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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1995-05-23 Mayor Robert Yee Council: Jack Drago Joseph A. Fernekes ~-'John R. Penna Roberta Cerri Teglia M I N U _T_ E_. ~ City Council Westborough Junior High 2570 Westborough Blvd. May 23, 1995 137 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS DISCUSSION ON CARDROOM PROPOSAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California, that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold Special Meetings for discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater site with all meetings beginning at 7:00 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m.: Monday, May 1, 1995, El Camino High School, Cafeteria, 1320 Mission Rd. Tuesday, May 2, 1995, Alta Loma Middle School, Multi Use Room, 116 Romney Ave. Wednesday, May 3, 1995, Ponderosa School, Multi Use Room, 295 Ponderosa Rd. Monday, May 8, 1995, Martin School, Multi Use Room, 35 School Street Tuesday, May 9, 1995, South San Francisco High School, Cafeteria, 400 B St. Tuesday, May 23, 1995, Westborough Junior High, Multi Use Room, 2570 Westborough Blvd. City Clerk City of South San Francisco Dated: April 26, 1995 CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: AGENDA (Cassette No. 1) Discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater site. ACTION TAKEN 7:10 p.m. Mayor Yee presiding. Council Present: Drago, Fernekes, Teglia and Yee. Council Absent: Penna. City Manager Wilson introduced members of staff who will give presentations on the cardroom pro- posal. He proceeded to give background history of the proposal, as he did at each of the five Town Hall meetings, and included answers to questions raised at previous meetings. The following staff members repeated their card- room proposal presentations: City Attorney Mattas, Police Chief Raffaelli, Interim Director of 5/23/95 Page 1 A~_ENDA ACTION TAKEN 138 Discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater te - Continued. Economic & Community Development Beyer and Assistant City Manager Mattel. Mr. Doug Butler, 133 Adrian Ave., stated that gambling is a regressive source of revenue, and he feels the State lottery is the most regressive source of gambling for it imposes on those less able to afford to gamble. He feels gambling violates con- sumer protection, yet we have truth in advertising and lending for the customer, however, gambling does the opposite and is designed for the person to lose, exploits foreigners and results in increased welfare costs. Someone may say, am I my brother's keeper and the answer is yes and he suggests the Council are also the keepers of the community, the good and welfare of the community. He stated gambling can become addictive and related a story about Sam Cox, a Silicon Valley executive, whose gambling addition lead to an almost suicide, gambling debts of ten times his salary and his be- coming a thief. He thought the 300,000 figure for compulsive gam- blers in California was low, because we now have gamblers anonymous. Young people are involved in this issue, even if not 21 years of age, and the City would be giving official sanction for the deleterious effects and casting an aura. He wanted the Council to stand tall and refuse to approve this proposal. He stated that gambling depresses business because, customers are gambling rather than at the stores. He feels gambling invites crime, creates weakness, changes behavior, causes a lack of integrity and hurts families, specifically children. He addressed: the police report speaks for itself; social impacts; for Hollywood Park to donate to non-profit organizations is like the arsonist donating to the Fire Department; gamblers being victimized; a Jack Benny skit about "your money or your life" and Mr. Benny finally saying, "I'm thinking, I'm thinking" in response to the robber; he was sure the Council was thinking after six Town Meetings; he hoped the Council would see that the harmful affects far outweigh any revenue and urged a no vote. Mr. Dion Dubois, 2217 Delvin, stated he had at- tended two meetings of the Chamber of Commerce and after listening tonight will come back tomorrow 5/23/95 Page 2 __.Discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater ite- Continued. night. He described his background: his father was a jockey whose first job was at Hollywood Park; gambling is not an issue with him but he will speak against it; this issue came up last July, yet he had not heard about it until last month from the Cham- ber; he came to the meeting cold turkey and was forced to respond extemporaneously and he objects to that; he feels the impact on the Asian community is devastating; because of his relatives and friends on the race track it would be worthwhile to investi- gate and look into every business deal that has been done by Hollywood Park Race Track; the Police Chief's investigation failed to add to the list of criminal activities political influence and political and police corruption; that the City will not use the revenue for other than that stated flies against the history of the United States; he is very proud of the S.S.F. bureaucracy and administration in the City and School District, but for the staff to stand up tonight and say they can do the background check, monitoring and auditing