The ongoing drama swirling around an incredibly beautiful huge
swath of land just south of Gilroy took another turn last week when
reporter Serdar Tumgoren wrote the latest chapter on the Sargent
Ranch saga:
The ongoing drama swirling around an incredibly beautiful huge swath of land just south of Gilroy took another turn last week when reporter Serdar Tumgoren wrote the latest chapter on the Sargent Ranch saga: Federal officials concluded that Irenne Zwierlein, the self-proclaimed leader of the local Amah-Mutsun Indian tribe who signed a development agreement that would have changed the face of Sargent Ranch forever, forged documents sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
It’s earth-shaking news in the battle for control of the land and control of the tribe which splintered under Zwierlein’s “leadership.”
Congressman Mike Honda, thankfully, has quietly and deliberately backed away from proposing legislation that would have fast-tracked the Amah-Mutsun’s federal application for tribal recognition. That step would have paved the way for sovereign Indian control of the land, free from local government interference. Meanwhile, San Diego-based land owner Wayne Pierce, who has mortgaged the ranch to the hilt, isn’t talking. Neither is Zwierlein.
But Valentin Lopez, who has maintained for years that Zwierlein illegitimately claimed control of the tribe and excluded some who should be included, sees the eyes of justice beginning to open in the investigation’s findings.
“Our position is that these forgeries are no longer alleged. These forged documents are a pivotal issue. We think there is no leadership dispute and (Zwierlein) should not have any rights or access to Petition 120,” Lopez said.
He’s exactly right. The forgeries should invalidate Petition 120, and the BIA should re-consider the petition when the Amah-Mutsun come to an accord amongst themselves and re-submit a legitimate petition.
Moreover, the business deal signed by Zwierlein with Pierce on behalf of a faction of the Amah-Mutsun, clearly holds no force since it does not represent the tribe as a whole.
Temporarily at least, the Sargent Ranch has escaped development, and Gilroy won’t be subject to the crushing pressure of a new community springing up outside of any local control or input.
But the saga of the Sargent Ranch isn’t over. There are 6,000 acres with rolling hills beckoning, and while Lopez and his tribal council have a minimalist approach with plans to build a cultural center and preserve the remainder of Sargent Ranch, there are
others who see large dollar signs and profits if they could only gain control and circumvent Santa Clara County’s General Plan.
