Home Antioch Antioch City Council Moves Forward with Card Room Ballot Initiative

Antioch City Council Moves Forward with Card Room Ballot Initiative

by ECT

The Antioch City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to move forward with placing a ballot initiative before the voters and agreeing to submit a ballot argument against the initiative ordinance.

The move comes after a February 9 meeting where the council rejected an initiative of 9,300 signatures to adopt an imitative ordinance dealing with card room limitations within Antioch. Instead, the Council voted to place it on the ballot at a cost of up to $177,000.

Councilman Tony Tiscareno highlighted he appreciated the concerns of the money being spent unnecessarily, and he too did not want to spend money unnecessarily but he also understands the significance of a petition.

“The petition stated there was a certain ordinance with specifics they wanted put into motion through the council or a referendum ballot, I felt that if the citizens of Antioch wanted to speak on this behalf, they did by adding the significant amount of signatures,” explained Tiscareno. “The alternative was to make sure that this wasn’t going to cost a lot of money but ask this council to secure the ordinance as is without the election, but my personal feeling is that this wasn’t truly a traditional local issue that folks brought in, this was originated by an outside interest, a casino, and that pretty much upset me at that point because I felt like they wanted to dictate how the City of Antioch should be run.”

Tiscarno also highlighted they updated their ordinance 18-months ago that anybody that wanted to attempt to try and put a business together would have to go to the State first, then to Antioch.

“I thought that was strong language enough,” stated Tiscareno. “When we saw that an outside casino wanted to make it stronger so they can pretty much monopolize in my opinion, the existing gambling house is not large enough to make any effect to them, but a second one possibly could, that offends me. We also have listened for several years now by the public saying let the people speak, so this is one opportunity to let them do so. It’s their signatures on the petition, whether or not they knew what they were signing, I knew what they wanted me to sign and I wouldn’t sign it. I am still at the point where I would like the voters do what they have to do”

Councilwoman Monica Wilson stated she wanted to let everyone know she signed the petition. This announcement came nearly a week after Lamar Thorpe outed one city council member who signed the petition then voted to place it on the ballot.

“I signed that petition because I felt that the public deserved a voice on this one. I really thought this was something that they deserve to hear about,” said Wilson. “I voted with the council last time to send it to ballot because they had a significant amount of signatures. I do believe that I would like to hear the voices of the citizens on this particular item.”

Councilwoman Mary Rocha highlighted that they all agreed they were being bullied at the last meeting to find out one of them signed the petition.

“At the time this came up, I was asking for a little money to take care of us because it was going to drain our budget. But the idea that we had already taken action on this, that we already knew we could only have two sights. One is the 19th Hole and maybe one more, that was it and we would not allow anymore,” said Rocha. “I thought we covered ourselves. And yet, there was a discussion by some people, it was from the outside that came in and organized this whole strategy. I would like it to go to the community and let them decide because it’s outside people making the decision for us.”

Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchuck highlighted they already have a strong ordnance and some of the issues being raised is in the ordinance written by the previous attorney.

Mayor Wade Harper agreed with his council.

  • Item 1: Adopt the Resolution Specifying Matters for June 7 Special Election: 5-0
  • Item 2: Determine whether the City Council wishes to submit a ballot argument against initiative ordinance limiting card rooms within the city: 4-0 (Monica Wilson abstained—reason given she just wanted to hear the voice of the voters).

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2 comments

Antioch Business Owner Feb 24, 2016 - 6:16 am

Monica Wilson, you are two faced and a fraud. You signed the petition and then vote to place it on the ballot. If you felt that strongly on it, you could have fought to ensure your council adopted it before money is wasted if you claim so many signatures were on it. Did you forget it was only a year ago the council created its own ordinance that was strong and you sold them out too.

Your actions do not match up with your weak words. Instead, you followed the lead yet again of your mayor and council. You do not have leadership skills, you are a follower and hope you lose your election for both supervisor and council in a landslide.

Jim Simmons Feb 24, 2016 - 8:13 am

Such a waste of money. Monica Wilson let outsiders dictate to her what to do in Antioch. She is not a good candidate for either County Board of Supervisors or Antioch. Sad the council has to fight this.

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