this he thinks is a ridiculous assumption, for you are moving to the big leagues; he thinks the projected financials fly in the face of everything known about government; he questioned the number of tables they operate and was told it was 150; he will conclude his final comments to- morrow night; if he lived in San Mateo he would be before the Council speaking for the project and not against the project in Bay Meadows for it fits with the race track and parking in the area, but he is opposed to the S.S.F. proposal; he does not understand the retail complex that the City Manager alluded to and feels it muddies the waters, as does the Tobacco Companies handing out lighters or sponsoring AA meetings which is a laughable propo- sition; staff should investigate statistics, such as what is the Asian plus single male population in S.S.F., what is the income level under $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 and under $50,000 for Asians; if you go to Hollywood Park you don't have to be a social worker just wander through the casino, with- out making a value judgement, and see who is sit- ting at the tables; there are not Cadillacs or Rolls Royces in the parking lots, instead there are beat- up Hondas; these are depressed men who are all kinds of minorities sitting at the tables at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and the joint was packed; tomorrow night he will present his final comments and include some social implications without moral judgment; etc. Mr. Michael Coutts, 1004 Hemlock Ave., stated he 5/23/95 Page 3 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN _~iscussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater te - Continued. represented the S.S.F. Ministerium and presented a document signed by Rev. Rejean Idzeda, Rev. Fran- cisco Baltadano, Rev. Kendall Jones, Rev. Robert Bertolani, Rev. Gene Linamen, Rev. Michael Courts, Rev. Janna Adamson, Rev. Eguene Tungol, Rev. Merton Johnson, Rev. John Cantley and Rev. Richard Neely opposing the proposed eardroom in the Shearwater Project. Rev. Richard Neely understood it was a maybe on whether the Council will make a recommendation after the presentations and questioned why there seems to be a stir to go around a vote of the people. Mayor Yee stated a decision on a vote has not been made yet. Rev. Neely questioned what the Mayor observed on the ratio of negative comments at these meetings. Mayor Yee stated he had not kept score, but under- stands how the people feel about this issue and Council will make a decision. Councilwoman Teglia stated there are people who have been coming to each of these meetings and repeat themselves, so that would be one set of num- bets. Some people don't come to the meetings to speak, but will later write or call the Council with their comments for or against the proposal, so you can't base your numbers on the speakers. Mr. Phong Tran stated this was his first public meeting, he had never spoken before and he was very concerned about what is happening in this City. He stated a very close friend of his and his wife worked very hard to save for a house and just last year it was discovered that he took $60,000 from the house fund. There was a divorce and the husband became incapacitated. Another friend on the way back from a cardroom had the car stopped, she was pulled out of the car, beaten and all her money was taken. So, he thinks this is something that should be considered very carefully because of the long lasting effects on the City, the community and the families from this enterprise. He questioned: $1.6 million is what comes net to the City or is that the whole sales tax; 8% sales tax, you have to generate $16 million of sales if we are getting only 2%; a lot of people are shopping out- 5/23/95 Page 4 A~ENDA ACTIQN TAKEN _, Discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater te - Continued. side the City and he questioned the people devoted to this project; he heard six officers for the project, but four officers are diverted to the casino and there are only two left to do other things; the ripple effect of this enterprise on families and a part of his taxes would be diverted; how much time will the City Attorney spend on the casino; there will be irrepara- ble consequences and the City must look at the children running away, husbands and wives divided and social services increased; will this project pay for all of the ripple effects; he urged the Council to disapprove this project. Rev. Kendall Jones, Good News Chapel, stated he heard it was too early to estimate the impacts on society, yet he read an article listing: a teenager kills himself; in Minnesota a person embezzles to buy lottery tickets; in South Dakota an Airforce murdering; in Reno, Nevada a father went off to gamble, left his child alone and did not return for a day; children are often left in locked cars in casino lots, and one was left in 96 degree weather; etc. He talked about economic benefits: in Atlantic City 40% of the casinos were forced to shut their doors; river boats closed down businesses; only one busi- ness reported a boost of sales; Colorado lost where the restaurants provided cheap me, als; etc. He related: the long term effects our nation is going through which are directly related to social ills in the families; if we are talking