California Organizations and Community Leaders Join Growing Coalition to Oppose the Eligible Tribal Gaming Initiative
Measure will Cause $5.5 Billion in Lost Economic Activity for California Communities and $500 Million in Lost Tax Revenue
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 8, 2023) – Opposition to the qualified tribal gaming initiative continues
to grow with new California organizations and community leaders today announcing their opposition
to the initiative – the only sports betting measure being contemplated for the November 2022 ballot
that harms local communities.
Newly announced organizations and community leaders opposed to this initiative include:
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS:
● City of Montebello
● Emma Sharif, Mayor, City of Compton
● Elizabeth Alcantar, Mayor, City of Cudahy
● Graciela Ortiz, Mayor, City of Huntington Park
● Jerry Dyer, Mayor, City of Fresno
● Jorge Casanova, Mayor, City of Lynwood
● Alejandra Cortez, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens
● Jorgel Chavez, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens
● Lisseth Flores, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens
● Marco Barcena, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens
● Juan Garza, Former Mayor, City of Bellflower
● Victor Sanchez, Councilmember, City of Bellflower
● Vong Mouanoutoua, Councilmember, City of Clovis
● Oralia Rebollo, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Commerce
● Garry Bredefeld, Councilmember, City of Fresno
● Luis Chavez, Councilmember, City of Fresno
● Jesse Alvarado, Councilmember, City of Hawaiian Gardens
● Victor Farfan, Councilmember, City of Hawaiian Gardens
● Michael Gomez, Councilmember, City of Hawaiian Gardens
● Alex Walker-Griffin, Vice Mayor, City of Hercules
● Karina Macias, Councilmember, City of Huntington Park
● Marilyn Sanabria, Councilmember, City of Huntington Park
● Pat Kearney, Councilmember, City of Lawndale
● Hipolito Cerros, Councilmember, City of Lindsay
● Marisela Santana, Councilmember, City of Lynwood
● Oscar Flores, Councilmember, City of Lynwood
● Leticia Gonzalez, Supervisor, County of Madera
● Rob Poythress, Supervisor, County of Madera
● David Torres, Councilmember, City of Montebello
● Scarlet Peralta, Councilmember, City of Montebello
● Gustavo Camacho, Councilmember, City of Pico Rivera
● Amy Shuklian, Supervisor, County of Tulare
● Pete Vander Poel, Supervisor, County of Tulare
● Elizabeth Talbott, Councilmember, City of Waterford
● Octavio Martinez, Councilmember, City of Whittier
TAXPAYER ORGANIZATIONS:
● Bell Chamber of Commerce
● Black American Political Association of California
● Calaveras County Taxpayers Association
● California Taxpayer Protection Committee
● Central Coast Taxpayers Association
● Central Valley Taxpayers Association
● Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce
● Gold Country Taxpayers Association
● Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce
● Placer County Taxpayers Association
● San Diego Tax Fighters
● Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association
● Solano County Taxpayers Association
● Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY GROUPS:
● Advance Peace
● Advocacy for Health & Living Management
● African American Network of Kern County
● Community RePower Movement
● Lift Up Love Always
● Neighborhood Wellness
● Sacramento Caribbean Association
● Take A Stand Committee
● Whittier Together
SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS:
● Gateway Chamber Alliance
● Industrial Council of the City of Commerce
Today’s announcement adds to the chorus of those already opposed to the qualified tribal gaming measure that is strongly opposed by cities and local government officials across the state, including California Contract Cities Association representing over 70 cities, Gateway Cities Council of Government, Disabled American Veterans, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles County Business Federation, among hundreds of others. The initiative proposes to amend the State Constitution 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 weaponizing the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) so it can be used against tribal casino operators’ legally-operating competition. Specifically, this change in the State Constitution 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.