TIMES-HERALD
Jesse Gonzalez: Setting the record straight on Scotts Valley
April 9, 2026
The March 10 Vallejo Times-Herald article on the Scotts Valley Casino project raises claims that cannot go unchallenged.
As Vice Chair of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, I feel compelled to set the record straight. California’s Native history is complex, and it is not uncommon for multiple tribes to have ties to the same land. We have never denied that the Patwin, Miwok, Costanoan, and Pomo peoples also have deep roots here.
Like many tribes, our ancestors were forcibly removed from their homelands, their lands taken, and their families displaced. That painful history does not weaken or diminish our connection to Northern California or the traditions and stories passed down through our families.
It is unacceptable for any tribe to attempt to erase another tribe’s history to advance its own economic interests. Scotts Valley will not allow our heritage to be denied. Our goal is simple: help Vallejo thrive and strengthen the community for everyone who calls it home.
— Jesse Gonzalez/Vice Chair, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians