No on California Proposition 26: Poison pill provision will harm communities and workers – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Proposition 26 on the Nov. 8 ballot would allow in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and licensed racetracks, requiring the venues to make certain payments to the state, and also legalize roulette and dice games, such as craps, at tribal casinos. Contributions are flowing into this campaign; $73 million to supporters and $42.2 million to opponents so far. Below, two essays explore both sides of the issue.

Gunn is a member-at-large and former recording secretary for AFSCME District Council 36. She lives in Los Angeles County.

There is much more to Proposition 26 than sports betting. While proponents focus on the elements that expand gambling in California, including betting on college and professional sports, theyre misrepresenting a provision that hurts local communities. This is why the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 36 and AFSCME California, organizations representing millions of workers that serve taxpayers in local government, oppose Proposition 26.

First, Proposition 26 is anti-worker.

It is the only sports betting measure that has a provision that would reduce city revenues because of a poison pill provision that would allow limitless lawsuits to be filed against card rooms (with a carved-out exemption for tribal casinos). The way its written these lawsuits would force legitimate, highly-regulated businesses to close, even in instances where the Attorney General and Department of Justice have found they have not violated any law. For many cities, like Chula Vista and Oceanside, these businesses are the source of significant tax revenue that pays for critical resident services such as senior centers, homeless programs, parks and public safety.

The sole purpose of proponents including the poison-pill provision is to eliminate their competition, as they have a long history of unsuccessfully challenging the legality of certain games played in card rooms. In fact, they have sued in court four times and lost and lobbied the last seven California attorneys general with all, including now Vice President Kamala Harris and former Gov. Jerry Brown, finding that card rooms are lawfully operating. Now, the initiative proponents are attempting to bypass the existing judiciary and regulatory process to bury their competition in lawsuits.

Proposition 26 would destroy local businesses and the resulting loss in tax revenue will be devastating to many cities, particularly in communities of color. Due to this reality, the California Black Chamber of Commerce and the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce both oppose Proposition 26.

Whats worse, loss of local government tax revenue isnt theoretical. While tribal casinos remained open during pandemic lockdowns, card rooms were closed for over a year, and cities that depend on the tax revenue from these businesses were forced to lay off employees and cut community services for residents.

This experience is why the California Contract Cities Association and over 100 elected officials across the state oppose Proposition 26, including Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas. Theyre joined by nearly all major statewide veteran organizations and the San Diego Tax Fighters in opposition with similar concerns.

The other troubling piece of Proposition 26 is it allows four private horse-racing tracks to offer in-person sports betting only if they continue to offer live horse-racing. California voters should not be asked to bail out an industry that is losing customers because of its terrible record of animal safety that has led to more than 1,600 horse deaths in the state the last 10 years. Proposition 26s lifeline for horse-racing tracks doesnt even include basic requirements for enhancing animal safety or hiring more veterinarians and as a result more horses will suffer and die. This is why many animal advocacy organizations across the state are opposing Proposition 26, including the San Diego Humane Society.

The bottom line is that Proposition 26 would force card rooms out of business and result in a loss of thousands of jobs and $500 million in local and state tax revenue, some of which is used for public health, homelessness services, senior centers and after school programs. It would also perpetuate an industry whose inhumane treatment of horses doesnt deserve our support.

Are some of the concerns we have why only 29 out of the 110 federally recognized tribes in California are listed as supporting Proposition 26? We do not know their reasons for certain, but it is clear, Proposition 26 does not have support from many California tribes.

We urge San Diegans to join AFSCME Local 127, AFSCME District Council 36, AFSCME California, Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas and over 100 other elected officials, the 80-plus cities that are a part of the California Contract Cities Association, San Diego Tax Fighters, veterans, business organizations and the San Diego Humane Society in opposing Proposition 26 and voting no on this poison-pill initiative.

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No on California Proposition 26: Poison pill provision will harm communities and workers - The San Diego Union-Tribune