CA Gaming Compact foes form uneasy alliance

As reported 9.27.07 in The Roundup, a daily look at the news from the editors of Capitol Weekly and AroundTheCapitol.com (part of the national Hotline Political Network):

Temporary alliances

Capitol Weekly takes a look at the strange alliance that is working to repeal four recent tribal gaming compacts. "For more than three years, the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community have been locked in a legal struggle with racetrack owners over the validity of gaming deals the tribes signed with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"But now, even as their internecine legal battle continues, the courtroom combatants have joined forces in an effort to repeal four new compacts ratified by the Legislature earlier this year.

"The legal fight is largely motivated by one man's struggle to bring slot machines to the racetracks his company owns and operates. Terry Fancher is the managing partner of Stockbridge Capital Group, the parent company of Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows racetracks. Since September 2004, Fancher and the racetracks he runs have sought to have the Pala and Auburn compacts ruled invalid by the courts."

"The lawsuit has been long and contentious.But now, in a relationship of convenience, forces on both sides of that legal question are fighting against the 2006 compacts signed by Schwarzenegger for some of the state's largest gaming tribes. " (Full Story)

Labor Union, Racetracks seek statewide vote on slots

7.28.07

Union, tracks seek slots vote
Tribal gambling expansion threatens jobs, doesn't help workers, they say.

By Peter Hecht - Bee Capitol Bureau

Representatives for hotel and casino workers and two leading California horse racing tracks Friday announced a petition drive to force a statewide vote on four major tribal gambling expansions in Southern California.

Officials for the UNITE HERE union and the Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows racetracks filed papers with the state attorney general's office late Friday seeking a Feb. 5 referendum on agreements that would add 17,000 new casino slot machines.

If the groups succeed in gathering 443,971 valid signatures of registered voters by Oct. 10, Californians can count on one of the most expensive and combative ballot fights in recent years.

"We are doing this because the largest single expansion of gambling in American history does not provide appropriate worker rights," said Jack Gribbon, political director for UNITE HERE. "It's clear these compacts just make a small gambling cartel in Southern California rich and do nothing for poor Indian tribes."

The referendum seeks to overturn controversial gambling agreements that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed and the Legislature approved for four tribes: the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

In a statement Friday, Pechanga tribal Chairman Mark Macarro called the referendum effort "an attack on the people, an attack on the governor and an attack on both houses of the Legislature.

"We will do what it takes to protect our agreement with the state," he added.

Under the agreements, the four tribes can each install between 3,000 and 5,500 new slot machines. They each now operate 2,000 slot machines, earning $200 million to $425 million each, according to 2005 financial reports.

Union activists are furious that the governor and the Legislature didn't require the tribes to accept provisions allowing workers to organize by collecting signed cards instead of holding secret ballot elections. Such language was included in accords signed in 2004 with other gambling tribes.

Meanwhile, racetrack owners have long fumed that burgeoning Indian gambling is severely shrinking their business.

Greg Larson, a spokesman for Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park, charged in a statement that the gambling agreements threaten the jobs of 50,000 racetrack workers.

He said the fact that tribes have an exclusive right to operate Nevada-style slot machines has "a negative impact on horse racing" and harms the California industry's ability "to compete with racetracks in other states."

Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the Morongo tribe in Riverside County, said Friday that state coffers would suffer dearly if the gambling agreements were overturned by voters.

"California voters need to know that without these compacts, California's current budget deficit will only grow," he said. "These compacts provide a new source of revenue for critical programs such as health care and the environment."

Schwarzenegger, in signing gambling compacts with five major tribes last year, said the gambling deals could generate $13.4 billion to $22.4 billion in tribal revenue-sharing payments to the state over 25 years.

One of the tribes -- the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in San Bernardino -- is still awaiting approval in the Legislature for its bid to add up to 5,500 new slot machines.

"The governor stands by his compacts. He believes they are good for the state, the tribes and the local communities," the governor's spokeswoman, Sabrina Lockhart, said Friday.

Representatives for other major casino tribes -- including the United Auburn tribe near Sacramento and the Pala tribe in San Diego County -- participated in discussions on the ballot referendum to block the Southern California casino expansions.

But Howard Dickstein, an attorney for the tribes, said Friday they haven't decided on whether to participate or financially support the ballot effort.

PR flack denies Michael Malik's suddenly a top contributor to Senator authoring SB 157, a bill to approve client's Casinos

The Verifiable Truth: Malik, Hollywood Park, Commerce Club round up cash for Sen Wiggins sponsor of SB 157 --

...in multiple identical comment "cut & paste" posts to The Verifiable Truth, Tom Shields, spokesman for Motor City casino syndicators, and a guy who relies heavily on "projection" as a psychological defense mechanism, provided this comment:

"The lies, misinformation and misrepresentations on this blog are too numerous to mention and don't deserve the time it would take to respond. Someone has obviously spent a lot of time and money in an attempt to malign the character of the people being attacked here. It's no wonder the author is anonymous.

"If you want the truth and the facts about the Barstow Casino resort project, the Shinnecock Tribe or the Port Huron Casino Resort proposal...you won't find them here. Go to barstowcasinosandresorts.com or contact me at Toms@mrgmi.com. We won't hide behind some anonymous blog."

Tom Shields
February 16, 2007 4:53:00 PM CST

Don't be surprised if Tom tries to tell us that, "this is just some vast right-wing conspiracy."

