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.

Chief Saunooke Bear Park Found in Violation of Federal Regulations

The story speaks for itself. It should be noted that Chief Hicks has fiercely defended this and other such "attractions," even to the point of declaring that the bears are well cared for. This USDA inspection report says otherwise.
With all the tough talk from the chief over "sovereignty," how about our tribal government act like a sovereign and regulate. I don't agree with the tactics of PETA to boycott Cherokee in its entirety, but these wild animal displays are clearly a black eye upon the tribe, and tribal leadership has the power to do something about it, other than run Bob Barker off, who given his charity work over the years, deserved more respect than our tribal leadership has shown him.

How do We Come Up With $9 Million?

I can't say that the tribe can come up necessarily with $9 million to make up for the shortfall in its budget, but I do have some money saving suggestions.
* Close down all projects run by the tribe that have become money pits. This includes the theater and the golf course.
* Review certain services and those that aren't essential, like home senior citizen repairs, put on hold.
* Freeze all travel. This I understand is already being done.
* Abolish the deputy level of tribal government. While I don't like to see layoffs or reductions in staff, this is a completely unnecessary level that only serves to insulate the chief further from being accountable to his constituents.
* Cut pay and benefits to tribal elected officials. I don't want to hear that crap about how hard these guys work. Some do. But some aren't worth the paper their checks are printed on. It's the height of arrogance to serve one's self while the constituents struggle to make ends meet.
These options are far better then mass layoffs, or implementing or raising taxes.

Transparent as a Cinder Block

“It’s tough to discuss, but I also think it’s healthy,” said Principal Chief Michell Hicks, the One Feather reported. This was in reference to the $9 million projected shortfall in the tribe's budget.
If hypocrisy is the greatest luxury, Chief Hicks is living in the lap of it. His response to casino projections falling short of those that the tribe's leadership banked upon to do its budget planning was to throw the casino under the bus and point the finger for the lack of communications coming from the casino.
Yeah, let's not accept any responsibility chief. You could've asked for that information at any time, and you would've gotten it. Remember when you were director of finance under Joyce Dugan. You and I used to collaborate to publish that information. We were required by law to publish it. Then one day it just abruptly stopped.
Let's not also forget that you vetoed the public information law, and no enforcement is occurring in cases of non compliance. I won't go into your refusal to abide by the free press act, even amending it so that one of your lapdogs would automatically be on the editorial board, taking away any opportunity for future chiefs and council members to have a say in the appointment process. (You won't be chief forever, despite the assertion of some of your supporters that you were ordained by God to be our chief.)
Chief, I actually could respect you if you'd own your mistakes, accept responsibility and work to prevent occurrences in the future. What we get is you standing naked in front of the mirror while Tribal Council lauds your wardrobe choice.
In the meanwhile, how about we start basing budget plans on realized revenue instead of projections.

$9 Million Shortfall for the Tribe

A $9 million budget shortfall - anyone surprised? Not me. This is reckless. Please remember this next chief's election, and elect someone who'll do more than throw Harrah's under the bus.