p-3cwPeRbeWWgGk
As a United States Marine, I proudly defended our country in the Persian Gulf War. As County Supervisor, I am a strong supporter of Law Enforcement and an independent taxpayer watchdog for the citizens of the 3rd District.
I am writing in response to the Sun newspaper’s predictable defense of political candidate and San Manuel Tribal Chairman James Ramos.
Unlike Mr. Ramos, I don’t need to hide behind paid surrogates or casino advertising payoffs. The people of the 3rd District know that I am not afraid to speak for myself. And as a longtime resident who grew up in the neighborhood surrounding the casino and who has represented it for twelve years, I can personally attest to the damage that it has created.
I stand strongly behind the facts presented in my campaign flyer.
FACT: James Ramos was part of the Tribal leadership during the “killer for hire” scandal where two tribal members received a slap on the wrist for their serious crimes;
FACT: Investigators from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency have expressed written concerns about Mexican Mafia influence at the San Manuel Reservation and their extortion of Tribal Members who receive $ 100,000 per month in Casino income without even having to work;
FACT: Newspaper stories and eyewitness accounts confirm that Tribal criminals have engaged in violent altercations, assaulted Casino patrons, intimidated Casino security personnel and even publicly used illegal drugs without any action taken against them by the Tribe;
FACT: San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriffs aren’t even allowed inside the Casino without permission from Mr. Ramos and the San Manuel leadership;
FACT: During Ramos’ tenure as Chairman, few, if any, Tribal lawbreakers have faced punishment for their criminal behavior.
Mr. Ramos’ failure to take responsibility for policing criminal activity at his Casino and on the Reservation highlights the glaring double standard of his candidacy.
As Tribal Chairman, Ramos personally benefits by receiving millions of dollars in casino profits—but he doesn’t pay ANY state or local taxes on this massive income. He pays NO property taxes on his mansion which is located on the Reservation. He contributes NOTHING in taxes from his casino profits to our local schools or our local communities. He won’t even have to pay Sacramento’s outrageous new Fire Service Tax because Tribal lands are exempt!
As if tax free living weren’t a big enough financial perk, Mr. Ramos’ Casino doesn’t have to comply with the same employer rules and regulations as every other business in San Bernardino County. He can ignore worker safety requirements or sexual harassment laws without any oversight from state or county government agencies.
Ramos’ financial conflicts of interest have become very apparent in his opposition to the proposed Los Coyotes Casino in the City of Barstow. The Barstow community supports the Los Coyotes casino, which is located in a commercial area far away from any neighborhoods, but which would compete with Mr. Ramos’ own casino.
Federal public records show that San Manuel is working to kill the Los Coyotes casino. How can Ramos represent the citizens of Barstow while undercutting the city’s efforts to create local jobs?
It is probably no surprise that Gambling Special Interests have provided 82.41% of Mr. Ramos’ political warchest—bankrolling his campaign to the tune of $ 592,000.
The citizens of the 3rd District pay our taxes, follow the rules and work hard to provide for our families. The real question facing 3rd District voters in the June election is: Why would we vote for someone as a County Supervisor who doesn’t pay taxes; who refuses to enforce the laws against his fellow Tribal members; and, who doesn’t even have to live under the same rules as the rest of us?
Answer: We won’t.
No related posts.
I’m now going to do my best to stay neutral in the elections and not favor or disfavor any candidate who runs an election on the issues. I think Supervisor Derry coined the phrase “casino boss” and now the Democratic candidate has that jacket.
The Morongo Valley needs some voice that speaks for the Democratic Party in this election. The local chapter seems to still be a slumber for some reason. The local Democratic Party needs to defense the side of a successful American Indian who is running for supervisor. It’s always best to hear both sides. I invite Mr. Ramos to speak for all American Indians.
is a real issue that is on people’s mine.
Maybe the issue is more that the Chairman of the Board of the San Manuel Tribal is seriously in the race. It takes guts to run for off like this.
