It took Detroit casino syndicator Michael Malik, Sr., more than 26 months to report he made a $1,000 contribution to California State Senator Roy Ashburn, in the Fall of 2006. And even then, that disclosure doesn’t sync with reports filed by Ashburn’s committee.
Malik reports in amended disclosures filed 12.23.08 that he lives in Detroit, MI 48201; his employer/occupation is MJM Manistee Inc./Developer; and that he contributed $1,000 to “Ashburn for Senate 2006” (ID: 1252371) on 10.18.06.
In a campaign report filed on 1.31.07 for the period from 10.22.06 through 12.31.06, the “Roy Ashburn Senate Committee” reported it received a $1,000 contribution from Michael Malik of Sacramento, CA 95814 on 10.24.06. Ashburn’s report indicates Malik’s employer/occupation is Governmental Advocates, Inc./Owner.
Malik isn't based in Sacramento. He lives and has his businesses in the Detroit area. And he wants to develop casinos in Barstow, CA, among other places.
Governmental Advocates Inc. is a lobbying firm that Malik had hired and was paying under the table to represent two Indian tribes (Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians) that were partners with Malik’s affiliate BarWest LLC.
It does not appear that Ashburn disclosed the last minute campaign contribution from Malik as required under California political finance rules in any of the Late Contribution Reports (F497) filed by Ashburn’s Committee during October 2006. And Malik didn’t report making any such contribution until December 2008.
During 2006 & 2007 Ashburn championed failed legislation in Sacramento that would have paved the way for Malik and his partner Marian Ilitch to build two casino resorts in Barstow, CA.
Malik originally failed to report more than $26,000 in contributions to California political committees when he filed a report in 2007 for the period 7.01.06 through 12.01.06. Rather he reported under penalty of perjury that he made $0.00 contributions during that period.
For nearly two years, California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has been investigating Malik’s blatant failure to report these contributions and also irregularities in lobbying payments and practices. The amended 2006 disclosure filed by Malik on 12.23.08 was likely prompted by the ongoing investigation.
Malik failed to report a $26,600 contribution made by BarWest LLC in 2004 and was fined on two counts in 2006.
Showing posts with label Roy Ashburn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roy Ashburn. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, December 28, 2008
For two years, Michael Malik failed to report $26,500 he gave to California Legislators
Two years after the fact, Detroit casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr., has finally disclosed he contributed $26,500 to various California political campaign committees during the Fall '06 Elections.
When Malik filed his original campaign disclosures for the period covering 7.01.06 through 12.31.06, he reported making $0.00 contributions to California legislators and political committees during the second half of 2006. However, Malik's representations were blatantly false at the time.
TVT has previously reported that California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has been conducting an ongoing investigation in Malik's failure to comply with California's political reform laws in disclosing political contributions and lobbying payments. And now it seems things are perhaps coming to a crescendo.
Because now, almost two years later, we see that on 12.23.08 Malik filed an amended disclosure report for the period 7.01.06 through 12.31.06 in which he finally lists contributions to 17 political committees in California totaling $26,500.
Among those Malik gave money to during the Fall '06 Election were a handful of supporters who were trying to help him advance a bill through the California Legislature that would have paved the way for Malik to develop and manage two Indian casinos in Barstow: State Senators Roy Ashburn, Wes Chesbro and Patricia Wiggins; and Assembly Members Patty Berg and Bill Maze.
This isn't the first time that Malik's conducted himself in such a cavalier manner. In October 2004, Malik's affiliate BarWest LLC sent $26,600 to the San Joaquin County GOP Victory Committee and failed to report that contribution in a timely manner as required under California law. Rather, BarWest LLC filed a disclosure for the period ended 12.31.04 more than 20 months later on 9.05.06. Shortly after that the FPPC disclosed it had been conducting an investigation into Malik's failure to report the 2004 contribution and found BarWest (Malik) guilty on two counts of violating California election laws; and Malik paid a fine of $6,500.
That action by the FPPC in the Fall of 2006 seemed to have little impact on Malik, because at the very same time he was being reprimanded by the FPPC, we now have proof he was again ignoring disclosure requirements. And then in January 2007 he had the audacity to submit a report indicating he had not made any political contributions in California during the second half of 2006 although we now learn he contributed $26,500.
Given that Malik's finally disclosed the truth about his 2006 political contributions, it's likely that the FPPC will be concluding its investigation into Malik's campaign finance and lobbying practices soon.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Barwest, Barstow Mayor still blaming others rather than admitting their scheme was flawed from the beginning
9.12.07Barstow casino compacts fail to pass state legislature
By JASON SMITH, staff writer
Editor's note: This is an updated version of a story originally posted Wednesday afternoon.
BARSTOW — The state Senate adjourned for the 2007 legislative session at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday and failed to approve the agreements necessary for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian tribes to build a casino in Barstow.
The Barstow casino compacts, signed by the governor on Sept. 9, 2005, will expire if not passed by both houses of the state legislature by Sept. 17, 2007. Tuesday was the last day for the senate to pass any legislation.
Tom Shields, spokesman for BarWest, LLC. blamed the failure to pass the contract on "wealthy Indian gaming tribes" and said the "legislature failed to do the right thing."
He said that the project had the support of Barstow city officials, Indian tribes and major environmental groups who are opposed to the Big Lagoon tribe building a casino on a environmentally sensitive lagoon on their Humbolt County reservation.
"The tribes are disappointed that the legislature chose to make the wealthy tribes richer and leave the Los Coyotes tribe to fend for themselves. This project made a tremendous amount of public policy and environmental sense," he said.
He said that the tribes and BarWest have not decided if they will seek extensions for the compacts to be considered for year’s legislative session but that the failure to ratify the compacts does not mean the death of the project.
"We really don’t know what will happen; it will depend on how the tribes decide to proceed," he said.
Mayor Lawrence Dale, a longtime supporter of the BarWest casino development, said he was "extremely disappointed" in the failure of the legislature to pass the compacts. He disputed claims that the involved parties didn’t try hard enough to lobby the legislature to support the cause.
"I think BarWest and their lobbyists did everything they could, but there was powerful opposition," he said.
Dale said that he’s hoping that the city can meet with the tribes and the governor’s office to find some way to continue the project.
He said that though all options would be considered, the compacts required the support of both tribes involved.
"We need the Big Lagoon to be part of this project in order to move forward," he said.
Virgil Moorehead, chairman for the Big Lagoon tribe, was unable to be reached for comment Wednesday but said in May that he would not support an extension. His tribe has been fighting to build a casino for six years and has been involved with the Barstow casino for two years. Moorehead previously said the tribe had the option to walk away from the whole project when the land into trust deadline approached but agreed to the Sept. 17 extension, making it clear this would be the last.
"If it doesn't make it by September 17, there's no deal," he said in May 2007.
Despite those statements, tribal spokesman Jason Barnett, said Wednesday that the tribe will consider all its options and won’t necessarily withdraw its support for the Barstow project.
"I don’t think the tribe would close the door on any opportunity to provide for itself," he said.
Sabrina Lockhart, spokeswoman for governor’s office, said that the governor was "disappointed by the legislature’s failure to approve the compacts."
She said that although the expiration date for the compacts is fast approaching, the governor continues to support the development of a casino in Barstow.
"We’ll be talking to the tribes and discussing our options of what happens next. This is something we will continue to strive for," she said.
