City voters will consider preventing gambling establishments.
by Sarah Tully
The Orange County Register - Wednesday, October 11, 2006
No casino moguls are clamoring to build a blackjack palace next to Disneyland - for now. But the city wants to forever stop an aspiring Steve Wynn or tribe from ever attempting to build a Las Vegas-style venue in town.
Next month, voters will consider Measure Q, which would alter the city charter to forbid most gambling activities, including casinos. Some games, including bingo and non-monetary contests, would be permitted.
A 1981 city ordinance forbids casinos, but a charter amendment would be permanent. Only a public vote could overturn the charter.
Mayor Curt Pringle, who pushed for the measure, said he wanted to make sure residents would have a say in a gambling establishment.
The City Council approved the placement of the ballot measure on a 4-1 vote in July. Councilman Harry Sidhu dissented, saying the measure was a waste of taxpayers' money.
While he opposes gambling, Sidhu said enough hurdles exist, including the governor's approval of a tribal casino, to stop gambling from coming in. Plus, he doesn't think the city should prevent a future council from seeking the option.
"What is the threat? Is somebody knocking on our door?" Sidhu said. "Normally, cities who would like to have gambling are big cities suffering with revenue stream (problems). But we don't have that problem in our city. We have the major resort here. We have all the entertainment venues here. And we have a lot of big employers here. Why waste the taxpayers' money?"
The measure was inspired by nearby Garden Grove's consideration of a tribal casino on Harbor Boulevard across the Anaheim border and down the street from Disneyland. The matter is on the backburner, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes the idea.
Pringle said he wanted to send a message that a Garden Grove casino, which would spur extra traffic, is unwelcome nearby the family-friendly area.
Janet Nguyen, a Garden Grove council member, said while she opposes a casino, Anaheim's measure would make no impact on her city's matters.
"Anaheim residents have their own opinion," Nguyen said. "We would do what's best for the people of Garden Grove."
Real-estate broker Steve White, who wrote the opposing ballot measure, said he believes the measure is a "gift" to Disney, which wouldn't want the competition.
"Why don't we ban dirty dancing? Why don't we ban whatever else?" said White, president of Anaheim HOME, a city homeowners group that discusses politics weekly. "It's ludicrous, in this day and age, that they have some moral obligation that gambling is evil."