about money going into the City, drug traffic would be good in revenue; "The Industrial City" will now be "The Gambling City"; the City was generated by the hard work and sweat of the community and their families and it should stay the "The Industrial City". Mr. Joe D'Angelo, 310 Evergreen Dr., stated he supports the project and reminded his neighbors they do not live in a vacuum and people will go any- where they want to satisfy their needs. He does not believe, with the City approving gaming, that it will detract from the City or quality of life for the citi- zens. He feels it will improve the quality of life for the residents and the children. The truth is that those that seek out the gambling will find it and those with compulsive behavior will use it. The City cannot control citizens' behavior, but it can regulate legitimate enterprise. 5/23/95 Page 5 Discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater te - Continued. He believes it is hypocritical to support gambling in another City and not here. To condemn corruption, child abuse and compulsive behavior and to support it in another City is not logical. He stated there is also addiction to alcohol, drugs and how many people are going to leave this meeting and light up a cigarette, yet stand up here and say we are being abused by having a casino. He feels it is ridiculous to speak of ethnic stereotypes and that a cardroom is picking on one ethnic group for this is 1995. He stated he is a hazardous material inspector and knows the Shearwater site has had contaminated waste for over 20 or 30 years and nothing has been done to dean it up. It costs $100,000 or more to clean up a gas station and that is not 43 acres of land. He stated there will not be quality of life if the City does not clean up the contamination. He related: this is not a project fought by the Airport; it is guaranteed income, but we did not hear if there is going to be a balanced budget in July and if there are firefighters going out of service, because he does not want to lose paramedic services; he is also afraid of losing policemen; take a look at the front of your house, do you need the street repaired and what about the Corporation Yard, which has been de- ferred; a shopping center is going to come in, which is not a bad thing for it will offer employment; this is not in the middle of a residential area, it is across the freeway; those who want to go there come down the freeway or Hillside; they are going to hire addi- tional police and there will be more security; Colma is going to build a cardroom, so it is not being removed from this community; you will have greater abuses to children from alcohol and drugs; etc. Mr. Elmon M. Elmore, 2575 Bantry Lane, stated it appears this is an opportunity for the City of S.S.F. to take advantage of that spot east of the freeway where nothing else planned can go there. Sitting there listening to his fellow citizens, it seemed that many of the ills that are associated with all societies seem to come out at these hearings. He takes spe- cial concern of those minds that feel that only ethnic minorities would gamble. No one is putting a gun on that individual to go to the casino, it is done of their own free will and choice. He stated one of the reasons he devoted 33 years of life in the military was to protect the rights of citi- zens to be lawful and express their desires to live in 5/23/95 Page 6 A~ENDA ACTION TAKEN ,.~iscussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater te - Continued. a community that has all of the things we have here. So, he is not for or against the issue, this will fatten the City's coffers and he felt the Council will use their best judgment in deciding what to do. If the members of the community do not like what Council will do, he hoped those who have spoken are regis- tered voters and will exercise that right. Mr. Albert Waters, 2266 Shannon Dr., stated he was happy the Council called this meeting in his neighborhood, for it was the second one in less than a year and last time they asked a lot of questions but received no answers. He noted the outpouring from the churches - those people of good will who are speaking up for the minorities. He has worked in this community for 33 years paid and volunteering and unpaid. He has worked with the seniors, worked with youth all the way to Palo Alto plus Head Start. He remembers a Councilmember saying he was tired of cutting social programs because there wasn't money and he feels there should be funds for seniors. He feds this is the best thing for this City since Edison and the light. He has followed Shearwater for the last 20 years, knows of the bankrupcy, the lawsuit, the airplanes and the Airport taking the City to Court. The City had to defend itself because they wanted to build houses and they signed an agree- ment to insulate homes, but not in Westborough. Council should be in his house at 11:00 p.m. when the planes are getting altitude. He stated he was interested in two things, the eco- nomic impacts in more jobs and Westborough get- ting a piece of the pie. He applied for block grants because most of the money is going down town or to Arroyo, yet we have 2,000 seniors and Westborough is densely populated with town houses and youth who hang out on the comer. One won- ders what produces gangs. He