She did not rule out the possibility of extending the deadline for the compacts to be approved by the legislature and said that meetings were planned with the tribes.
Barstow’s state senator Roy Ashburn blamed the failure to pass the compacts on a "noticeable lack of will on the part of the governor." He said that although he would consider sponsoring the compacts next year in the legislature, he expected that fierce opposition would continue.
"I think Barstow is too easy a target for wealthy Indian gaming tribes and non-Indian gaming interests from Las Vegas and the horse racing industry," he said.
He said that he advocated a strategy of bundling the Barstow compacts together with the compacts of other wealthier tribes in order to reduce opposition, but that such a move would require the support of the governor.
"We need the governor with his horsepower against the tribes," he said.
Some observers had predicted the defeat of the compacts. A bill to approve the compacts was introduced in January, but the bill was never voted on by the full Senate during the 2007 session. A similar bill to pass the compacts in the state Assembly failed in 2006. The original sponsor of the bill to pass the agreements, Senator Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, amended the bill on Sept. 7 and deleted the language related to the Barstow casino, replacing it with an unrelated bill concerned with alcoholic beverages.
Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for two special sessions of the legislature for later this year, these sessions will only discuss health care reform and water safety issues and the Barstow compacts will not be considered, said Alicia Tross, spokeswoman for Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland.
Shirley Smith, vice-chairwoman for the Chemehuevi tribe, said she hopes the failure to pass the compacts will allow her tribe to proceed with its own casino development plans.
"We hope that this the opens up the door for us. We have requested negotiations with the governor’s office and hope that at the city, Mayor Dale and council member (Julie) McIntyre will work earnestly with the tribe to bring our casino to Barstow," Smith said.
Former City Council member Manuel "Gil"Gurule said that expected the compacts to fail and advised the city to support the Chemehuevi tribe.
"If we’d had the chance with the Chemehuevis, then we’d have a casino by now," he said.
Gurule has supported the Chemehuevi tribe and sponsored Measure H on the 2006 ballot. The measure would have created a zoning district for casinos that included the property on which the Chemehuevi want to build a casino, but not the land for the Los Coyotes/Big Lagoon project. The measure failed.
Larry Halstead, a frequent speaker at City Council meetings and critic of the BarWest project, said he wasn’t surprised at the failure to pass the compacts.
"They were an absolute non-starter all along. What people need to understand is that they were doomed from the beginning. This is the worst case of reservation shopping ever," he said.
Halstead, who has frequently supported the Chemehuevi Indians, said he opposed the Big Lagoon/Los Coyotes compacts because “they don’t have ancestral ties to the area."
Halstead said that though he received a $2,500 campaign contribution in the past from the San Manuel Indian tribe, he was not an agent or employee of any tribe.
By JASON SMITH, staff writer
Editor's note: This is an updated version of a story originally posted Wednesday afternoon.
BARSTOW — The state Senate adjourned for the 2007 legislative session at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday and failed to approve the agreements necessary for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian tribes to build a casino in Barstow.
The Barstow casino compacts, signed by the governor on Sept. 9, 2005, will expire if not passed by both houses of the state legislature by Sept. 17, 2007. Tuesday was the last day for the senate to pass any legislation.
Tom Shields, spokesman for BarWest, LLC. blamed the failure to pass the contract on "wealthy Indian gaming tribes" and said the "legislature failed to do the right thing."
He said that the project had the support of Barstow city officials, Indian tribes and major environmental groups who are opposed to the Big Lagoon tribe building a casino on a environmentally sensitive lagoon on their Humbolt County reservation.
"The tribes are disappointed that the legislature chose to make the wealthy tribes richer and leave the Los Coyotes tribe to fend for themselves. This project made a tremendous amount of public policy and environmental sense," he said.
He said that the tribes and BarWest have not decided if they will seek extensions for the compacts to be considered for year’s legislative session but that the failure to ratify the compacts does not mean the death of the project.
"We really don’t know what will happen; it will depend on how the tribes decide to proceed," he said.
Mayor Lawrence Dale, a longtime supporter of the BarWest casino development, said he was "extremely disappointed" in the failure of the legislature to pass the compacts. He disputed claims that the involved parties didn’t try hard enough to lobby the legislature to support the cause.
"I think BarWest and their lobbyists did everything they could, but there was powerful opposition," he said.
Dale said that he’s hoping that the city can meet with the tribes and the governor’s office to find some way to continue the project.
He said that though all options would be considered, the compacts required the support of both tribes involved.
"We need the Big Lagoon to be part of this project in order to move forward," he said.
Virgil Moorehead, chairman for the Big Lagoon tribe, was unable to be reached for comment Wednesday but said in May that he would not support an extension. His tribe has been fighting to build a casino for six years and has been involved with the Barstow casino for two years. Moorehead previously said the tribe had the option to walk away from the whole project when the land into trust deadline approached but agreed to the Sept. 17 extension, making it clear this would be the last.
"If it doesn't make it by September 17, there's no deal," he said in May 2007.
Despite those statements, tribal spokesman Jason Barnett, said Wednesday that the tribe will consider all its options and won’t necessarily withdraw its support for the Barstow project.
"I don’t think the tribe would close the door on any opportunity to provide for itself," he said.
Sabrina Lockhart, spokeswoman for governor’s office, said that the governor was "disappointed by the legislature’s failure to approve the compacts."
She said that although the expiration date for the compacts is fast approaching, the governor continues to support the development of a casino in Barstow.
"We’ll be talking to the tribes and discussing our options of what happens next. This is something we will continue to strive for," she said.
She did not rule out the possibility of extending the deadline for the compacts to be approved by the legislature and said that meetings were planned with the tribes.
Barstow’s state senator Roy Ashburn blamed the failure to pass the compacts on a "noticeable lack of will on the part of the governor." He said that although he would consider sponsoring the compacts next year in the legislature, he expected that fierce opposition would continue.
"I think Barstow is too easy a target for wealthy Indian gaming tribes and non-Indian gaming interests from Las Vegas and the horse racing industry," he said.
He said that he advocated a strategy of bundling the Barstow compacts together with the compacts of other wealthier tribes in order to reduce opposition, but that such a move would require the support of the governor.
"We need the governor with his horsepower against the tribes," he said.
Some observers had predicted the defeat of the compacts. A bill to approve the compacts was introduced in January, but the bill was never voted on by the full Senate during the 2007 session. A similar bill to pass the compacts in the state Assembly failed in 2006. The original sponsor of the bill to pass the agreements, Senator Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, amended the bill on Sept. 7 and deleted the language related to the Barstow casino, replacing it with an unrelated bill concerned with alcoholic beverages.
Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for two special sessions of the legislature for later this year, these sessions will only discuss health care reform and water safety issues and the Barstow compacts will not be considered, said Alicia Tross, spokeswoman for Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland.
Shirley Smith, vice-chairwoman for the Chemehuevi tribe, said she hopes the failure to pass the compacts will allow her tribe to proceed with its own casino development plans.
"We hope that this the opens up the door for us. We have requested negotiations with the governor’s office and hope that at the city, Mayor Dale and council member (Julie) McIntyre will work earnestly with the tribe to bring our casino to Barstow," Smith said.
Former City Council member Manuel "Gil"Gurule said that expected the compacts to fail and advised the city to support the Chemehuevi tribe.
