California Elected Officials and Organizations Join Growing Coalition to Oppose Proposition 26: September 12, 2022
Measure could Result in $500 Million in Lost Tax Revenue for California Communities
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (September 12, 2022) – Opposition to Proposition 26 continues to grow
with additional California elected officials and organizations announcing their opposition to
Proposition 26 – the only sports betting measure on the November 2022 ballot that directly
harms local communities.
Newly announced elected officials and organizations opposed to Proposition 26 include:
● City of South Gate
● AFSCME Local 36 - City of Hawaiian Gardens Management Unit
● Potrero Hill Democratic Club
● San Diego Labor Democratic Club
● Vista Democratic Club of San Diego
● San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action
● Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
● Golden Rules Services
● Horseracing Wrongs
● Liliana Magana, School Board Member, Montebello Unified School District
Today’s announcement adds to the chorus of cities, local elected officials, organizations, and community leaders already opposed to Prop 26, including California Contract Cities Association, representing over 70 cities, Gateway Cities Council of Governments, AFSCME California, Disabled American Veterans, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles County Business Federation, among hundreds of others.
Prop 26 proposes to amend state law to guarantee tribal casinos a near monopoly on all gaming in California – adding exclusivity over roulette, craps and sports wagering to their current monopoly on slot machines — while giving private trial lawyers the powers of the Attorney General so it can be used against tribal casino operators’ legally-operating competition.
Specifically, this change in state law allows tribal casinos to hire private trial lawyers and replace the role of the Attorney General to sue their non-tribal competitors. As a result, the measure puts more than 32,000 jobs, $1.6 billion in wages and $5.5 billion in total economic impact at risk. Cities rely on this revenue for resident services such as public safety, housing and homeless programs.
BACKGROUND ON THE MEASURE:
It threatens to destroy local jobs. The eligible tribal gaming measure changes the Constitution and sets a
dangerous precedent that could result in the loss of tens of thousands of quality jobs in minority communities. Tribal casinos have a history of unsuccessfully challenging the legality of local cardrooms. Now, they’re taking it a step too far by exploiting the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) that was originally meant to protect workers. The measure expands PAGA into new territory by allowing tribal casinos to sue their competitors — forcing cardrooms out of business with unlimited, meritless lawsuits. Local communities will lose more than 32,000 good-paying jobs that generate $1.6 billion in wages annually.
It deprives local governments of revenue for vital services. The eligible tribal gaming measure contains a poison pill for local cardrooms, which are a significant source of tax revenue and economic activity for many local governments. The measure will force cardrooms out of business and result in a loss of $500 million in local tax revenue statewide — meaning fewer funds for public health, homelessness services, senior centers, and after-school programs. California and local communities will lose $5.6 billion in economic output generated by cardrooms.