We gave Shields' comments and representations careful consideration and we weren't sure if Tom Shields is implying:

(a) the fabrication of disclosure documents required under California's Political Reform Act revealing that Michael Malik, Malik's MJM Enterprises Development Co., several of the largest commercial casinos in California (and a few other special interests) circled the wagons around Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa); and ponied up $30,000 on 10/21/06 just two weeks before election day - three months and ten days before she "announced " publicly that she would carry SB 157; or

(b) the fabrication, and paid distribution of a press release detailing a January 31st press conference in Sacramento staged to announce Senator Wiggins had been compelled to join two previous sponsors and co-author legislation, SB 157 -- legislation that nobody else apparently wants to touch . SB 157 champions legislative approvals for twin Indian casino resorts in Barstow; a development plan bankrolled and advanced by Shields' clients who have by contract exclusive rights to develop and manage the future twin Indian casinos project or in little known fact, any other such development in the City of Barstow; or

(c) both

If Tom Shields has information to prove that false or manufactured campaign disclosures have been filed by Senator Wiggins or those representing they've contributed to her committees, he should report that to the FPPC/CA Attorney General Jerry Brown ASAP; else he be found culpable or an accomplice.

If someone other than Tom Shields manufactured and paid for the distribution of a so-called "news" release or if someone other than Tom Shields "staged" a Sacramento press conference with bad actors -- people who falsely represented themselves as leaders of his client's adopted Indian Tribes or as those with whom Shields and his clients have been able to develop "buy-in" -- we counsel Tom Shields to immediately:

(a) put out an authorized release renouncing the January 31st event as a sham, and releasing Senator Wiggins, Senator Roy Ashburn and Assemblywoman Patti Berg from any commitments that were represented,

(b) demand an investigation by Capitol Police to find out who it was that used the Capitol for such an event and represented to the Capitol press corps they were affiliated with Shields' clients and associates,

(c) immediately demand credit due and take action against PRNewswire for falsely distributing a "news" release that represented it was from Shields' Indian Tribes and using Shields' PRNewswire account.

Other TVT posts that disturbed Shields enough to leave his “cut & paste” shallow boilerplate protests:

* The Verifiable Truth: Publicist shines spotlight on Senator Stabenow & Rep. Miller after his clients invested $200,000 in their campaigns
* The Verifiable Truth: Malik, Hollywood Park, Commerce Club round up cash for Sen Wiggins sponsor of SB 157
* The Verifiable Truth: Barstow Casino Billboard - picture's worth a thousand words

Malik, Hollywood Park, Commerce Club round up cash for Sen Wiggins sponsor of SB 157

Michael Malik lead commercial gaming interests, BNSF, a few unions and business contacts linked to the Ilitch Family who raised almost $30,000 for Senator Wiggins on Oct. 21, 2006

Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) received commercial gambling money late in the campaign reporting cycle from Detroit casino syndicators Michael Malik, Commerce Club Casino, Hollywood Park Casino and others.

On October 21, 2006 Patricia Wiggins collected more than $14,000 bundled in multiple checks from Michael J. Malik, Malik’s MJM Enterprises & Development; three commercial casinos that Malik may have had a hand in recruiting

--Hawaiian Gardens Casino,

California Commerce Club, Inc., and

Hollywood Park Casino –

and the California Restaurant Association, a group Malik’s partner Marian Ilitch, co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza, has connections to.

Senator Wiggins is the lead sponsor of SB 157, do-over legislation rejected in 2006 intended to ratify agreement that would give Malik and Ilitch the exclusive rights to develop and manage two Indian casinos in Barstow with tribal partners from opposite corners of the state; and an unprecedented 5,044 square mile competition-free zone.

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
HAWAIIAN GARDENS CASINO		MONETARY	HAWAIIAN GARDENS	CA/90716
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$1,000.00		10/21/2006	10/26/2006	1212900-A1485

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
CALIFORNIA COMMERCE CLUB, INC.		MONETARY	COMMERCE	CA/90040
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$1,000.00		10/21/2006	10/26/2006	1212900-A1487

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO		MONETARY	INGLEWOOD	CA/90303
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$1,000.00		10/21/2006	10/26/2006	1212900-A1488

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
MICHAEL J. MALIK, SR TRUST		MONETARY		CA/
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$2,000.00		10/21/2006	10/26/2006	1212900-A1489

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION PAC		MONETARY	SACRAMENTO	CA/95814
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
890231
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$2,000.00		10/21/2006	10/26/2006	1212900-A1490

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
HAWAIIAN GARDENS CASINO		MONETARY	HAWAIIAN GARDENS	CA/90716
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$1,000.00		10/21/2006	1/31/2007	1236771-A1485

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
CALIFORNIA COMMERCE CLUB, INC.		MONETARY	COMMERCE	CA/90040
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$1,000.00		10/21/2006	1/31/2007	1236771-A1487

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO		MONETARY	INGLEWOOD	CA/90303
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$1,000.00		10/21/2006	1/31/2007	1236771-A1488

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
MJM ENTERPRISES & DEVELOPMENT (Michael Malik’s Company)		MONETARY	DETROIT	MI/48201
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$2,000.00		10/21/2006	1/31/2007	1236771-A1489

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR		PAYMENT TYPE	CITY	STATE/ZIP
CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION PAC		MONETARY	SACRAMENTO	CA/95814
ID NUMBER	EMPLOYER		OCCUPATION
890231
AMOUNT		TRANS. DATE	FILED_DATE	TRANS #
$2,000.00		10/21/2006	1/31/2007	1236771-A1490

Note: This post pushed Tom Shields’ buttons enough that he left his “cut & paste” shallow boilerplate protest below. Here are some of the other posts that got Shields’ attention as well…

· Publicist shines spotlight on Senator Stabenow & Rep. Miller after his clients invested $200,000 in their campaigns

· Barstow Casino Billboard - picture's worth a thousand words

· PR flack denies Malik's suddenly a top contributor to Senator authoring SB 157, a bill to approve client's Casinos