"If we’d had the chance with the Chemehuevis, then we’d have a casino by now," he said.
Gurule has supported the Chemehuevi tribe and sponsored Measure H on the 2006 ballot. The measure would have created a zoning district for casinos that included the property on which the Chemehuevi want to build a casino, but not the land for the Los Coyotes/Big Lagoon project. The measure failed.
Larry Halstead, a frequent speaker at City Council meetings and critic of the BarWest project, said he wasn’t surprised at the failure to pass the compacts.
"They were an absolute non-starter all along. What people need to understand is that they were doomed from the beginning. This is the worst case of reservation shopping ever," he said.
Halstead, who has frequently supported the Chemehuevi Indians, said he opposed the Big Lagoon/Los Coyotes compacts because “they don’t have ancestral ties to the area."
Halstead said that though he received a $2,500 campaign contribution in the past from the San Manuel Indian tribe, he was not an agent or employee of any tribe.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Assembly GOP Whip urges colleagues to oppose Ilitch driven Barstow gaming compacts
Assembly
California Legislature
ANTHONY ADAMS
FIFTY-NINETH DISTRICT
REPUBLICAN WHIP
April 18, 2007
Dear Colleague:
I urge you to reject SB 157 (Wiggins, Ashburn), a bill to ratify the proposed tribal/state gaming compacts that would establish a casino in the City of Barstow by Barwest LLC and the Ilitch Family of Detroit under the auspices of Indian Gaming. These developers are trying to abuse the intent of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for their own private benefit.
Although I understand the desire of the Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon Indian tribes to pull themselves out of poverty, these proposals stray from the spirit of the law and undermine the goodwill expressed by the California electorate when it authorized Tribal gaming. Opponents of Indian gaming tried to scare the voters by telling them “casinos would spring up everywhere,” and SB 157 will bring that claim to reality.
Tribal gaming should be conducted on Indian lands and near their reservations. These two tribes are moving across the State to create new reservations, exercise governmental jurisdiction, and build casinos on lands 700 and 120 miles away from their existing reservations. This is not what we voted for; this is not what the Tribes promised.
I understand the need to protect the environment near the Big Lagoon, but I am certain there is a 20-acre parcel of land within the homeland of the Big Lagoon tribe that they can use for gaming. In regards to the Los Coyotes Tribe, I see no prevailing public policy reason to move them from their existing reservation in North County San Diego just for a better market location.
Furthermore, you should reject SB 157 on the grounds that the proposed gaming locations are NOT INDIAN LANDS. Neither of these tribes exercises governmental jurisidiction over the property in Barstow, nor have they ever exercised such jurisdiction in their history.
Ratifying these compacts is bad public policy and sets a bad precedent in our State. How many more tribes will seek compacts to move from their remote reservations to more lucrative markets? We need to end reservation shopping now.
For all the reasons above I urge you to oppose SB 157.
Sincerely,
Anthony Adams
Assemblyman 59th District
Facsimile of original "Dear Colleague" letter
You may also want to review these posts:
- DOI Associate Secretary encourages Big Lagoon Rancheria to re-consider casino location closer to reservation; discourages Barstow scheme
- DOI Associate Secretary encourages Los Coyotes to reconsider on-reservation casino; discourages Barstow scheme
- After two years, Sen. Roy Ashburn only legislative advocate for ill-conceived Barstow Compacts
- Barwest's partners signed Compacts under false pretense; knew they would never make the May 31, 2007 deadline
- Tribe's casino pointman can't pinpoint location of proposed casino on map
- Sacramento lawmakers and journalists aren't getting the whole truth from Los Coyotes tribe's elder nor her partners
Monday, July 02, 2007
After two years, Sen. Roy Ashburn only legislative advocate for ill-conceived Barstow Compacts
6.30.07 Ashburn boosts casino project
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Ashburn pushes Barstow casino hearing
During debate about unrelated casino compacts on the state Senate floor on Thursday, June 28, Senator Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, stood up to address the stalled Big Lagoon-Los Coyotes Barstow casino project.
“There are Native Americans in two parts of California that seem to be invisible, the Los Coyotes members and the members of the Big Lagoon tribe,” Ashburn said, according to a press release. “They have a compact that they negotiated with the Governor, yet we don’t even have a hearing. These are Native Americans who are receiving none of the benefits for a proposed casino that is located in probably the most ideal location in all of California for a casino.”
The compacts have been held up in Senate committees for months. Environmental groups worry that further delay will prompt the Big Lagoon tribe to begin construction of a casino on their reservation, an environmentally fragile area in northern California.
Click on picture or link below to hear CA State Senator Roy Ashburn's impassioned, ill-informed comments.
As you're listening, recall that, despite Ashburn's apparent memory loss at the time he made these remarks, both the Senate and Assembly Governmental Organization committees did hold hearings on the Barwest Compacts in 2006:
- the Senate Committee chose politely "no further action,"
- the Assembly Committee voted outright to reject the Compacts and only out of standard courtesy did Chairman Jerome Horton agreed to leave the door open for reconsideration (certainly Horton assumed, as would normally be the case, that if they were to return for a second round they would somehow be modified or renegotiated to address concerns voiced by legislators and opponents and of course they have not).
After two years Roy Ashburn was the only person to rise in support of the ill-conceived Barstow Compacts.
Senator Ashburn urges action on the Barstow Gaming compacts that were previously rejected in the Assembly during Senate Floor debate, June 28th (1.4mb, mp3)
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Author of Barstow casino bill not hopeful
For the second time since 2005, it appears a bill to approve twin Indian Casino resorts in Barstow has failed to win legislative support in Sacramento.
Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Eureka), principal author of SB 157, has indicated to the Eureka Times Standard that the bill is all but dead.
Wiggins and project proponents held a press conference in January to announce the introduction of SB 157.
At that time there were two other legislators who had joined Wiggins, Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) and Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Santa Rosa).
Since then, proponents have failed to produce any other legislators willing to publicly endorse the bill. SB 157 was intended as a tool to win legislative ratification of gaming compacts the Governor's aides had negotiated in 2005.
Proponents have failed to produce any other sign that SB 157 had been making progress; instead they have joined with labor to attack compact agreements moving through the legislature for several established gaming tribes. Those compacts would allow expanded gaming at several existing locations on current reservation lands and would produce substantial new revenues for the State of California..
Another bill, SB 168, introduced in 2006 and authored by former Senator Wesley Chesbro, Wiggins' predecessor, failed to make it out of committee as well. Two legislators who supported that bill in the last session have failed to announce their support for SB 157: Assemblyman Bill Maze and Senator Leland Yee.
Mrs. Marian Ilitch, wife of Detroit Tigers baseball team owner Mike Ilitch, and Michael J. Malik, Sr. are the principals behind the Barwest syndication.
Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Eureka), principal author of SB 157, has indicated to the Eureka Times Standard that the bill is all but dead.
Eureka Times StandardSB 157 would ratify gaming compacts allowing two Indian tribes (Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians) and their Detroit casino developer Barwest to build side-by-side, off-reservation casino resorts in Barstow, Calif.
04.14.07
Casinos, Klamath, truck lengths, rail revival all on Wiggins' priority list
"...But the fate of another agreement, between the state and the Big Lagoon Rancheria for a casino in Barstow, doesn't look so rosy, at least for the time being, she said. ..."
Wiggins and project proponents held a press conference in January to announce the introduction of SB 157.
At that time there were two other legislators who had joined Wiggins, Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) and Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Santa Rosa).
Since then, proponents have failed to produce any other legislators willing to publicly endorse the bill. SB 157 was intended as a tool to win legislative ratification of gaming compacts the Governor's aides had negotiated in 2005.
Proponents have failed to produce any other sign that SB 157 had been making progress; instead they have joined with labor to attack compact agreements moving through the legislature for several established gaming tribes. Those compacts would allow expanded gaming at several existing locations on current reservation lands and would produce substantial new revenues for the State of California..
Another bill, SB 168, introduced in 2006 and authored by former Senator Wesley Chesbro, Wiggins' predecessor, failed to make it out of committee as well. Two legislators who supported that bill in the last session have failed to announce their support for SB 157: Assemblyman Bill Maze and Senator Leland Yee.
Mrs. Marian Ilitch, wife of Detroit Tigers baseball team owner Mike Ilitch, and Michael J. Malik, Sr. are the principals behind the Barwest syndication.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Last minute political contributions to Senator who authors SB 157 reveal Casino Syndicator skyrocketed to the top of her donor list in late October
State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) and casino syndicator Michael J. Malik Sr., were able to conceal the true significance of his campaign contributions until after their January 31st news conference announcing Wiggins would sponsor SB 157.
A complete cumulative review (2005-2006) of contributions to "Friends of Pat Wiggins" adds further clarity to the first-term Senator's overnight romance with the Detroit casino syndicators. Disclosures indicate the Wiggins committee received a total of 606 contributions at an average of $616.
Prior to October 2006, there is no record of support for Wiggins by principals behind Detroit-based Barwest Gaming LLC. Likewise, last year when Barwest was desperate for friends in the legislature, then Assemblywoman Wiggins failed to come forward and publicly declare her support for Barwest's proposal to build twin Indian Casino Resorts in Barstow
That all changed after October 21, 2006, the date Michael J. Malik, Sr., day-to-day managing principal behind Barwest Gaming LLC passed along two checks to Wiggins: (1) from his personal Trust Account and (2) from MJM Enterprises & Development his solely owned company.
Although both contributions are reported as received on Saturday October 21, 2006, online disclosures indicate the Wiggins Committee reported the contribution noted above as (1) in its report of 10/26/06 and withheld reporting the contribution noted above as (2) until its January 31, 2007 post election filing; although both contributions are tagged to the 2006 General Election cycle.
One can only speculate why it is that Malik wrote two checks; or why he didn't write the second check on a Barwest LLC account since that's the company registered to do business in California; or why he failed to provide the same back up detail for both contributions; or why Wiggins' Committee didn't report both contributions at the same time; or why Wiggins pegged one of the Malik contributions from "Detroit, MI" and the other from "CA" when both Malik and MJM Enterprises & Development are based in Detroit.
Regardless of the unanswered questions, we know that with those two checks, ($4,000 total) Malik established his position atop Wiggins' 606 contributors as follows:
A complete cumulative review (2005-2006) of contributions to "Friends of Pat Wiggins" adds further clarity to the first-term Senator's overnight romance with the Detroit casino syndicators. Disclosures indicate the Wiggins committee received a total of 606 contributions at an average of $616.
Prior to October 2006, there is no record of support for Wiggins by principals behind Detroit-based Barwest Gaming LLC. Likewise, last year when Barwest was desperate for friends in the legislature, then Assemblywoman Wiggins failed to come forward and publicly declare her support for Barwest's proposal to build twin Indian Casino Resorts in Barstow
That all changed after October 21, 2006, the date Michael J. Malik, Sr., day-to-day managing principal behind Barwest Gaming LLC passed along two checks to Wiggins: (1) from his personal Trust Account and (2) from MJM Enterprises & Development his solely owned company.
Although both contributions are reported as received on Saturday October 21, 2006, online disclosures indicate the Wiggins Committee reported the contribution noted above as (1) in its report of 10/26/06 and withheld reporting the contribution noted above as (2) until its January 31, 2007 post election filing; although both contributions are tagged to the 2006 General Election cycle.
One can only speculate why it is that Malik wrote two checks; or why he didn't write the second check on a Barwest LLC account since that's the company registered to do business in California; or why he failed to provide the same back up detail for both contributions; or why Wiggins' Committee didn't report both contributions at the same time; or why Wiggins pegged one of the Malik contributions from "Detroit, MI" and the other from "CA" when both Malik and MJM Enterprises & Development are based in Detroit.
Regardless of the unanswered questions, we know that with those two checks, ($4,000 total) Malik established his position atop Wiggins' 606 contributors as follows:
Malik Ranks #1
among Wiggins' Out-of-state Donors
Malik Ranks #2
among overall individual donors to Wiggins' campaign
(non-PAC/non-union)
Malik Ranks #11
among all donors to Wiggins' campaign
A little more than two weeks after Malik's checks showed up Patricia Wiggins won election to the Senate.
A little more than 90 days (January 31, 2007) after Malik made the political contributions, Senator Wiggins announced that she had agreed to author SB 157, a bill apparently no other new legislator was willing to carry.
Comprehensive campaign finance reports for the Fall election were due on the same day the announcement was made. The parties involved were assured their staged "news" regarding SB 157 would be out on the news wires long before anyone could analyze the campaign finance reports and track any money trail.
But if you were wondering what might have compelled Senator Wiggins to sign on when no one else would, perhaps this sheds a little light.
Monday, February 26, 2007
PR flack denies Michael Malik's suddenly a top contributor to Senator authoring SB 157, a bill to approve client's Casinos
The Verifiable Truth: Malik, Hollywood Park, Commerce Club round up cash for Sen Wiggins sponsor of SB 157 --
...in multiple identical comment "cut & paste" posts to The Verifiable Truth, Tom Shields, spokesman for Motor City casino syndicators, and a guy who relies heavily on "projection" as a psychological defense mechanism, provided this comment:
Don't be surprised if Tom tries to tell us that, "this is just some vast right-wing conspiracy."
We gave Shields' comments and representations careful consideration and we weren't sure if Tom Shields is implying:
If Tom Shields has information to prove that false or manufactured campaign disclosures have been filed by Senator Wiggins or those representing they've contributed to her committees, he should report that to the FPPC/CA Attorney General Jerry Brown ASAP; else he be found culpable or an accomplice.
If someone other than Tom Shields manufactured and paid for the distribution of a so-called "news" release or if someone other than Tom Shields "staged" a Sacramento press conference with bad actors -- people who falsely represented themselves as leaders of his client's adopted Indian Tribes or as those with whom Shields and his clients have been able to develop "buy-in" -- we counsel Tom Shields to immediately:
...in multiple identical comment "cut & paste" posts to The Verifiable Truth, Tom Shields, spokesman for Motor City casino syndicators, and a guy who relies heavily on "projection" as a psychological defense mechanism, provided this comment:
"The lies, misinformation and misrepresentations on this blog are too numerous to mention and don't deserve the time it would take to respond. Someone has obviously spent a lot of time and money in an attempt to malign the character of the people being attacked here. It's no wonder the author is anonymous.
"If you want the truth and the facts about the Barstow Casino resort project, the Shinnecock Tribe or the Port Huron Casino Resort proposal...you won't find them here. Go to barstowcasinosandresorts.com or contact me at Toms@mrgmi.com. We won't hide behind some anonymous blog."
