Here at Naabik’iyati Committee, where Naabi voted 12 in favor and 0 opposed on Legislation 0058-14, which is for a Coalition between the Navajo Nation and 14 state counties to address federal funding of roads, including bus routes and bridges.
Naabi is now on Legislation 0059-14: urging the Apache County Board of Supervisors, the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, the Arizona State Liquor Board and any other appropriate agencies to reject renewal of the liquor license for Ole Red Barn Liquor by Gary McDonald, in Sanders, Ariz., Navajo Nation.
DELEGATE LORENZO CURLEY
The news article about Gary McDonald getting arrested for operating a meth lab and selling meth has provided evidence for tribe to urge Arizona Liquor Board to oppose renewal of liquor license for McDonald.
According to 0059-14, wen MacDonald was arrested in January 2014, it was his second time for being arrested on drug charges. Law enforcement officers found a meth lab, meth and firearms. They are also looking at money laundering.
On Feb. 18, the Navajo Council’s Law and Order Committee voted 2 in favor, 0 opposed to support the community Task Force in its efforts to shut down the Ole Red Barn Liquor Store in Sanders, Ariz.
CHAR JAMES, FORMER SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNSELOR
The Ole Red Barn Liquor store contributes to social problems facing people living in the area, who are Navajo people that were relocated from their ancestral homeland because of the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. The people are suffering from alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and suicide and this liquor stores is taking advantage of that.
McDonald also has two other liquor stores.
DELEGATE ALTON SHEPHERD
The Law and Order Committee has been involved in this effort to stop the renewal of the liquor license for the Ole Red Barn Liquor store for Gary McDonald. The Arizona Liquor Board holds hearings on liquor licenses but if you look at where they have hearings, the hearings are held away from the Navajo Reservation. And there is another fight regarding the definition of Indian Country because there is a sliver of land along Interstate 40 that allows this liquor store near the reservation. I challenge Apache County elected officials to step up. In our Apache County we have two supervisors and we haven’t heard anything from them. This liquor store and the McDonalds are hurting the people. And if McDonald found guilty of meth then McDonald cannot hold liquor license. But we heard that the McDonald liquor license will be transferred and so the selling of liquor will continue. I’m going to make amendment:
High country Liquor, Lee’s Liquor included and they are owned and operated by the McDonald’s. And this amendment would include all three liquor stores because the three are all in a five mile radius and that just shows who is being targeted.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
I think it wud be better to address separately because u are diluting the issue. Each liquor store presents own unique problems.
DELEGATE KENNETH MARYBOY
I worked with Utah and when liquor license are renewed, the sheriff and other law enforcement are involved and renewal also includes violations of the law. I believe that the McDonald liquor license will not be renewed.
DELEGATE JONATHAN NEZ
There are several resolutions from the community that are attached to this legislation that oppose the liquor license renewal. And I just want to say that I hope that the community stands by their support for no liquor in their community because there’s talk about opening a tribal casino.
VOTE ON AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE TWO OTHER LIQUOR STORIES OWNED AND OPERATED BY GARY MC DONALD THAT ARE ALSO IN A FIVE MILE RADIUS OF OLE RED BARN. 13 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED
It is now 3 p.m.
