Home Antioch Feeling “Bullied” by Casino, Antioch City Council Votes to Take Card Room Ordinance to Voters

Feeling “Bullied” by Casino, Antioch City Council Votes to Take Card Room Ordinance to Voters

by ECT

Tuesday night, the Antioch City Council admitted to feeling bullied and was in a no-win situation where an outside casino helped collect signatures to create an initiative to create an ordinance that would reduce the amount of card rooms allowed in Antioch.

The council had the option to adopt the ordinance as proposed which would not cost the city any money. Or take it to the voters at a cost between $132,771 and $177,028 to go to an election.

Under the proposed ordinance, it would shrink number of card rooms in Antioch from two to one—meaning the 19th Hole would be the only card room allowed in the City. Those who wish to play cards, would then be forced to go elsewhere. No new card rooms could be established.

It was pointed out during the council discussion, this is nearly an identical ordinance they approved last year and added a single item shrinking the number of card rooms allowed.

Here is a copy of the summary of the proposed ordinance:

Since 2011, the City of Antioch has had an ordinance regulating the number and location of card rooms that may operate in the City. The proposed initiative would change this ordinance in a number of ways. Currently, the card-room ordinance allows only two card rooms to exist within the City at one time. The initiative would change this limitation to allow only those card rooms that existed on Sept. 1, 2015 to operate.

The present ordinance requires persons who wish to operate a card room to obtain a license, based on an application, which the City Council may approve or reject. The initiative would require that City voter approval also be obtained for any new card-room or card-room expansion.

The initiative would prohibit card rooms from being located within 1,000 feet of another card room or within 1,000 feet of any school, hospital, medical clinic, alcohol or drug recovery center, mental/social care facility, park, library, place of worship.

The initiative would mandate that the City Council deny a license application for a proposed cardroom if it finds the applicant has committed a felony, lacks good moral character, has submitted false information in support of the application, or the card room would be incompatible with surrounding land uses. The initiative would add an additional ground for denial: that the applicant does not have a current, valid license issued by the California Gambling Commission.

The initiative also changes the regulations for licensed card rooms, including limiting the number of player-dealer games to half the card room’s tables and limiting the number of players at a table to ten (except for poker tournaments).

Antioch resident Fred Hoskins of Antioch called the restriction disgusting.

“I am worn out with smoke and mirrors. You take a look at public health and safety, public welfare, increase in crime. These are reasons we should not have any card rooms? About 10 years ago there was an Indian Group that wanted to build a casino and we said no,” explained Hoskins. “What are we doing, what are we operating on, is this a moral issue? Are we making moral decisions? I like to gamble once in a while but I don’t go to the 19th Hole because I don’t like them. I can’t help it, so I was hoping Kelly’s would open. But I am sorry the guy went bankrupted, but something to go on a ballot that is going to cost between $132,000 to $221,000 to limit us to one card room is ridiculous. Throw it out. I would also recommend leave the ordinance as is.”

Hoskins further highlighted that there are a number of people in Antioch who liked to play cards and urged the council to rework the ordinance to allow card rooms based on population.

Mayor Wade Harper asked if the ordinance offers restrictions on the current card room. Legal Counsel responded that it does not, what it does was create a barrier for new card rooms from entering the City.

Councilwoman Mary Rocha asked the person who circulated the ordinance John Whitehurst, a political consultant, confirmed the California Grand was the main sponsor of the ordinance.

“I am really concerned with the cost of what it would be to put it on the ballot and if we don’t go along with the ordinance, it’s kind of like tying our hands and saying if you don’t do it, it’s going to cost the city a lot of money,” explained Rocha. “The second thing, it’s still incurring cost of $3,000 which is a lot of money. Every time we turn around it’s as if we are paying for something else. It would be particularly nice if this group considering maybe helping us out and putting that money back into say our foundation so it goes back into the community.”

Councilman Tony Tiscareno stated the city addressed this issue and revised the ordinance.

“The concern I have is you have to go through the state of California before you can even approach the City of Antioch.,” said Tiscareno. “Show me the difference on what this new ordinance would be versus what we did several months ago. Is there a big difference?”

Antioch attorney Derek Cole responded the new ordinance went into effect last February.

“All this does frankly is stop any new casino from opening and grandfathers the existing card room and lets them essentially have a monopoly within the city,” explained Cole.

Wade HarperMayor Wade Harper stated you have an organization who possibly has a budget of revenue larger than our city budget who have not invested in our community, come to Antioch, and try to bully us.

“Now I feel like because we don’t want to pay this $132,000 and we are really good fiscal stewards of the city’s funds, we don’t want to put that out there. So we are being bullied by this big card room to do what they want us to do. Are we are city who can’t defend ourselves and someone threatens us with a lawsuit?” explained Harper. “This just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I will try and do the right thing here. I don’t like how they presented this to us at all”

Councilwoman Monica Wilson said she was feeling very conflicted.

“On one hand, I don’t want to spend the money on that election; on the other hand there are signatures out there. I had people email me about how the signatures were collected so I feel like I am being pushed into a corner on how to vote for this,” said Wilson.

Wilson suggested that the City work with the group to find some sort of agreement.

The city attorney explained to Wilson that under the law they could not.

“It’s important to remember the law is very clear about what we can do. We can either send it to an election or adopt it now,” said Cole.

Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchuck highlighted how she also felt bullied and pushed into a corner at the expense of the citizens of Antioch. She suggested that to cut cost if this ordinance goes to an election, they can add the city treasure to the ballot—this would save the city money in the long run by going from an election to an appointed position.

l_ogorchock“If we allowed this to go to ballot at a lesser amount and no longer had an elected treasure, we could be paid back in a year and a half and therefore would not feel like we are being pushed into a corner by a gambling casino or two,” explained Ogorchuck. “They have put no money into this community and not been here. We have a strong ordinance already. I think we have learned by mistakes so we have to go forward. I personally would rather not go by this ordinance and go to the voters.”

Ogorchuck also questioned if there was any conflict of interest due to one of the members who created the ordinance/initiative was a member of their economic development.

“Is it noteworthy that we have someone who is on our economic development that is going to be costing the city up to $171,000. I have an issue with that myself,” said Ogorchuck.

Legal responded he could not think of a financial conflict of interest that would be material effected by that but said he would look into that.

Editor’s Note: While Mayor Prop Tem Lori Ogorchuck did not name the Antioch Economic Development Commissioner who assisted. It’s known that that commissioner was Lamar Thorpe who was appointed by Mayor Wade Harper. In 2014, Thorpe failed to be elected to the City Council (2 spots) taking fourth. Thorpe is also listed as Councilwoman Monica Wilson’s Stand By Councilmember.

Mayor Harper stated that he did see the petition they were having people sign.

“I told the person doing the petition our ordinance already covered everything in the petition, it pretty much restated are current ordinance and then added one item that they want,” said Harper. “I don’t think it was a fair petition because it covers items already covered in our current ordinance. I am not going to be bullied around.”

Councilman Tiscareno stated that this issue disturbs him and others on this council.

“I was offended when I was approached at a grocery story by a petitioner. When I started asking questions he admitted he was paid and living somewhere in the Danville area and when I asked him what I was potentially going to sign, he had no idea how to explain it to me,” said Tisacreno.” With that said, there is quite a few Antioch residents who maybe didn’t know exactly what they were signing. That really irks me. We have gone through this before, I thought we settled this at one point but evidently we have a casino who doesn’t believe in our system and wants to rule on their own behalf. I am willing to start the motion to deny this and my motion is to go forward with the election.”

Council approved 5-0 to go to an election.

Shortly after the vote, Mayor Harper proclaimed “the City of Antioch will not be bullied”.

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10 comments

Jim Simmons 42 Feb 10, 2016 - 9:11 am

Because our council feels bullied they want to spend as much as $175k on a ballot that will likely pass anyway over 1 casino? Swallow that pride and save the city some money. What a bunch of fools.

Bill Moon Feb 10, 2016 - 9:16 am

I am not sure why Lamar Thorpes name is brought up. He had a position and the council had another one. Seems self serving to call him out in this article. This whole thing is a waste of money. No one goes to the 19th hole anyway.

Julio Feb 10, 2016 - 9:30 am

What Lamar Thorp was doing goes to conflict of interest with him being a commission member I believe. He should be removed from this position. This could very well damage Monica Wilson’s election hopes as Supervisor.

This should have never become a ballot issue but since it has I will vote for 2 casino’s in Antioch. Thank you council members.

Rich Buongiorno Feb 10, 2016 - 9:37 am

Great article and the “bullied” reference by various persons in the chambers (no names specified) really brought a belly laugh from me. I can’t count on one hand the number of occasions that has happened in those chambers in the last 12 months. However, the shoe was always on the other foot. What’s the idiom from the 1600’s that references two cooking utensils of the same material, “the pot calling the kettle black”?

Anon Too Feb 10, 2016 - 10:52 am

This is the kind of thing that makes me refrain from signing ANY petition. It’s very rare that they are truly for the public good as opposed to lining someone’s pockets.

Reality Check Feb 10, 2016 - 11:56 am

This council cannot be serious? Bullied? This council has bullied the citizens of Antioch by basically throwing 2 tax measures down our throats, won’t even have a public discussion on the Beede property, attack feral cats, screw business left and right yet they cry about someone gathering signatures and following the law for an ordinance? Time for this council to put on its big boy pants.

It’s not Lamar Thorps fault the council did not approve the ordinance, its Wade Harper, Lori Ogorchock, Monica Wilson, Mary Rocha and Tony Tiscareno’s fault the city is now goign to pay up to $175k to place this on the ballot.

RJB! Feb 11, 2016 - 5:30 am

Hey ECT

There are articles on CCT covering the $17M that will be invested in. Low income homes in Antioch as well as the shootout between neighbors over noise complaint. Also there is something about the prohibition of stray shopping carts.

Wake up!

EastCountyToday Feb 11, 2016 - 7:36 am

@RJB – the CC Times is reporting on an incident that is a month old. We had the outcome listed on Monday in our Police Briefs.
https://eastcountytoday.net/jan-28-feb-3-antioch-police-briefs/

Furthermore, we posted the incident a month ago:
https://eastcountytoday.net/antioch-four-arrested-after-gunfight-on-sycamore-drive/

As for the shopping cart ordinance, we are getting to it.

RJB! Feb 11, 2016 - 8:37 am

Ok. Thanks 🙂

Julio Feb 12, 2016 - 12:09 pm

The shopping cart ordinance was proposed 10 years ago by Terry Ramus. He has worked hard personally at cleaning them up but also constantly keeping this issue in the councils minds. It is only because of his efforts this has ever been pursued. I cannot believe it too 10 years but it has.

Comments are closed.