has worked with gangs but was not part of one. The City needs mon- ey and is expecting to get $6,500,000 and he is shocked at the churches. Help is needed on fair housing and poverty and he was happy the churches were there so we know who they are. Personal re- sponsibility starts at home and in churches. He stated his skin is different than others and his culture, but he does not gamble for life to him is a gamble. Children are supported by the high schools 5/23/95 Page 7 A~ENDA ACTION TAKEN , Discussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater .te - Continued. and bingo, yet the church is putting down the gam- bling. He suggested they stop playing ball, take the bull by the horns and vote for this for that is what elected officials are about. Mr. Manny Madriaga stated he lives in Westbor- ough and has spoken before against the cardroom proposal. He related: Police Chief Raffaelli talked before about the control of crime and additional police enforcement can handle it - that has never been in doubt; the disruption will be in the homes of the gamblers, in the families who have the progres- sive gamblers; it will be the wives and the,children of the gamblers who suffer; he is not saying it is just one ethnic group, but the compulsive gamblers; there was a Chronicle article on spousal abuse and child neglect and in the area of San Jose a lot of more people are declaring bankruptcy who are social gamblers; the same article talked about casino clien- tele; he agreed that the ethnicities should be identi- fied in the casino; the typical clientele in Artichoke Joe's or Bay 101 is Asian, young men with low income and low education; if that is the case then gambling is a repressive form of taxation, because it isolates and targets specific people on the low end of the economic ladder; he felt the most important issue not addressed is should we or should we not decide if we want a casino; he thought that had been decid- ed in the General Plan and the Municipal Code; there is a Bill in Sacramento by Senators Kopp and Isenburg which will give the people the right to vote on whether they want a casino and it will take a 2/3 vote and his concern is they may lose that right; the people of San Mateo were only able to do that with a referendum; six cities in Santa Clara voted, Daly City, Brisbane and Belmont voted - why should we be the only City in the Northern Peninsu- la to not have a vote. Mr. Bill Poland, Bay West Group, stated the firm owns the Galleria, a multi block on the south of Market, at 8th and Townsend Streets. He related his background in development in S.S.F. in the industrial park and went on to describe plans for the retail center, spending $10 million for toxic clean-up for the project; etc. Mr. Gene Mullin, 229 Alta Loma Dr., stated he spent nine hours today at the bargaining table with the Unified School District. They are in the process of trying to balance a budget that is $1.2 million 5/23/95 Page 8 AGENDA ACTION TAK_.EN~ 4~ _I~iscussion on the cardroom proposal for the Shearwater te - Continued. ADJOURNMENT: short. The teachers he represents are looking at a continuation of little or no raises in the future. He has to work the second or third job for the League of California Cities due to his salary, however, this City is not making drastic cuts right now. He stated he worked in Nevada in his youth in a cardroom and this proposal looks quite a bit differ- ent than when he worked in cardrooms 30 years ago. He stated that Shearwater has been barren because it is extremely expensive to clean-up and there are very few industries that will do it. He felt awkward addressing this issue with friends here who are for or against the cardroom, but the long term benefit would be a well regulated and multi-faceted use of the property. He stated that he teaches government and thinks this is wonderful to see people out of their homes, par- ticipating in democracy and expressing their opin- ions. Ms. Candis Giani stated she deals with abused chil- dren and just learned they are entitled to Chapter One funds, for a large part of the students are on public assistance and trying to get ahead. She felt a casino would be an additional threat, for the police and fire have their hands full already keeping crimes and other activities out of the schools. She dis- agrees with Mr. D'Angelo, for she has lived off Hillside and those people are going to drive by her house. She sees what happens when people come out of bars, have been drinking and drive drunkenly past children playing in from of their houses. She believes this is a really ill begotten proposal at this time. She made a plea on behalf of her students, for it is a bad proposal, they had worked hard to keep crime out of the schools and to bring in a casino will destroy that effort. M/S Teglia/Fernekes - To adjourn the meeting. Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 9:20 p.m. 5/23/95 Page 9 AOENDA ACTION TAKEN RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, 7'" Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk City of South San Francisco APPROVED. Robert Yee, Mayor City of South San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council tc dispose of an item. Oral communica- tions, arguments and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 5/23/95 Page 10