Not if you have boatloads of money it doesn’t. It just takes an ego the size of Texas.
Can Mr. Raomos balance the needs of two mistresses? That of being the head of a independent and sovereign government of the San Manuel Indian Nation and the County Of San Bernardino.
Does he plan to forswear his allegiance to the Indian Nation and promise to for one and all time become a full citizen of San Bernardino County? Will he be able to choose between his history and his destiny? His nation that gives him his wealth and the County that wants to regulate his nations activity?
Can you do hot dogs and hamburgers on the same grill?
Does the casino represent a greater conflict of interest than owning any other business? What about religion? Let’s say a Mormon running for President. Or a Catholic? Isn’t that having two mistresses?
I don’t like casinos. I don’t particularly like hot dogs either. That doesn’t make you a criminal or a bad person.
No self-respecting hot dog salesman would mix the two….
Would it be fine for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to run for County Supervisor or would that be a conflict of interest?
Is he a county resident?
If he was would it be OK?
If he met all the other qualifications.
Huh???? You are kidding aren’t you? I mean you can’t actually believe what you just wrote can you?
Doesn’t mean anybody would vote for him or would even sign to qualify him.
If he met all the qualifications though, he could run. Ramos apparently meets the qualifications.
Guilty of being indian.
I particularly like this one…
“Investigators from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency have expressed written concerns about Mexican Mafia influence at the San Manuel Reservation and their extortion of Tribal Members who receive $ 100,000 per month in Casino income without even having to work;”
Why does the DEA care if those being extorted work or not? What does extortion have to do with the DEA?
I brag about my dad on here, wrote of his adventures as a marine. He was also Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee.
I don’t care if you are a democrat or republican, you’re a racist. Get some real facts.
Terry I want you to think this out….. Ramos is the Constitutional Chairman of the San Manuel People. A sovereign nation. He has sworn an oath to uphold, protect and defend his people…. even when that may conflict with State and County laws and Ordinences. For Him, service to two TWO masters is the problem as I see it. If he wants to run for Supervisor then he must give up his role as Chairman of the tribe and I see nothing wrong with him forsaking his allegiance to the tribe and giving full allegiance to the State Government as his sole and only sovereign.
You can not promise to defend the interests of the San Manuel Nation and at the same time defend the interests of the County of San Bernardino… they are incompatible positions of conflicting political loyalties. I am surprised you can not see the obvious here.
My two cents: Since the Native American tribes are sovereign nations he should be disqualified to run. How can he truly represent both sides. The tribes won the right to be sovereign there by separating themselves from the local city, county and country.
Would you want the general from the base running for City Council?
Apparently it doesn’t disqualify him.
Maybe you should look into it and try to get the rules changed.
It is enough to make me not want to vote for him… It is enough for me to ask others not to vote for him. And in my little world that’s all that counts…
Thankfully I don’t have to make the choice. I admit it could have been an issue that might have swayed my vote, especially with the expansion plans of the casinos otherwise I can’t see any more conflict than if he was the mayor of Banning.
What I see here is nothing but unfounded hype based simply on tribal association. A bunch of made up “facts”. The author is untrustworthy in his argument. That’s when I reach for the off button and say nope. No way.
The Mayor of Banning while in Riverside County to be sure would be required to give up his position as mayor to serve as Supervisor. The Chairman would not.
On the second issue….. unfounded facts? Where do you get that they are not founded in fact? So far it is one side denying the other sides allegations, but I have yet to see where either side has purposely lied….
It goes to how you add the facts up. Each are using the facts to support two different conclusions.
Duh…Not Banning then.
He brings totally illogical conclusions to the half truths he presents as facts. They are merely opinions based on thin air. When he does quote the DEA, it is not only out of their scope, it’s amateur in approach. Without actual cites, I call bull pucky.
Newspaper stories and eye witness accounts? Again show me.
The sheriff has no jurisdiction in the casino. That has nothing to do with leadership.
Show me some facts and stop trying to pull the wool over my eyes.
