Originally Posted By: rojoband
Originally Posted By: Salmo g.
Can a member of the public be excluded from a meeting held in the Lacey Community Center if it was rented by a public agency? If I have time in the morning I might call and see if they can legally bar entrance. They rent it out for wedding receptions and the like, so I can see how a wedding group wouldn't want to be crashed by uninvited people.


True, but go ahead an show up...bet you after someone did that, they would simply end the meeting, or the tribes would walk away and every meeting would thereafter be held on a reservation at one of the closest casinos. Pretty easy workaround if you ask me.


They rented the entire facility even though they only need one room. Why?, to prevent me from renting the room next door so I can enter!

If they moved it, that would be pretty chicken [Bleeeeep!], and send a very clear message that they (the tribes) have no intention of "Co-management." If they move the meetings to further prohibit transparency, they remove any facade of wanting to be a partner in management. They would prove they want to dictate the terms. Maybe the time is overdue to draw a line in the sand and say NO MORE GIVING UP TO AVOID CONFLICT!

The Open Public Meetings Act clearly states that the Public will be allowed entry, and IF they disrupt the meeting, they can be asked to leave. QUIETLY SITTING IN THE ROOM AND LISTENING IS NOT DISRUPTING. Incidentally, there is NO LEAGLE REASON the meetings are closed to the PUBLIC..IT IS ONLY BECAUSE THE TRIBES SAY THEY ARE AND THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THEM UPSET!

And what about FREEDOM OF THE PRESS? WHY IS IT THE TRIBES CAN PREVENT A MEMBER OF THE PRESS FROM ATTENDING?

Here's the million dollar question? WHY CAN THE TRIBES SAY "NO PUBLIC" and the Department can't say "YES, THERE WILL BE"?

What gives them the right to dictate the terms of the negotiations? Again, there is no legal reason the meetings are closed. I'm sick of hearing "These are Gov't to Gov't meetings, therefor the public is not allowed." That's just BS! Even the Federal Department of Indian Affairs says they encourage the public to attend these meetings because it builds trust! The Tribes use this Gov't to Gov't BS to mask the true intent, and that is to keep the public from seeing how they act and what the demand!

We are losing guys, and as long as we keep buying the BS we will continue to lose! As for me, I'm sick of it!