GROUPS RETAIN FORMER U.S. SOLICITOR GENERAL

February 23, 2006

Two Valley citizen groups have retained former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson to handle their legal challenge of a recent federal government ruling that denied their appeal of the Chumash Indian's pending annexation of 6.9 acres off Highway 246. Preservation of Los Olivos (POLO) and Preservation of Santa Ynez (POSY) have been fighting the tribe's recent requests to annex more land, which would remove it from county planning regulations and tax rolls.

The U.S. Department of the Interior denied the groups' appeal, saying they did not have the standing to bring the motion forward. However, Olson argued that the groups have a right to judicial review.

For more information, visit www.polosyv.org.