First, the article gives the impression that the eviction proceedings that are presently taking place in the Robinson Rancheria Tribal Court are related to the disenrollment of tribal members that occurred at the end of last year. That is not true. The eviction actions have been brought against eight tenants of Tribal Housing because they violated the terms of their lease agreements with the Tribe’s Housing Commission. Those violations include failure to pay rent, the storage of broken down cars and other junk on the rented property, and disturbing the peace. The eviction proceedings were begun only after repeated requests that the tenants pay their mortgage/rent and stop behaving in ways that were disturbing to the community.

Second, all of the tenants who are being evicted were given notice of the eviction proceedings and an opportunity to present their side of the story to the Housing Commission at hearings scheduled last week. Not one showed up to present arguments for why he/she should not be evicted. Instead the tenants skipped the hearing and attempted to interfere with the business operations of the Tribe’s casino, the source of the revenue that the Tribe uses to fund tribal programs the tenants have benefited from for years.

Third, while the Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued a report citing to deficiencies in the Housing Commission’s compliance with certain federal grant program requirements, those compliance issues relate to matters of procedure and record keeping. They have been addressed and are being resolved. More important, those compliance issues have nothing to do with the evictions.

As anyone who has ever been a landlord, tenant, or home buyer knows, making your rental or mortgage payments is required if you want to rent or buy a home. The tenants being evicted by the Tribe have failed and refused to pay rent for years. The article cited the case of a tenant who owed $4,000 back mortgage payments, which would represent over two years of payments.

Furthermore, as anyone who has ever been kept awake by the noisy and obnoxious behavior of a neighbor knows, and as everyone who has ever had a pleasant neighborhood turned into a junk yard by thoughtless neighbors knows, a person’s refusal to meet basic community standards can make life miserable for the entire community. If these people were not tribal members taking advantage of tribal housing, they would have been evicted long ago. No one would be writing articles about the

unfairness of the process.

It is unfortunate that the Lake County News has chosen to allow the tenants to portray themselves as victims without investigating the facts of the situation. It is also unfortunate that the Lake County News has decided to portray a landlord tenant dispute as a political purge. Both the tribal community and the greater Lake County community would be better served by more thorough and accurate reporting of local issues.

Nicholas Medina is secretary-treasurer of the Robinson Rancheria Citizens Business Council in Nice.

Editor's note: As with all issues we cover, Lake County News has made the effort to be fair and accurate in its reporting of stories relating to Robinson Rancheria. The information in the article referenced above represents the situation as it was related to us by those willing to speak on the record, coupled with information from federal and tribal documents. It is strange that after months of having our requests for response on these and other issues ignored by tribal leaders – Mr. Medina, in particular, has never acknowledged, much less responded to, our requests for comment – that they complain their side hasn't been fairly represented. We stand by our report.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (4)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

remember the good old days...
written by smurf, September 13, 2009

when white people used to be the tribe's biggest problem? No more, as now it's "shaft thy neighbor" time on the rancherias, with Robinson leading the way. As usual, the gang running Robinson had no use for the media until they got caught abusing their authority-again.
Now they have all kinds of info to offer-slanted and one sided! Go back to stealing from your brothers and sisters medina, and be thankful there aren't any real laws on the res to stop you.

• 
• +17
• 
• 

Making Life Miserable!!
written by buster, September 17, 2009

Nick has a lot of nerve saying that others make life miserable for him. Hes a fat mommas boy that throws his weight around and scares people by threatening their jobs and eviction. Him and Tracy act like they are scarface ruling the world in the casino hotel and r-bar. Its too bad he has to proposition prostitution in the R-Bar to get dates. Thats why he got punched in the fat mouth by a woman!!!

• 
• +8
• 
• 

Outsider Looking in
written by mstanbettyboop, September 18, 2009

So let me understand you Nick. You are saying that under the leadership of the tribal counsel for the past four years; they have allowed people to live rent free and have put the entire tribe in financial risk. Did you know that the law states that if you accept rent or mortgage payments late, or in payments for over a year and never take action against the payee, the company or persons whom rent is being paid too has changed the original payment agreement. Meaning that you can’t say well it is ok that you did not pay your rent for three or four years and now I have decided that I want my money and you have to pay or get out. But what is more offensive is that this counsel is not being removed for failing to protect the tribe from this type nonsense for four years. Your counsel set their own people up by not making them pay rent the moment they entered office. When is Tracy being evicted? Let’s see she hasn’t paid rent in how many years? And, didn’t she get in trouble by HUD for giving her son a grant for his house she might as well own up to it, Federal Money- public record. Is that the means that your counsel is paying back or taken care of? Your counsel has contributed nothing to your people but extremely poor leadership. And now with this letter you have admitted to it. Maybe those none payment of rent were for votes or some other favor? Why else would you allow people not to pay? Shame on you! For trying to act like it the peoples fault because they did not pay rent. You did not make them pay until the Housing Commission looked at the counsel. Then you pick on the elderly, the uneducated and disable first but you neglected to go after any family members of your own. Sick! I hope this give your people the strength too stand up and get a good lawyer.

• 
• +8
• 
• 

...
written by dogwalker, September 26, 2009

Medina-"It is also unfortunate that the Lake County News has decided to portray a landlord tenant dispute as a political purge. Both the tribal community and the greater Lake County community would be better served by more thorough and accurate reporting of local issues."
President Obama-"What a jackass"

• 
• +1
• 
•