The
Plymouth City Council heard from Matthew Franklin, chairman of the Ione Band of
Miwok Indians,
during the public comment portion of their agenda at Thursday’s meeting. Franklin requested a government to government
meeting between the City Council and Tribal Government, and also invited them
to the Tribe’s General Meeting on Saturday, May 10th at the County Fairgrounds.
Across California,
tribes are entering into compacts with the Governor regarding tribal
gaming. As a result, the income
from the casinos is no longer going to the surrounding city but to the state
and the county. Franklin asked “who then is
going to protect Plymouth?
At the capitol we were met with open arms…in Plymouth the tribe has been pushed away
continually.” Gary Colburn, a resident of Plymouth,
reminded the council that in
his opinion they “were elected to represent and protect the citizens of Plymouth, and, with the current situation underway, Plymouth is left
completely unprotected.” Maria Nunez-Simon also commented, saying that
“people are coming in and offering assistance, and the council keeps denying
it” and asked the council “to give respect to the tribe. If the Governor and
Senators are listening, why aren’t you?” Direction was given to staff to bring
back the item as a regularly scheduled agenda item in a future meeting.
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