Sunday, May 06, 2007

SF Chronicle Editors back Labor, attack Gov. Schwarzennegger's gaming compacts

Sunday, May 6, 2007


Call the casinos' bluff

PERHAPS YOU'VE seen the new 60-second TV spots: a bald eagle soars, a narrator talks about the jobs and opportunity that casinos have brought to California and the additional benefits that new agreements reached with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would bring to the state. "Don't let special interests stand in the way," the narrator implores.

Behind those soft-focus ads is a brutal bottom line: The ad is being bankrolled by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, owner of a thriving casino, resort and spa in Riverside County, as part of a $20 million effort by the state's wealthiest tribes to persuade state legislators to expand their operations by 22,500 slot machines while subjecting them to far less stringent regulations than the governor demanded of less powerful tribes.

Schwarzenegger reached these 30-year agreements with the tribes just before his re-election. They're horrible deals for the state. The shortcomings include weak labor and environmental protections and an absence of industry-standard inspections on the efficacy and integrity of the slots. They allow the tribes themselves -- instead of an independent auditor -- to determine the amount of net winnings that would be subject to revenue sharing with the state.
The Senate went along with these compacts; it will take an act of great political courage for the Assembly to reject ratification of the compacts. The pressure is on -- and intensifying -- in the form of TV spots and direct mail.
"It's an unprecedented campaign," said Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, who is raising all the right concerns. "It seems like they're trying to bully us. We're not going to be bullied."
It's time for all who are concerned about an expansion of California casinos to a Las Vegas scale -- without the level of regulation in Nevada -- to make their voices heard.


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Ilitch has backed loosing sports teams and pizza, but casinos in Detroit? Forbes.com 10.09.06 ● Marian Ilitch #1 on "25 Most Powerful People" to Watch 2006” global gaming business o1.oo.o5 ● My Kingdom for a Casino Forbes 05.08.06 ● Big Lagoon’s casino dream awakens north coast journal 07.28.05 ● Shinnecocks launch legal claim to Hamptons land newsday.com 06.16.05 ● Ilitch Plans to Expand Casino Empire RGTonline.com 07.05.05 ● Ilitch outbids partners MichiganDaily.com 04.14.05 ● Ilitch enmeshed in NY casino dispute detnews.com 03.20.05 ● Marian Ilitch, high roller freep.com 03.20.05 ● MGM Mirage to Decide on Offer for Casino in Detroit rgtonline.com 04.16.05 ● Secret deal for MotorCity alleged freep.com 02.15.05 ● Los Coyotes get new developer desertdispatch.com 02.08.05 Detroit casino figure to finance Barstow project LasVegasSun.com 07.07.03 ● Indian Band trying to put casino in Barstow signonSanDiego.com 06.04.03 Pizza matriarch takes on casino roles detnews.com 10.23.02 ● Vanderbilt gets short straw in negotiations for a casino Lansing Journal 10.06.02 ● Indians aim to drive family from tribe in vicious dispute san diego union tribune 04.09.00 ●Malik owns 2000 Michigan Quarter Horse of the Year Michigan.gov 01.01.00 ● Detroit Team to run Michigan’s newest Indian casino detnews.com 05.23.99 Tiger ties tangle Marian Ilitch detnews.com 04.29.99 ● Three investors must sell their Detroit casino interests gamblingmagazine.com 04.25.99 ● Partners’ cash revived election; They say money was crucial to Prop-E detnews.com 04.25.99 Investors have troubled histories las vegas review journal 04.27.99 ● Investor served probation for domestic assault on 12 year old boy detnews.com 04.25.99 Can a pair win a jackpot?: local men hope to... crainsdetroit.com 03.17.97

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