The Navajo Nation Division of Community Development is hosting public meetings, not hearings, on proposed Decentralization plans at the Navajo Reservation’s five agencies all this week.
The DCD is part of the Navajo Nation Executive Branch is headed by President Ben Shelly’s political appointee, Leonard Chee, who is also a former Navajo Council delegate and former executive staff assistant to Speaker Johnny Naize.
I called DCD legislative associate Shirlene Jim for “additional information,” which was stated on the poster announcing the public meetings. Jim said she’d call me back. I asked for written information.
When Shirlene Jim’s calls me back, I’ll post more information on the proposed Decentralization plan, which by the way is not a new plan.
When former President Albert Hale ran for president, decentralization was part of his campaign platform. Hale never achieved decentralization because he was forced to resign and plead guilty to tribal ethics charges that involved his misuse of tribal funds, tribal property, including tribal vehicles and the tribal plane, and tribal employees.
Hale is currently serving as an Arizona legislator and consultant/lobbyist for the controversial proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project and proposed HRI in-situ uranium mining in Church Rock, N.M., and Crownpoint, N.M.
But back to decentralization, which is about moving tribal government programs, which are primarily headquartered in Window Rock, out into the five agencies.
I’m thinking that since the decentralization proposal is coming from the executive branch, which President Shelly heads, that Shelly is getting frantic about getting re-elected and needs to show the voters that he’s working for them and not himself. The Navajo Nation primary election IS Aug. 26, 2014, and general election is Nov. 4, 2013.
In the meantime, here’s the schedule for the public meeting, which all begin “promptly” at 9 a.m. There’s no ending time.
Today, 11-18-13, the Crownpoint, N.M. Agency meeting was at the Smith Lake Veterans Building, Smith Lake, N.M.
Tomorrow, 11-19-13, the Fort Defiance Agency meeting at the Whitecone Multi-pupose Building, Whitecone, Ariz.
The Tuba City Agency meeting is 11-20-13 at the To’Nanees’Dizi, Ariz., Chapter.
The Chinle Agency, which is 11-21-13, is at the Chinle, Ariz., Chapter.
And the last meeting is in the Shiprock Agency on 11-22-13 at the Nenahnezad, N.M., Chapter.
For more information, contact DCD legislative associate Shirlene Jim at 505-371-8468.
HERE IS THE WEB ADDRESS FOR THE NAVAJO NATION DIVISION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT’S DECENTRALIZATION TOUR:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7xhIWpNuJXiSEl4M19uMWlJelB6djh4OVRGWm9Ea01ydVVn/edit?usp=sharing
HERE’S THE WEB ADDRESS FOR THE 2013 NAVAJO NATION ELECTIONS
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7xhIWpNuJXidUdEMWhGSjJOaGs/edit?usp=sharing