Tom Shields
February 16, 2007 4:53:00 PM CST
Don't be surprised if Tom tries to tell us that, "this is just some vast right-wing conspiracy."
We gave Shields' comments and representations careful consideration and we weren't sure if Tom Shields is implying:
- (a) the fabrication of disclosure documents required under California's Political Reform Act revealing that Michael Malik, Malik's MJM Enterprises Development Co., several of the largest commercial casinos in California (and a few other special interests) circled the wagons around Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa); and ponied up $30,000 on 10/21/06 just two weeks before election day - three months and ten days before she "announced " publicly that she would carry SB 157; or
(b) the fabrication, and paid distribution of a press release detailing a January 31st press conference in Sacramento staged to announce Senator Wiggins had been compelled to join two previous sponsors and co-author legislation, SB 157 -- legislation that nobody else apparently wants to touch . SB 157 champions legislative approvals for twin Indian casino resorts in Barstow; a development plan bankrolled and advanced by Shields' clients who have by contract exclusive rights to develop and manage the future twin Indian casinos project or in little known fact, any other such development in the City of Barstow; or
(c) both
If Tom Shields has information to prove that false or manufactured campaign disclosures have been filed by Senator Wiggins or those representing they've contributed to her committees, he should report that to the FPPC/CA Attorney General Jerry Brown ASAP; else he be found culpable or an accomplice.
If someone other than Tom Shields manufactured and paid for the distribution of a so-called "news" release or if someone other than Tom Shields "staged" a Sacramento press conference with bad actors -- people who falsely represented themselves as leaders of his client's adopted Indian Tribes or as those with whom Shields and his clients have been able to develop "buy-in" -- we counsel Tom Shields to immediately:
- (a) put out an authorized release renouncing the January 31st event as a sham, and releasing Senator Wiggins, Senator Roy Ashburn and Assemblywoman Patti Berg from any commitments that were represented,
(b) demand an investigation by Capitol Police to find out who it was that used the Capitol for such an event and represented to the Capitol press corps they were affiliated with Shields' clients and associates,
(c) immediately demand credit due and take action against PRNewswire for falsely distributing a "news" release that represented it was from Shields' Indian Tribes and using Shields' PRNewswire account.
Other TVT posts that disturbed Shields enough to leave his “cut & paste” shallow boilerplate protests:
- * The Verifiable Truth: Publicist shines spotlight on Senator Stabenow & Rep. Miller after his clients invested $200,000 in their campaigns
* The Verifiable Truth: Malik, Hollywood Park, Commerce Club round up cash for Sen Wiggins sponsor of SB 157
* The Verifiable Truth: Barstow Casino Billboard - picture's worth a thousand words
Friday, February 09, 2007
Yet More Discrepancies & Conflicts in Barstow Casinos Disclosures
Even more discrepancies & conflicts in lobbying and political contributions surrounding Barstow’s dual Casinos.
More conflict and irregularities in lobbying and political contributions regarding proposals for side-by-side Indian casino resorts in Barstow to be developed and managed by Barwest LLC, a shrewd Detroit-based casino syndicator.
Campaign finance disclosure documents record the following contributions to Assemblywoman Patty Berg and Senator Roy Ashburn as well as Senator Patricia Wiggins. The three lawmakers have joined hands to introduce legislation, S.B. 157, to approve the Barwest Barstow Casinos and Resorts.
| Malik Michael J., Govermental Advocates, Inc., Se. Trustee, Sacramento, Ca 95814 | State Assembly 01 | $1,000.00 | 10/20/2006 | MONETARY | |
| Malik Michael, Governmental Advocates, Inc., Owner, Sacramento, Ca 95814 | State Senate 18 | $1,000.00 | 10/24/2006 | MONETARY |
| Michael J. Malik, Sr Trust, , Ca | State Senate 02 | $2,000.00 | 10/21/2006 | MONETARY |
Michael J. Malik, Sr. is not registered (has not filed disclosure documents) as a client (lobbyist employer) or employee (lobbyist) of Governmental Advocates, Inc. nor does he make his primary residence or workplace in Sacramento, CA. Malik is a principal in Detroit-based Barwest LLC. A review of lobbying disclosure documents failed to find any lobbying records for Barwest LLC.
Disclosure documents filed by Governmental Advocates, Inc. covering the last two quarters of 2006 do not report any contributions of $100 or more to candidates.
Certain lobbying disclosure reports filed by Barwest partners Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Indians and the Governmental Advocates lobbying firm hint in footnoted comments that Barwest LLC, the seasoned casino syndicate from Detroit, is bankrolling lobbying for the Barwest’s Barstow Casinos agreements using the Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes Tribes as political and PR cover; and avoiding any disclosures required for lobbying.
Considering the apparent confusion and even misrepresentation of facts in campaign finance disclosures that have paired Michael Malik of Barwest LLC with lobbying firm Governmental Advocates, Inc., TheVerifiableTruth can only conclude that in fact Malik is a “client” of Governmental Advocates’ and that the firm was serving as a conduit for these contributions to Berg, Ashburn and probably Wiggins.
Berg, Ashburn and Senator Patricia Wiggins each received political contributions from Michael Malik in late October 2006. In January 2007, the three Sacramento lawmakers introduced S.B. 157, a do-over piece of legislation for approval of the Barstow casinos plan that was rejected in Assembly Committee last summer. Malik’s contribution to Wiggins does not indicate an association with Governmental Advocates but it does incorrectly list California as his primary residence and place of business.
The following records were also found at Cal-access.
| MICHAEL J. MALIK, SR TRUST | MONETARY | | CA/ | |
| | | |||
| | ||||
| $2,000.00 | | 10/21/2006 | 10/26/2006 | 1212900-A1489 |
| MICHAEL J. MALIK | MONETARY | SACRAMENTO | CA/95814 | |
| GOVERMENTAL ADVOCATES, INC. | SE. TRUSTEE | |||
| | ||||
| $1,000.00 | | 10/20/2006 | 1/31/2007 | 1211555-INC544 |
| MICHAEL MALIK | MONETARY | SACRAMENTO | CA/95814 | |
| GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCATES, INC. | OWNER | |||
| | ||||
| $1,000.00 | | 10/24/2006 | 1/31/2007 | 1236811-INC2216 |
You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
The Verifiable Truth: Lobbyist failed to report $66,677 from Big Lagoon Rancheria
The Verifiable Truth: More Lobbying Irregularities related to Barstow Casino raising question about who's paying the bills and why they are hiding
The Verifiable Truth: Irregularities in lobbying disclosures for Barstow Casinos bankrolled by Ilitch Detroit-based Syndicate
The Verifiable Truth: By Bankrolling lobbying expenses behind the scenes, Casino Syndicators were free to flow political cash
The Verifiable Truth: Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
Malik makes it a practice to reward those who carry his legislation with political cash
After some deeper digging on the CA Secretary of State’s web site, TheVerifiableTruth (tVT) has discovered that Michael J. Malik Sr., a principal in the casino syndication Detroit-based Barwest LLC, made late campaign contributions to the authors of S.B. Senate Bill 157 (Ashburn, Berg, Wiggins) – a bill to ratify an unorthodox gambling agreement negotiated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that paves the way for Barwest to be the developer and manager of two large off-reservation side-by-side casino and hotel resorts in Barstow, Calif.
