Federal
Communications with Congress and the Federal Government
When it became apparent in 2003, during the later phases of the Paradise Point case, that the Tribes sovereign immunity might not allow the court system a means to get the boundary dispute resolved, the West Bank Homeowners Association embarked upon attempts at a political solution. To that end we contacted various federal officials either directly or via letter writing campaigns. Although we have contacted legislators and officials in the federal government, our primary efforts have been with Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, who represents the Blythe area. The following descriptions and links below provide a brief outline of our efforts.
February 19, 2004
West Bank requests assistance from Congresswoman Mary Bono to establish a facilitator to discuss resolution of the boundary dispute with CRIT.
March 12, 2004
Department of the Interior Solicitor responds to West Bank members request to the Secretary of the Interior to rescind the ’69 Secretarial Order.
July 28, 2004
West Bank refutes assertions by the Solicitor and requests an independent review of the ’69 Secretarial Order.
August 1, 2004
West Bank expresses outrage at the action by the Department of the Interior to forward our letters to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
September 10, 2004
Congresswoman Mary Bono sends our request for independent review to the Inspector General of the Dept of the Interior.
October 19, 2004
DoI Inspector General responds to Congresswoman Bono, refusing to intervene within the Department.
November 23, 2004
West Bank responds to the Inspector General, citing blatant dishonesty and factual inaccuracies.
June 16, 2008
Department of Justice responds to requests from Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and Congressman David Dreier to again review the proper location of the CRIT boundary in the disputed area.
August 1, 2010
West Bank responds to the DoJ assertions that the ’69 Secretarial Order is valid, noting the Aranson case which ruled that the boundary was riparian.
August 9, 2010
Congresswoman Bono Mack sends letters to both the U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to again review the boundary dispute.
August 31, 2010
West Bank notifies Congresswoman Bono Mack of CRIT’s attempts to evict the Blythe Boat Club.
September 15, 2010
West Bank offers a proposed resolution of the boundary dispute in a letter to Congresswoman Bono Mack.
March 15, 2011
West Bank Homeowners Association presses Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack to initiate legislation to provide clarification to the Colorado River Indian Reservation western boundary.