More and more people are starting to think that President Nez is an ineffective Navajo president. In an editorial, Navajo Times Editor Duane Beyal called President Nez a “cutout carboard box." Beyal observes President Nez just appears for photo opportunities and compares Nez to President Trump who just tweets in this age of Social Media. (Editorial: No to a Photo-op Prez).
No plan
Council Delegate Charles-Newton and Delate Charlayne Tso have also criticized Nez for being a photo-op prez,
“I’m wondering when we’re going to start addressing some of the issues,.... It’s good that you’re showing up for these events and photo opportunities, but I think it’s time that we start working together... When are you going to start working with Council and judicial? The way I see this Council is doing heavy lifting and you are just along for the ride.” (Delegates blast Nez for not working with them)
President Nez has not come up with a plan to address the budget shortfall that will be caused by Navajo Generating Station (NGS) closing in December 2019.
VP Lizer
Nez is looking toward his Vice-President, the entrepreneur with some local experience, but nothing is coming from Vice-President Lizer either.
J.T. Willie
President Nez has not come up with a plan to address the budget shortfall that will be caused by Navajo Generating Station (NGS) closing in December 2019.
VP Lizer
Nez is looking toward his Vice-President, the entrepreneur with some local experience, but nothing is coming from Vice-President Lizer either.
J.T. Willie
Nez also chose J.T. Willie to direct the economic development division, but the only thing coming from Willie is to "Buy Navajo". The Navajo Times Cartoonist made fun of Willie's campaign and changed the slogan to "Bye Navajo," emphasizing all the dollars that leave the reservation for the bordertowns. I thought Ahasteen's joke was clever, but I don't think losing a third of the tribal revenue is a joking matter. I would like to see more positive cartoons coming from our Navajo elder. A lot of people criticized J.T. Willie's plan that the Navajo entrepreneurs need to learn customer services for Navajo People to buy their services and products. Customer service is a major factor to whether I buy Navajo or not.
Permanent Trust Fund
With these two options (Lizer and Willie) not working out, Nez is looking to the permanent trust fund, money that was set aside by former President Zah in the 1980s. (We're in the future now)
In 1985, the Navajo Nation won a law suit against Kerr-McGee for $217 million for unpaid Navajo taxes for the non-Indian company conducting business on the Navajo reservation. The case went to the United States Supreme Court who decided that that the tribe could impose taxes against non-Indians for conducting business on the Indian reservation. (Navajo permanent trust fund history) Then-Navajo-President Zah put that money judgment into a trust account called the 'Permanent Trust Fund'.
That fund has accrued interest and everybody, non-Indian businessmen and politicians, to tribal and non-tribal attorneys, to Jonathan Nez, is looking toward that swelled-up bag of cha-ching. At the end of 2017, the amount was $3.28 billion. It is probably more now. President Nez says this money was put aside because Zah knew that the natural resources would eventually dwindle along with the income it generates.
With these two options (Lizer and Willie) not working out, Nez is looking to the permanent trust fund, money that was set aside by former President Zah in the 1980s. (We're in the future now)
In 1985, the Navajo Nation won a law suit against Kerr-McGee for $217 million for unpaid Navajo taxes for the non-Indian company conducting business on the Navajo reservation. The case went to the United States Supreme Court who decided that that the tribe could impose taxes against non-Indians for conducting business on the Indian reservation. (Navajo permanent trust fund history) Then-Navajo-President Zah put that money judgment into a trust account called the 'Permanent Trust Fund'.
That fund has accrued interest and everybody, non-Indian businessmen and politicians, to tribal and non-tribal attorneys, to Jonathan Nez, is looking toward that swelled-up bag of cha-ching. At the end of 2017, the amount was $3.28 billion. It is probably more now. President Nez says this money was put aside because Zah knew that the natural resources would eventually dwindle along with the income it generates.
Cobell Settlement
There was also another recent lawsuit under President Shirley and President Shelly that earned hundreds of millions, $554 million to be exact. The tribe claimed the U.S. government has mismanaged funds and natural resources on the Navajo reservation for decades. The Navajo Nation won a settlement against the United States government requiring the government to pay the tribe $554 million for violating its trust responsibility to the tribe. (US to pay largest Indian settlement in US history)
However, the previous Navajo Nation Council has raided this fund down to nothing. A lot of the funds went into infrastructure and economic development. (Tribe starts planning to spend the $554 million settlement) But a lot of the funds also went to chapters and fairs where a lot goes unaccounted for.
Throwing in the towel
Out of all of this, it would be a pity if we allow President Nez to raid this Permanent Trust Fund to nothing. This Nat'aanii was elected because people thought that he was creative, smart, hard-working and able to get us out of this bind that the previous Nat'aaniis overlooked, and put us in. But so far, we have not seen anything. I feel like Nez has given up when he says, "We're in the future now". By making such a statement, Nez is already throwing in the towel. He cannot find a replacement for the lost NGS revenues.
Untackled issues
When Nez won the election, he stated, "It feels great. I see that the Navajo people have spoken — overwhelmingly — for change, and that's what this campaign is all about,.. I think after tonight, I ask for all of us to come back together as one Navajo family and start tackling the issues that we heard throughout the Navajo Nation." In the seventh month of his administration, President Nez has not started "tackling the issues". There is no plan on how he is going to tackle the issues, especially the big issue of beeso aden. He wanted the job, he got the job. Now, he needs to deliver. But we're not seeing it.
There was also another recent lawsuit under President Shirley and President Shelly that earned hundreds of millions, $554 million to be exact. The tribe claimed the U.S. government has mismanaged funds and natural resources on the Navajo reservation for decades. The Navajo Nation won a settlement against the United States government requiring the government to pay the tribe $554 million for violating its trust responsibility to the tribe. (US to pay largest Indian settlement in US history)
However, the previous Navajo Nation Council has raided this fund down to nothing. A lot of the funds went into infrastructure and economic development. (Tribe starts planning to spend the $554 million settlement) But a lot of the funds also went to chapters and fairs where a lot goes unaccounted for.
Throwing in the towel
Out of all of this, it would be a pity if we allow President Nez to raid this Permanent Trust Fund to nothing. This Nat'aanii was elected because people thought that he was creative, smart, hard-working and able to get us out of this bind that the previous Nat'aaniis overlooked, and put us in. But so far, we have not seen anything. I feel like Nez has given up when he says, "We're in the future now". By making such a statement, Nez is already throwing in the towel. He cannot find a replacement for the lost NGS revenues.
Untackled issues
When Nez won the election, he stated, "It feels great. I see that the Navajo people have spoken — overwhelmingly — for change, and that's what this campaign is all about,.. I think after tonight, I ask for all of us to come back together as one Navajo family and start tackling the issues that we heard throughout the Navajo Nation." In the seventh month of his administration, President Nez has not started "tackling the issues". There is no plan on how he is going to tackle the issues, especially the big issue of beeso aden. He wanted the job, he got the job. Now, he needs to deliver. But we're not seeing it.
"Lacks ability"
When former President Russell Begaye endorsed Candidate Joe Shirley Jr. in the 2018 elections, Begaye essentially stated that Nez was incompetent. (Begaye endorses Shirley) Begaye said, “This is a very, very critical election,” Begaye said, emphasizing that the Navajo Nation will be facing the loss of about a third of its revenue with the 2019 NGS closure. “The vice president doesn’t have the capacity to replace that revenue …" Begaye said that Nez lacks the ability to negotiate contracts and to conduct meetings with officials. "Over the last four years, I've seen (the) vice president not having the capacity or capability of thinking at this level," Begaye said.
Hopeful
Was former President Begaye correct about Nez? After all, President Begaye has worked with Nez for four years. He (Nez) has not shown us otherwise. At least, until now, we can say that Nez has not delivered anything near his people's expectations. I hope to see Nez improve his performance for the nation. If we don't see any improvement, then I'm afraid Begaye's words would come to pass, and our tribe would continue its path toward dire straits.
When former President Russell Begaye endorsed Candidate Joe Shirley Jr. in the 2018 elections, Begaye essentially stated that Nez was incompetent. (Begaye endorses Shirley) Begaye said, “This is a very, very critical election,” Begaye said, emphasizing that the Navajo Nation will be facing the loss of about a third of its revenue with the 2019 NGS closure. “The vice president doesn’t have the capacity to replace that revenue …" Begaye said that Nez lacks the ability to negotiate contracts and to conduct meetings with officials. "Over the last four years, I've seen (the) vice president not having the capacity or capability of thinking at this level," Begaye said.
Hopeful
Was former President Begaye correct about Nez? After all, President Begaye has worked with Nez for four years. He (Nez) has not shown us otherwise. At least, until now, we can say that Nez has not delivered anything near his people's expectations. I hope to see Nez improve his performance for the nation. If we don't see any improvement, then I'm afraid Begaye's words would come to pass, and our tribe would continue its path toward dire straits.
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