Malik also rewarded two other’s (Chesbro, Maze) who had sponsored the same legislation in 2006.
Malik has little history as a political benefactor in California but he has routinely rewarded lawmakers who sit on committees that are scheduled to hear matters involving the Barstow casinos or have recently backed legislation intended to advance his casino development scheme. This is a pattern the principals behind Barwest have developed in Washington D.C. as well.
| MALIK MICHAEL, Governmental Advocates, Inc., Owner, Sacramento, Ca 95814 | $1,000.00 | 10/24/2006 | |
| MALIK MICHAEL J., Govermental Advocates, Inc., Se. Trustee, Sacramento, Ca 95814 | $1,000.00 | 10/20/2006 | |
| MICHAEL J. MALIK, SR TRUST, , CA | $2,000.00 | 10/21/2006 | |
| MJM Enterprises & Development, Detroit, MI 48201 | $2,000.00 | 10/21/2006 |
| MALIK MICHAEL J. SR., Michael J. Malik Sr., Real Estate Developer, Real Estate Developer, Detroit, Mi 48226 | $1,000.00 | 8/14/2006 | |
| MALIK, SR. TRUST MICHAEL, Barwest, LLC, Entreprenaur, Detroit, Mi 48201 | $375.00 | 11/5/2005 | |
| MALIK, SR. TRUST MICHAEL, Barwest, LLC, Entreprenaur, Detroit, Mi 48201 | $1,500.00 | 8/17/2006 |
The contributions by Michael Malik were difficult to uncover because the disclosure details (business name and address) that were provided to the Secretary of State are misleading and false representations.
Michael Malik is not an “owner” nor a “trustee” of the lobbying firm Governmental Advocates, Inc. nor is his principal residence or place of business located in California.
It is particularly curious that of 28 political contributions made by Malik since December 2004 -- 24 of which were made between June and October 2006 -- the last four were reported falsely as having a California address for Malik as well as other incorrect details, making it more difficult to track records. Three of those reported with false detail just happen to be the authors of SB 157 unveiled earlier this month. There were two contributions recorded by Friends of Pat Wiggins made by Malik and Malik's MJM Enterprises & Development each for $2,000 on 10/21/2006: one has Malik's address in California and the other has MJM headquartered in Detroit. Even more curious, all four contributions were reported by the individual recipient committees based on detail provided by Malik. Malik apparently failed to report those contributions and more than a dozen others totaling $28,000 made between August 14 & November 18, 2006, as required under the state’s Major Donor disclosure rules. Malik is major donor ID# 1286704.
Prior to June 2006, Malik had little history as a political donor to California candidates or ballot measures. Between May and November 2006 Malik (Major Donor Filer ID# 1286704) gave $42,000 primarily to legislative leaders and members of the Senate and Assembly Governmental Organization Committees.
Although there are discrepancies in CA lobbying disclosures reported by the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Indians and their lobbyists for the four quarters 2006; footnotes on some reports suggest Barwest, not the registered tribes, paid lobbying invoices of at least $400,000 from November 2005 - December 2006. Neither Barwest nor its principals including Michael J. Malik Sr. are registered as lobbyist employers or lobbyists.
There are no disclosures linking lobbying activity paid for by Barwest and political contributions made by Barwest and its agents (principals). Case in point, while the Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes were lobbying members of the Assembly GO committee leading up to a June 28, 2006 hearing; Michael J. Malik contributed $3,300 to Leland Yee on June 4/5 2006 -- at the time Yee was a member of the Assembly GO Committee. Yee was one of only two committee members who voted to approve the gaming compacts of Malik’s tribal partners. The Assembly GO Committee rejected the gaming compacts by a vote of 7-to-2 on June 28, 2006.
You may want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: Yet More Discrepancies & Conflicts in Barstow Casinos disclosures
The Verifiable Truth: Lobbyist failed to report $66,677 from Big Lagoon Rancheria
The Verifiable Truth: More Lobbying Irregularities related to Barstow Casino raising question about who's paying the bills and why they are hiding
The Verifiable Truth: Irregularities in lobbying disclosures for Barstow Casinos bankrolled by Ilitch Detroit-based Syndicate
The Verifiable Truth: By Bankrolling lobbying expenses behind the scenes, Casino Syndicators were free to flow political cash
Re-introducing rejected Barstow Casino Bill, Ilitch finds herself even further behind
Yeserday's press conference is just more of the same shallow theater created by Marian Ilitch's Michigan marketing team. Here's the other side of the story ...
Marian Ilitch had four sponsors for legislation (SB 168) in 2006 intended to win ratification of a tentative agreement that would allow her the unprecedented privilege to build and manage two off-reservation Indian casinos in Barstow, Calif.
They were Senators Wesley Chesbro and Roy Ashburn along with Assemblymembers Patty Berg and Bill Maze. Their districts represented the Big Lagoon Rancheria and the community of Barstow respectively.
That bill was rejected in an Assembly Committee by a vote of 7-to-2. And failed to gain any traction in the California Senate.
By the end of the 2006 session Team Ilitch could count two other legislators in addition to the original four sponsors as supporters -- Assemblymembers Jay LaSuer and Leland Yee, the two “yes” votes in the Assembly committee.
Yesterday the Ilitch backed Detroit casino syndicate announced they would re-introduce the previously rejected legislation as SB 157. After six months there is really very little they report that's new. They are further behind at the start of this legislative session than they were at the start of last year's failed effort.
This go-round they only have three sponsors: Senators Roy Ashburn and Particia Wiggins (she replaced Wes Chesbro); and Assemblymember Patty Berg. Barwest managing honcho Michael Malik showed his appreciation to all three legislators by making contributions to their political campaign committees in the final weeks of the Fall 2006 election.
There was no reference at the media fanfare to Assemblymember Bill Maze or Assemblyman turned state Senator Leland Yee; two who had backed the failed legislation in 2006. Apparently Assemblyman Bill Maze did not re-up as a co-author.
Unfortuantely the terms of two others who supported the legislation in 2006 expired and Jay LaSuer and Wes Chesbro were prohibited from seeking re-election under term limits. Barwest's Malik rewarded Maze, Yee and Chesbro with contributions to their political funds last summer.
So where do things stand as compared to 2006:
Previously it took them 12 months to round up six supporters -- that's one every two months. They need 21 Senators and 41 Assemblymembers.
At their previous pace, it would take ten years to line up the necessary support needed to ratify the two unorthodox Casino agreements.
According to Big Lagoon Tribal Chairman, they only have three months.
Could it be any more clear? ... This is about Detroit casino syndicators standing in the way of others and guarding what one reader calls the "High Desert gaming franchise."
Waging a full-scale war hasn't made any progress for Ilitch and she's apparently failed to enter into any kind of dialogue or negotiation with opponents.
Detroit's pigheadedness and those who have marched in lock-step behind the pied piper will ultimately cost Barstow any hope of economic prosperity in the near future. In the end, several struggling communities within California's 34th Assembly/18th Senate Districts will be the losers. The few who are under contract or receive "stipends" will have been the only beneficiaries.
