Dear Editor,
I
have been a resident of Solvang all of my life. I have never been so concerned for my town as I was Monday night after
witnessing the Solvang City Council meeting. Solvang Mayor Linda Jackson’s
comments during and after the recent Solvang City Council hearing on expansion
of the Chumash Casino were alarming for what she said, and astonishing for what
she failed to say. Her comment that none of the speakers were from Solvang is
factually false. The first speaker was a long-time resident and community
leader from Solvang, the speaker from Concerned Citizens was representing many
members who live in Solvang, and three potential speakers who live in Solvang
arrived just minutes after the public comment period was closed and lost their
opportunity to speak.
The
propositions for expanded Indian gambling compacts failed in Solvang by a 62
percent vote. Despite this fact, Linda Jackson stated on the record that only
one out five Solvang residents voted against the propositions. This is pure
pro-gambling propaganda, and is incredible.
Come
to find out that the Chumash gave a [$24,000] contribution to the Solvang
chamber that same Monday.
First,
all residents were counted, whether they voted or not, including babies,
non-citizens, and people who do not care enough to vote.
Second,
the statement implies that people who did not vote against expanded gambling
were for it, which is a ridiculous leap of logic.
Under
her new vote-counting system, is she aware that only one out of four Solvang
residents voted for her to be a city council member, and less than one in a
thousand Solvang residents voted for her to be mayor? Her failure to say things
which she was obligated to say is even more remarkable.
As
a public official, she is in a position of public trust that obligates her to
disclose relationships that put her in positions of conflict of interest, or
potential conflict of interest.
If
this conflict even has the appearance of affecting her objectivity, she should recuse herself from all deliberations and voting on the
subject.
As
Executive Director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, her employment and
compensation are directly influenced by the fact that the Chumash Casino
employs at least one of the directors of the chamber. Further, very significant
funding for the chamber comes from the Chumash Casino and Resort.
None
of this was disclosed.
Several
actions are required to fix these problems. First, a public apology would be a
great start. Second, a full disclosure of the Chumash relationships and
contributions to the Solvang Chamber of Commerce should be made public. Third,
this important vote and discussion on it should be brought back to the council
and the public.
Mayor
Jackson did not divulge her conflicts of interest, which certainly should have
disqualified her voting on this topic. Her vote on this issue, along with those
of council members Palmer and Skytt, greatly aided
the local gambling syndicate’s expansion goals at severe cost to Solvang. The
council’s vote not to send a letter opposing more gambling expansion (slots) is
short-sighted and dangerous. The argument to wait until the syndicate starts
negotiating with the Governor to write a letter is foolhardy. The Governor and
the Syndicate will not tell us about the negotiations until after they are over
and it is too late to oppose the expansion. Could it be that this is no
accident?
Finally,
Ms. Jackson should recuse herself from all further
participation in issues involving the casino. She has fully demonstrated that
she has lost her legally required objectivity.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Sorensen