San Manuel Band Of Mission Indians

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on Friday became the latest California tribe to open its own tribal court, designed to hear civil cases and give members a chance to mediate disputes within their own culture. "This is a historic day for the tribe as we constitute the first formal court system on the reservation," tribal chairman James Ramos told more than 100 guests who came to the Highland reservation to watch the swearing-in of Chief Judge Joanne Willis Newton, three appellate judges and a judge pro tem. Each judge stood in black robes before Ramos and repeated an oath to apply "the San Manuel judicial code fairly and equally to all persons who will come before this court."

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on Friday became the latest California tribe to open its own tribal court, designed to hear civil cases and give members a chance to mediate disputes within their own culture. "This is a historic day for the tribe as we constitute the first formal court system on the reservation," tribal chairman James Ramos told more than 100 guests who came to the Highland reservation to watch the swearing-in of Chief Judge Joanne Willis Newton, three appellate judges and a judge pro tem. Each judge stood in black robes before Ramos and repeated an oath to apply "the San Manuel judicial code fairly and equally to all persons who will come before this court."

When James Ramos became chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians this spring, he inherited serious problems of violence and drugs on the reservation. Tribal members had been linked to the Mexican Mafia, federal authorities had raided homes and the private security force had been criticized for being too lenient with some members. Rather than deny or ignore what was going on, Ramos cracked down on crime, making it his priority.

When James Ramos became chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians this spring, he inherited serious problems of violence and drugs on the reservation. Tribal members had been linked to the Mexican Mafia, federal authorities had raided homes and the private security force had been criticized for being too lenient with some members. Rather than deny or ignore what was going on, Ramos cracked down on crime, making it his priority.

San Bernardino city officials have sued the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in Los Angeles federal court to halt construction of a bingo parlor in that city. In their lawsuit, city officials complain that the band and the Interior Department failed to fully analyze the parlor's impact on a nearby residential neighborhood. Also, city officials said they were not given the opportunity to appeal final federal approval of the proposal.

It was inspiring to read Lynell George's article about two radio stations that are finding market success while promoting social values ("Rebuilding With a Beat," Feb. 9). Congratulations to Power 106 and 92.3 The Beat for taking the high road and finding a multitude of listeners along the way. Apparently more than a few young people are responding to positive messages of tolerance and goodwill. Speaking as one peace-loving Native American, I wholeheartedly endorse the pro-people, no-color-lines programming policies of these radio stations.

THE nation's only "children's forest" comprises 3,400 acres of manzanita and pine in the San Bernardino National Forest. An interpretive trail marked by brightly colored hand-made signs points to inventive landmarks -- Pillow Rock ("come and dream while on this rock") or Chipmunk Condo, a tree trunk where five critters once dwelled -- and warnings about the wildlife-squishing consequences of straying from the trail (see below).

A Mailer by Los Angeles City Council candidate Wendy Greuel did not mislead voters about support received by her opponent, Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D- Panorama City), from a gambling interest, a campaign watchdog group concluded Friday. Neither did Greuel mislead voters about her support by police officers, according to a report issued by the Campaign Watch Commission of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, a nonpartisan group of community leaders.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is expected to sign a contract with the county Sheriff's Department today to patrol the reservation and crack down on crime. "We have a growing and evolving relationship with the Sheriff's Department, and we want to extend it another year," said Jacob Coin, tribal spokesman. "Safety and security on the reservation is our highest priority." This will be the third such contract between the tribe and local authorities. Sheriff Gary Penrod and Dist.

Re "Schwarzenegger Is a Sure Bet as He Steps Up Fight to Beat Gambling Measures," Capitol Journal, Oct. 7: George Skelton states that the governor is "incensed" at my tribe for not "dealing with him." Our tribe and others have attempted several times to negotiate with the governor, which only proved fruitless. We proposed a gaming agreement resulting in an additional $1 billion to the state that was rejected by the governor's negotiators. We requested meetings with the governor directly and were told he was not available.

An Indian tribe that owns one of the most successful casinos in California has donated $10 million to the campaign for a November ballot initiative that would wrest control of Indian gambling expansion from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The donation, one of the largest single contributions to a political campaign, came from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians one week after several tribes that operate major casinos endorsed the measure, Proposition 70.

Deals to add up to 17,000 slot machines at four Southern California tribal casinos passed the Legislature on Thursday, setting the stage for giant casinos with twice as many slots as the biggest in Las Vegas. Within minutes, union leaders raised the possibility of mounting a repeal campaign. The Assembly passed compacts that Gov.