You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: as predicted -- Ilitch Casino Team fails to produce any hopeful news
The Verifiable Truth: Press Release--2007 CA Legislation, reintroducing the Barstow Casinos plan previously rejected by an Assembly Committee
The Verifiable Truth: Re-introducing rejected Barstow Casino Bill, Ilitch finds herself even further behind
The Verifiable Truth: Bottom of the ninth and Ilitch's Barstow Casinos scheme is down by at least 57 votes
The Verifiable Truth: Legislative Score Card
The Verifiable Truth: Senator Ashburn supports casinos in Barstow; is ambivalent about Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes Tribes
The Verifiable Truth: Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
Marian Ilitch had four sponsors for legislation (SB 168) in 2006 intended to win ratification of a tentative agreement that would allow her the unprecedented privilege to build and manage two off-reservation Indian casinos in Barstow, Calif.
They were Senators Wesley Chesbro and Roy Ashburn along with Assemblymembers Patty Berg and Bill Maze. Their districts represented the Big Lagoon Rancheria and the community of Barstow respectively.
That bill was rejected in an Assembly Committee by a vote of 7-to-2. And failed to gain any traction in the California Senate.
By the end of the 2006 session Team Ilitch could count two other legislators in addition to the original four sponsors as supporters -- Assemblymembers Jay LaSuer and Leland Yee, the two “yes” votes in the Assembly committee.
Yesterday the Ilitch backed Detroit casino syndicate announced they would re-introduce the previously rejected legislation as SB 157. After six months there is really very little they report that's new. They are further behind at the start of this legislative session than they were at the start of last year's failed effort.
This go-round they only have three sponsors: Senators Roy Ashburn and Particia Wiggins (she replaced Wes Chesbro); and Assemblymember Patty Berg. Barwest managing honcho Michael Malik showed his appreciation to all three legislators by making contributions to their political campaign committees in the final weeks of the Fall 2006 election.
There was no reference at the media fanfare to Assemblymember Bill Maze or Assemblyman turned state Senator Leland Yee; two who had backed the failed legislation in 2006. Apparently Assemblyman Bill Maze did not re-up as a co-author.
Unfortuantely the terms of two others who supported the legislation in 2006 expired and Jay LaSuer and Wes Chesbro were prohibited from seeking re-election under term limits. Barwest's Malik rewarded Maze, Yee and Chesbro with contributions to their political funds last summer.
So where do things stand as compared to 2006:
- AUTHORS - One less co-author. They have three sponsors this year for SB 157; in 2006 they had four (SB 168). No one truly new.
LEGISLATIVE SUPPORTERS - Lost 3 supporters (50%). They have three known supporters this year; possibly five if Maze and Yee remain publicly supportive but they did not participate in this weeks announcement; in 2006 they had six supporters by the end of the legislative session. No one new.
LOBBYISTS - Added one new lobbyist. Last year they employed three lobbying firms at a cost of $400,000; this year they’ve added a fourth lobbyist, labor leader Jack Gribbon who is also political director of UNITEHERE.
Previously it took them 12 months to round up six supporters -- that's one every two months. They need 21 Senators and 41 Assemblymembers.
At their previous pace, it would take ten years to line up the necessary support needed to ratify the two unorthodox Casino agreements.
According to Big Lagoon Tribal Chairman, they only have three months.
Could it be any more clear? ... This is about Detroit casino syndicators standing in the way of others and guarding what one reader calls the "High Desert gaming franchise."
Waging a full-scale war hasn't made any progress for Ilitch and she's apparently failed to enter into any kind of dialogue or negotiation with opponents.
Detroit's pigheadedness and those who have marched in lock-step behind the pied piper will ultimately cost Barstow any hope of economic prosperity in the near future. In the end, several struggling communities within California's 34th Assembly/18th Senate Districts will be the losers. The few who are under contract or receive "stipends" will have been the only beneficiaries.
You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: as predicted -- Ilitch Casino Team fails to produce any hopeful news
The Verifiable Truth: Press Release--2007 CA Legislation, reintroducing the Barstow Casinos plan previously rejected by an Assembly Committee
The Verifiable Truth: Re-introducing rejected Barstow Casino Bill, Ilitch finds herself even further behind
The Verifiable Truth: Bottom of the ninth and Ilitch's Barstow Casinos scheme is down by at least 57 votes
The Verifiable Truth: Legislative Score Card
The Verifiable Truth: Senator Ashburn supports casinos in Barstow; is ambivalent about Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes Tribes
The Verifiable Truth: Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Senator Ashburn please don't turn your back on constituents in favor of Detroit billionaires and richer tribes from north coast enclaves
Senator Roy Ashburn is robbing hundreds of his own constituents of the one chance to truly change the quality of life for themselves, their families and the greater 18th District community.
Ashburn has elected to back the previously rejected casino agreements that billionaires behind a Detroit Casino Syndicate negotiated on behalf of their newly adopted Native American partners – partners who also make their homes far outside the 18th District.
Ashburn demonstrates little regard for the struggle and needs of more than 1,000 constituents enrolled as members of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe located in the south east corner of his sprawling 18th Senate District and hundreds of other Native Americans who consider the Mohave Desert their ancestral homelands.
Perhaps it’s simply a case of “out of sight, out of mind” and not an intentional act to withhold opportunities from his own constituents. The Chemehuevi Reservation is located 268 miles across the Mohave Desert from Ashburn’s Bakersfield home.
The City of Barstow first approached the Chemehuevi Tribe about business partnerships in the mid-1990s. The tribe had been consulted by the City on various archaeological matters in Barstow and leaders at the City, like local historians, recognized the ties the tribe’s ancestor had with the Greater Barstow area.
The Barstow City Council awarded a municipal agreement to the Chemehuevi Tribe during the Fall of 2005, nine months before the City awarded valid agreements to the Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes partnership. However, since 2003, it has been reported that the Detroit Casino Syndicate has pulled out all the stops to block any other proposals from moving forward in Barstow.
It should be noted the median household income among Ashburn’s constituents at the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation is less than $20,000 per year which must be spread among three individuals per household. Roughly a third of the Chemehuevi population lives below poverty levels.
Mike and Marian Ilitch share a spot with Oprah Winfrey on Forbes 400 List of Richest Americans -- their net worth estimated to be at least $1.5 billion; their seven children and their families share in the Ilitch Family fortunes. They gave away almost $900,000 in individual political contributions during the last four or five years.
The extended Moorehead family that makes up the Big Lagoon Rancheria Tribe gets $55,000 per capita annually for each adult member (20) just from the larger tribes' revenue sharing trust fund program. Moorehead's family owns a small hotel and other buinsess in the general area. The California Department of Finance indicates the state’s median household income is $46,900; that’s before taxes. Big Lagoon’s at $75,000-$100,000 per household just from the trust funds alone and that’s not subject to taxes nor does it consider the tribe's other business ventures.
Senator Ashburn makes at least $110,000 each year on his legislative salary alone plus expenses of $138 per day for each day the legislature is in session. He’s benefited when the people like those behind the Detroit Casino Syndicate have generously contributed to his campaign funds.
Why not afford your constituents a break Senator Ashburn? The Moorehead Family (that's who makes up the Big Lagoon Rancheria Tribe) at home on the "pristine" Big Lagoon in Trinidad, a short walk from the Pacific Ocean, appears be doing just fine and the Ilitch Family, ranked #242 on Forbes list of "Richest Americans," has got airplanes, a baseball team, Stanley cups and second homes and plenty needed to take care of generations to come.
