choice of each employee. The problem is with Ordinance 211, as will be if Gov. Walker gets his way, is that choice is being taken away from them.
The First Amendment, which does apply on Indian reservations, provides for the right to peaceably assemble and to petition for redress of grievances. And laws such as Ordinance 211 and what Gov. Walker is proposing are a clear cut violation of this right. Our current leadership hasn't expressed any interest whatsoever in changing that.
No one gives up this right, nor any other rights upon accepting employment. Gov. Walker's proposal needs to fail, and the tribe's Ordinance 211 needs to be rescinded.

New Election, New Opportunities

It's now 2011, which means there will be another Principal Chief's election. I know of at least four running, including the incumbent Michell Hicks. Whichever direction voters want to take, I hope it's one that brings real change, which means Michell Hicks needs to go.
Recently the Cherokee County Community Club changed leadership, and it's been a difference of light vs. darkness since that happened. Differences of opinion are now encouraged, and it's truly refreshing.
At the meeting where community members voted to change leadership, Chief Hicks was in attendance. He announced he'd seek a third term, and then stated that his record speaks for itself. Well, yes it does. Let's take a look.
* Opposed press freedom and government transparency - I'm not going to discuss my case against the tribe, but I will address the free press aspect of it. Chief Hicks has no respect for the rights of the press. He opposed the freedom of information act, and ignored the free press act, a law he signed, when he issued his executive order abolishing a column from the One Feather. Regardless of what one thinks of "Rants and Raves," a law was in place to keep politics out of the editorial process, and Hicks flagrantly violated it.
* Opposed freedom of expression for opinions for which he disagreed - ask People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He suggested banning the animal rights organization after they suggested a boycott of Cherokee over the tribe's refusal to mandate improved living conditions for bears on display. He and some of his cronies on Tribal Council accused the organization of violating tribal law. Other critics of his, like easternband.com have had to endure harassment from tribal officials.
* Mountains of debt - Hicks proudly opened a golf course that put the tribe millions in debt. This was after the tribe was approached by private investors who were willing to do it at no cost to the tribe, and even could've made the tribe money. The golf course isn't doing well, in fact neither is the theater built at tribal expense, and I'd love to see how much was spent prepping the Wal-Mart site, a project for which the mega store giant abandoned.
* $9 million budget shortfall - the tribe did the ultimate in stupidity, they created budgets based upon revenue not yet realized without updating and reforecasting on a quarterly basis, like the casino does. Hicks chose to immediately point a finger at the casino for supposedly not providing him with information regularly, information he as chief could've requested at any time and would've gotten it.
* More than $60 million lost from the minor's fund. Granted most of us expected some losses for minors in how their per capita disbursements are invested, but there was no avenue for minors who were nearing the age of withdrawal, like there is for 401k investors who can opt to have their savings invested more conservatively. Some children lost as much as $20,000 each.
* Hiring a number of unqualified candidates for highly important positions. Where could it be that someone who never set foot in a college classroom could be put in charge of a program that provided health care? No where else but the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Sooner of later this will bite the tribe in the butt.
* Expensive townhomes and condos that remain unoccupied after years of construction, not even making a dent in the housing shortages for the tribe.
Now on the positive side of things, Michell Hicks did manage to get himself a pretty sweet retirement plan, oh wait, the tribe in the long run won't be able to afford that either.
If Michell Hicks prevails in a fair election this time, so be it. But if the people allow him to remain after propagating to non residents who aren't likely to know any better, after refusing address disenfranchised resident voters in Wolfetown and after any irregularities that could unfairly affect the outcome of the election this September (or June), than the tribe deserves exactly what it gets.