CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 70Introduced by Senator Seyarto(Coauthors: Assembly Members Garcia, Mathis, Ramos, Luz Rivas, and Sanchez)May 17, 2023 Relative to Pechanga Puska Mountain Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 70, as introduced, Seyarto. Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.This measure would proclaim November 15, 2023, as Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Puska Mountain represents the place of the Sacred Creation Area for all Pechanga Band of Indians; andWHEREAS, Each year, since 2012, the City of Temecula has observed Pechanga Puska Mountain Day on November 15, and Pechanga Puska Mountain Day reminds the community of the native heritage of the Pechanga Band of Indians; and WHEREAS, Puska Mountain is the Pechanga Band of Indians place of the union of Sky-Father and Earth-Mother, where life on earth began atxva Temeku therefore holding profound cultural, historical, and spiritual importance to all the Pechanga Band of Indians for all time; andWHEREAS, In the mid-2000s, Puska Mountain was threatened to be permanently desecrated by an open-pit mining proposal known as the Liberty Quarry project, the most contentious land use issue ever faced in the County of Riverside; andWHEREAS, The Puska Mountain story is remembered as a collaborative and united effort by the Pechanga Band of Indians, Save Our Southwest Hills, San Diego State University, the City of Temecula, tens of thousands of citizens, business owners, community stakeholders, and all who worked tirelessly to stop the destruction of an environmentally and culturally sensitive mountain; andWHEREAS, The proposed Liberty Quarry surface mine would have irreversibly ruined the Sacred Creation Area of the Pechanga Band of Indians; andWHEREAS, For the Pechanga Band of Indians, the proposal was personal: Puska Mountain is the place of the Sacred Creation Area for the Pechanga Band of Indians; andWHEREAS, The battle officially ended on November 15, 2012, with the Pechanga Band of Indians purchase of the land, reuniting Puska Mountain with its original stewards to be preserved for future generations through a historic settlement agreement negotiated by the Pechanga Band of Indians; andWHEREAS, Puska Mountain became a symbol to many communities of people enduring the seven-year battle to protect it from a devastating and massive quarry, and strengthened and bonded its surrounding communities in a common cause worth protecting until the end; andWHEREAS, Each year the City of Temecula and the Pechanga Band of Indians have observed Pechanga Puska Mountain Day with a gathering of cultural activities in the Town Square at the City Hall; andWHEREAS, The City of Temecula is proud to have proclaimed a local holiday dedicated to better understanding and celebrating the culture and heritage of the Pechanga Band of Indians and the Native Americans; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby, in heartfelt recognition, profoundly thanks the Pechanga Band of Indians, and proclaims November 15, 2023, as Pechanga Puska Mountain Day; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 70Introduced by Senator Seyarto(Coauthors: Assembly Members Garcia, Mathis, Ramos, Luz Rivas, and Sanchez)May 17, 2023 Relative to Pechanga Puska Mountain Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 70, as introduced, Seyarto. Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.This measure would proclaim November 15, 2023, as Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 70
Introduced by Senator Seyarto(Coauthors: Assembly Members Garcia, Mathis, Ramos, Luz Rivas, and Sanchez)May 17, 2023
Introduced by Senator Seyarto(Coauthors: Assembly Members Garcia, Mathis, Ramos, Luz Rivas, and Sanchez)
May 17, 2023
Relative to Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 70, as introduced, Seyarto. Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.
This measure would proclaim November 15, 2023, as Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.
This measure would proclaim November 15, 2023, as Pechanga Puska Mountain Day.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Puska Mountain represents the place of the Sacred Creation Area for all Pechanga Band of Indians; and
WHEREAS, Each year, since 2012, the City of Temecula has observed Pechanga Puska Mountain Day on November 15, and Pechanga Puska Mountain Day reminds the community of the native heritage of the Pechanga Band of Indians; and
WHEREAS, Puska Mountain is the Pechanga Band of Indians place of the union of Sky-Father and Earth-Mother, where life on earth began atxva Temeku therefore holding profound cultural, historical, and spiritual importance to all the Pechanga Band of Indians for all time; and
WHEREAS, In the mid-2000s, Puska Mountain was threatened to be permanently desecrated by an open-pit mining proposal known as the Liberty Quarry project, the most contentious land use issue ever faced in the County of Riverside; and
WHEREAS, The Puska Mountain story is remembered as a collaborative and united effort by the Pechanga Band of Indians, Save Our Southwest Hills, San Diego State University, the City of Temecula, tens of thousands of citizens, business owners, community stakeholders, and all who worked tirelessly to stop the destruction of an environmentally and culturally sensitive mountain; and
WHEREAS, The proposed Liberty Quarry surface mine would have irreversibly ruined the Sacred Creation Area of the Pechanga Band of Indians; and
WHEREAS, For the Pechanga Band of Indians, the proposal was personal: Puska Mountain is the place of the Sacred Creation Area for the Pechanga Band of Indians; and
WHEREAS, The battle officially ended on November 15, 2012, with the Pechanga Band of Indians purchase of the land, reuniting Puska Mountain with its original stewards to be preserved for future generations through a historic settlement agreement negotiated by the Pechanga Band of Indians; and
WHEREAS, Puska Mountain became a symbol to many communities of people enduring the seven-year battle to protect it from a devastating and massive quarry, and strengthened and bonded its surrounding communities in a common cause worth protecting until the end; and
WHEREAS, Each year the City of Temecula and the Pechanga Band of Indians
have observed Pechanga Puska Mountain Day with a gathering of cultural activities in the Town Square at the City Hall; and
WHEREAS, The City of Temecula is proud to have proclaimed a local holiday dedicated to better understanding and celebrating the culture and heritage of the Pechanga Band of Indians and the Native Americans; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby, in heartfelt recognition, profoundly thanks the Pechanga Band of Indians, and proclaims November 15, 2023, as Pechanga Puska Mountain Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.