Cherokee Nation Wants to Be the First Tribe With a Representative in Congress

Chief Chuck Hoskin of the Cherokee Nation plans to act on a stipulation of a 200-year-old federal treaty which empowers the tribe to name a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. In a letter sent to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, Hoskin asked for the consideration of Kimberly Teehee, a former advisor on Native American affairs to President Obama, as the new representative. If approved, Teehee would represent the largest tribe in the country, with over 370,000 registered members (in comparison, Wyoming, the least populous state, has around 570,000 people). Hoskin said that the Cherokee Nation’s right to appoint a congressional delegate is reaffirmed in two different treaties with the federal government and explicitly laid out in the tribe’s constitution—but the tribe has never exercised this right. “As native issues continue to rise to the forefront of the national dialogue, now is the time for the Cherokee Nation to execute a provision in our treaties...We are eager to work with our congressional delegation from Oklahoma to move this historic appointment forward,” he said. It is likely that any attempt to appoint Teehee to the House of Representatives would face a legal challenge. It seems likely a Cherokee representative would be a non-voting member, like the members representing Washington D.C. or Puerto Rico, an expert said. Congressman Tom Cole from Oklahoma, where the Cherokee Nation is based, said that the full House would have to approve any substantial change like the one proposed. “There’s a lot of questions that have to be answered. Number one, I don’t know that the treaty still is valid. They’re basing it on something that is 185 years ago,” he said. But Ezra Rosser, a tribal law specialist at American University’s College of Law, said that he is excited to see a tribe try to exercise this right for the first time, no matter the outcome. “Even if it doesn’t go anywhere, non-Indians should be forced to face up to what we did and I think this is a tool that could be used to challenge not only our understanding of democracy, but also our understanding of history,” he said. [Tulsa World; Associated Press]

GUNFIRE DETECTION | The Cleveland City Council is considering a proposal to implement a gunfire detection technology that would allow police to pinpoint the location of gunshots around the city using sensors on light poles. According to the manufacturer, ShotSpotter, the “sensors listen for the impulsive sound of gunfire...they are designed to automatically alert security personnel within ten seconds, without any human assessment.” If approved for use in Cleveland, the pilot would last two years and cost about $500,000. Councilmember Blaine Griffin said that the technology is needed in the city, which has seen several spikes in gun violence in recent years. "A lot of my colleagues and myself have been advocating for this to come to our city for a long time. We think this is another tool in our tool box to really try to address violent crime and gun crime in our city. I don’t think it stops here. I think we have to look and drones and other technology,” he said. But residents of the city have raised concerns about privacy with the technology, which has the potential to be used as a mass surveillance system. In a Q&A with the ACLU in 2015, Ralph Clark, the CEO of Shotspotter, said that fears of surveillance were overblown. “If you’re really worried about that, what about your cell phone? If you’re worried about NSA boogeymen, they’re not going to be using our sensors, they’ll be using your phone. It’s in your pocket and has a better microphone,” he said. [WKYC; Cleveland.com]

HIGH-END TAXES | Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proposed taxing “high-end” legal and accounting services, as well as raising taxes on the sale of houses over $1 million, to close the city’s $1 billion budget shortfall caused by looming pension payments. Lightfoot has ruled out increasing taxes on services like hairdressing, nail salons, and health clubs, instead focusing on those used mainly by wealthier individuals. “We can’t keep balancing the budget on the backs of low-wage and working-class folks. We’ve got to make sure that people of means absolutely pay their fair share. We are not going to propose any tax that’s gonna be regressive and that’s gonna fall on the backs of those who are least able to manage that burden,” she said. But Lightfoot needs the support of the state legislature to levy these taxes, and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, a Republican, said that while he’s “open to talking with the mayor to discuss ways to help her with her pensions and other fiscal issues that she has,” he doesn’t see his caucus embracing the idea of more taxes. “Our caucus believes that we’ve placed enough taxes and fees upon homeowners and businesses large and small throughout the state,” he said. If approved, Lightfoot said she plans to use the tax revenue to fund homeless services and affordable housing developments. [Chicago Sun Times; Block Club Chicago]

ERIC GARNER | Just one month after the U.S. Department of Justice announced that they will not bring federal charges against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, whose actions in July 2014 resulted in the death of Eric Garner, the officer was fired from the New York City Police Department. Earlier this month, a departmental disciplinary judge recommended that Pantaleo be fired, and NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill agreed this week in what he called an “extremely difficult” decision. “In this case the unintended consequence of Mr. Garner’s death must have a consequence of its own. It is clear that Daniel Pantaleo can no longer effectively serve as a New York City police officer. Today is a day of reckoning, but it can also be a day of reconciliation,” O’Neill said. The Police Benevolent Association, the union for NYPD officers, lambasted the decision. “The damage is already done...We are urging all New York City police officers to proceed with utmost caution in this new reality, in which they may be deemed ‘reckless’ just for doing their job,” said PBA President Patrick J. Lynch. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who expressed disappointment in the DOJ decision not to prosecute Pantaleo, said that firing the officer was necessary. “Today will not bring Eric Garner back. But I hope it brings some small measure of closure and peace to the Garner family,” he said. Activists, including Garner’s daughters and Rev. Al Sharpton, said that they will still continue to fight for increased police oversight in the wake of the decision. “We are relieved but not celebratory. You cannot have a set of rules for citizens and a different set of rules for policemen. They must follow the law and follow policy,” said Sharpton. [Washington Post; New York Times]

CARBON FUEL | Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order intended to eliminate the use of carbon-based fuels in the state by 2050. The Democratic governor pushed the idea after it was rejected by the Republican-controlled legislature this year. State Rep. Mike Kuglitsch, a Republican, expressed disappointment in the decision. "Since the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow, it is irresponsible to mandate total carbon-free generated electricity when there is not technology currently available to sustain a power grid 24/7 using intermittent generation," he said. But Evers said Wisconsin’s dependence on coal has dropped in recent years, and renewable energy sources like wind, solar, nuclear, and hydropower are on the rise. "For far too long clean energy has not been a priority in our state and we’re going to change that," Evers said. [Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Wisconsin State Journal]