The Verifiable Truth (tVT) like nearly everyone else we’ve heard from is extremely disappointed in Senator Ashburn’s decision to support the compacts rejected last year in the Assembly. It is going to continue a program of block and delay. By doing so, Senator Ashburn perpetuates the exclusivities awarded the Detroit Casino Syndicate for five years that have already cost Barstow and other High Desert Communities dearly.
More troubling is the lack of respect Ashburn has shown for the hard working Indian tribes whose ancestors have struggled to make their homes in the High Desert for centuries. By approving plans to transplant tribes’ casinos clear across state to Barstow on lands that traditionally are recognized as the ancestral homelands of others, Ashburn in effect is robbing hundreds of his constituents of their heritage and the opportunity to pull themselves up out of poverty and perpetuates the bad stereotypes about Native American gambling interests.
Ashburn shows disregard for the ancestral heritage of Native Americans who have true roots in the greater Barstow area. Native Americans demonstrate little need for material possessions but have a spiritual connection to their homelands that’s not truly understood by most of European heritage.
Senator Roy Ashburn’s 18th District is expansive taking in Inyo, Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino Counties and stretches from Bakersfield and the Tehachapi Mountains in the west to the Colorado River in the east anchored in the Bakersfield area where there is the greatest concentration of voters.
There are seven Indian reservations located within the 18th District and two others with portions of their reservation lands spilling into the 18th. The 30,653-acre Chemehuevi Indian Reservation is the second largest in the 18th District. It’s located in the far southeastern corner of the 18th District, 268 miles across the Mohave Desert from Bakersfield. Nearly all of the Lake Havasu’s California shoreline is on the Chemehuevi Reservation.
tVT notes the Chemehuevi Reservation and the Barstow community are represented by the same San Bernardino County Supervisor, member of the Assembly and state Senator.
Ashburn is co-author of legislation, S.B. 157, that would allow a powerful Detroit-based casino syndicate to transplant two tribes and their casinos clear across state to Barstow, 700 miles away onto the ancestral lands of local tribes. S.B. 157, do-over legislation that was rejected by an Assembly committee in 2006, is backed by labor and environmental leaders. Regional and state law enforcement leaders joined other Indian tribes in rejecting the move last year.
The greater Barstow area is recognized as being within the ancestral homelands of the San Manuel and Chemehuevi Indian Tribes despite half-truths and misstated facts used by the Detroit Casino Syndicate to attack the local tribes’ ancestry.
Ashburn demonstrates little regard for the struggle and needs of more than 1,000 constituents enrolled as members of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe located in the south east corner of his sprawling 18th Senate District and hundreds of other Native Americans who consider the Mohave Desert their ancestral homelands.
Perhaps it’s simply a case of “out of sight, out of mind” and not an intentional act to withhold opportunities from his own constituents. The Chemehuevi Reservation is located 268 miles across the Mohave Desert from Ashburn’s Bakersfield home.
The City of Barstow first approached the Chemehuevi Tribe about business partnerships in the mid-1990s. The tribe had been consulted by the City on various archaeological matters in Barstow and leaders at the City, like local historians, recognized the ties the tribe’s ancestor had with the Greater Barstow area.
The Barstow City Council awarded a municipal agreement to the Chemehuevi Tribe during the Fall of 2005, nine months before the City awarded valid agreements to the Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes partnership. However, since 2003, it has been reported that the Detroit Casino Syndicate has pulled out all the stops to block any other proposals from moving forward in Barstow.
It should be noted the median household income among Ashburn’s constituents at the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation is less than $20,000 per year which must be spread among three individuals per household. Roughly a third of the Chemehuevi population lives below poverty levels.
Mike and Marian Ilitch share a spot with Oprah Winfrey on Forbes 400 List of Richest Americans -- their net worth estimated to be at least $1.5 billion; their seven children and their families share in the Ilitch Family fortunes. They gave away almost $900,000 in individual political contributions during the last four or five years.
The extended Moorehead family that makes up the Big Lagoon Rancheria Tribe gets $55,000 per capita annually for each adult member (20) just from the larger tribes' revenue sharing trust fund program. Moorehead's family owns a small hotel and other buinsess in the general area. The California Department of Finance indicates the state’s median household income is $46,900; that’s before taxes. Big Lagoon’s at $75,000-$100,000 per household just from the trust funds alone and that’s not subject to taxes nor does it consider the tribe's other business ventures.
Senator Ashburn makes at least $110,000 each year on his legislative salary alone plus expenses of $138 per day for each day the legislature is in session. He’s benefited when the people like those behind the Detroit Casino Syndicate have generously contributed to his campaign funds.
Why not afford your constituents a break Senator Ashburn? The Moorehead Family (that's who makes up the Big Lagoon Rancheria Tribe) at home on the "pristine" Big Lagoon in Trinidad, a short walk from the Pacific Ocean, appears be doing just fine and the Ilitch Family, ranked #242 on Forbes list of "Richest Americans," has got airplanes, a baseball team, Stanley cups and second homes and plenty needed to take care of generations to come.
The Verifiable Truth (tVT) like nearly everyone else we’ve heard from is extremely disappointed in Senator Ashburn’s decision to support the compacts rejected last year in the Assembly. It is going to continue a program of block and delay. By doing so, Senator Ashburn perpetuates the exclusivities awarded the Detroit Casino Syndicate for five years that have already cost Barstow and other High Desert Communities dearly.
More troubling is the lack of respect Ashburn has shown for the hard working Indian tribes whose ancestors have struggled to make their homes in the High Desert for centuries. By approving plans to transplant tribes’ casinos clear across state to Barstow on lands that traditionally are recognized as the ancestral homelands of others, Ashburn in effect is robbing hundreds of his constituents of their heritage and the opportunity to pull themselves up out of poverty and perpetuates the bad stereotypes about Native American gambling interests.
Ashburn shows disregard for the ancestral heritage of Native Americans who have true roots in the greater Barstow area. Native Americans demonstrate little need for material possessions but have a spiritual connection to their homelands that’s not truly understood by most of European heritage.
Senator Roy Ashburn’s 18th District is expansive taking in Inyo, Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino Counties and stretches from Bakersfield and the Tehachapi Mountains in the west to the Colorado River in the east anchored in the Bakersfield area where there is the greatest concentration of voters.
There are seven Indian reservations located within the 18th District and two others with portions of their reservation lands spilling into the 18th. The 30,653-acre Chemehuevi Indian Reservation is the second largest in the 18th District. It’s located in the far southeastern corner of the 18th District, 268 miles across the Mohave Desert from Bakersfield. Nearly all of the Lake Havasu’s California shoreline is on the Chemehuevi Reservation.
tVT notes the Chemehuevi Reservation and the Barstow community are represented by the same San Bernardino County Supervisor, member of the Assembly and state Senator.
Ashburn is co-author of legislation, S.B. 157, that would allow a powerful Detroit-based casino syndicate to transplant two tribes and their casinos clear across state to Barstow, 700 miles away onto the ancestral lands of local tribes. S.B. 157, do-over legislation that was rejected by an Assembly committee in 2006, is backed by labor and environmental leaders. Regional and state law enforcement leaders joined other Indian tribes in rejecting the move last year.
The greater Barstow area is recognized as being within the ancestral homelands of the San Manuel and Chemehuevi Indian Tribes despite half-truths and misstated facts used by the Detroit Casino Syndicate to attack the local tribes’ ancestry.
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