If you’re mayor of a town or lets say county supervisor and a crime is committed, are you guilty? Why would a tribal leader be any different?
If you were a Tibial Leader wouldn’t you cooperate with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department and the DEA?
If it is extortion, I would think that it would be under the jurisdiction of the FBI, not the DEA.
Where does it say there was no cooperation? It only that they needed permission.
It’s a twist on words. It’s trickery. An illusion.
Hey Rocky,Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat…
Oops! I guess he’d Better get another hat.
OK…. maybe I’m not making this clear…. The Tribe has its own police and court system that often does not charge for crimes that the County considers serious. Derry is justifiably pissed that Tribal members often walk on some serious crimes committed on the Reservation.
I’m pissed OJ got away with murder. I’m pissed pedophiles walk the street.
I’m still waiting for citations, perhaps a couple cases. Your friend seems to be in the know. Is he getting secret e-mails where he has to burn his computer every time and drop the hard drive in special acid or can he let us be in on the secret?
Now where are the crime ties? Some criminals are indian. Ramos is an indian, there fore he is a criminal? Derry is at the least illogical, if not a racist.
Well, here is the proof. Press Here
Tribal Watch? We had better watch them there renegades, they’ll kill us all.
At least give me some proof from when Ramos was part of the council.
http://blogs.pe.com/politics/2012/02/sb-county-derry-attacks-ramos.html
Some tribal criminals also avoid prosecution by the DA because he is bought off…
Click Here
You have “proof” of this as well. Let us see your secret files and not some blog on a racist rag.
I must also add, that when crime is up in a city or town, local elected officials have to take responsibility for it. They love to do it when crime is down, and their opponents do it when crime is up. How is James Ramos above that? His reservation is a haven for criminals, drugs, etc. And with less than 200 adult members, there isn’t much excuse for it.
Is it racist to point these facts out? If Ramos where white, claiming the same status, he would be laughed at.
By your logic, every mayor in every town is tied in with the crime.
From your link:
“Another DEA document said investigators fear the Mexican Mafia has infiltrated the reservation and is extorting money from tribal members, who receive $100,000 checks from casino profits each month.”
Slightly different quote from the facts printed above.
No mention of ties to Ramos or fault on the part of the tribal members.
The link was to a blog, but it did cite the Press Enterprise though I’m not sure how they acquired DEA documents. They give no source.
I’m sure I can find crimes committed in the district while Derry has been supervisor. I doubt he did them all. Must be some guilt by association.
Thanks for the correct quote by the way and not the bs printed above.
Terry: When crime goes down, politicians claim credit. When crime goes up they share in the destruction…Ramos is the Chairman, the Mexican Mafia is on the reservation, Ramos has done nothing to tide their influence and their influence is clear. They control the res…. Derry doesn’t run the res…crime has reduced in his district…regardless of the San Manuel Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia is in Derry’s district. Where are all the convictions? He must be involved. There are pedophiles running everywhere, should I blame Derry?
If he is going to make accusations, he needs proof. Doing it in an underhanded way to gain office lacks merit. His misquotations come off like the banter of a 3 year old.
You give me a crime that happened not this year, not last year, but a number of years ago and I’m supposed to condemn the tribe over it because it was plea bargained.
Come up with some meat because frankly your guy is full of it.
There have been 2 of his plugs here so far. Nothing positive about his goals. Does he have any besides putting down the tribe?
You say crime has reduced in the district. When there is no reported crime on the reservation, it’s certainly a cover up, when it’s in the district, it’s a reduction in crime. How do you know that?
and who did Derry pay off?
http://www.pe.com/local-news/san-bernardino-county/san-bernardino-county-headlines-index/20120123-s.b.-county-voting-suspension-ends-for-supervisor-neil-derry.ece
who did Derry pay off?
I think it was your mom.
No mom jokes…
I just was going with conventional “wisdom”. If you plea bargain, somebody was paid off right? I wanna be hip and in the know as well.
What conventional wisdom????