Antioch, California, Card Room Limitiation Initiative, Measure E (June 2016)
| Measure E: Antioch Card Room Limitiation Initiative |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| Local gambling |
| Related articles |
| Local gambling on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Contra Costa County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Antioch, California |
A citizen initiative limiting card rooms was on the ballot for Antioch voters in Contra Costa County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of enacting a citizen initiative to allow only one card room in the city of Antioch, enact other restrictions on gambling, and to require voter approval to make changes to the city's gambling laws. |
| A no vote was a vote against enacting the proposed citizen initiative, continuing to limit the number of card rooms in the city to two and allow the city council to alter the city's gambling laws. |
Election results
| Antioch, Measure E | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 12,080 | 66.81% | ||
| No | 6,002 | 33.19% | ||
- Election results from Contra Costa County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the electors adopt the Initiative Limiting Card Rooms Within the City and Requiring Voter Approval for New or Expanded Card Rooms Ordinance?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Antioch City Attorney:
| “ |
Since 2011, Antioch has had an ordinance regulating the number and location of card rooms that may operate in the city. This ordinance was significantly revised in 2015. Measure E would amend the city’s card-room ordinance in various ways. Most significant, the current ordinance allows up to two card rooms to exist within the city at one time. Measure E would change this limitation to allow only the number of card rooms that existed on Sept. 1, 2015. Since only one card room existed as of that date, Measure E would effectively prohibit there from ever being more than one card room within the city. Measure E would also require that city voter approval also be obtained for any new card-room or expansion of an existing card room. Measure E 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. Finally, Measure E 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). The current City card-room ordinance requires that the city council deny a license application 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. Measure E would add an additional ground for denial: that the applicant is not in “good standing” with the California Gambling Commission. An applicant would lack “good standing” if it does not have a valid license issued by the Commission, has an expired license that it has not renewed, has a suspended or revoked license, or is the subject of a proceeding that seeks to suspend or revoke its license. The current city card-room ordinance requires that applicants submit and obtain a license from the California Gambling Control Commission before locating a card room within city limits. Once applicants have obtained this state license, they are subject to an additional set of city regulations. Generally, applicants must submit an application to the city police chief, who must issue a report to the City Council, which then either approves or denies the application. Measure E would not change this review process.[2] |
” |
| —Antioch City Attorney [1] | ||
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Marlys K. Axley, Antioch Resident
- Terry F. Axley, Antioch Resident
- George Allison, Antioch Resident
- Jesus Zuniga Jr., Retired Police Officer
- Susan E Philippi, Antioch Resident
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
In 2013, the City Council rushed to issue a gambling license to a well-connected developer without a state background investigation shortly before he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for agents posing as drug dealers. The Council then refused to close glaring loopholes in our gambling laws. THIS INITIATIVE FIXES THE COUNCIL’S FAILURES. MEASURE E means: • The Council cannot issue a gambling license to a felon or someone providing false information. • Cardrooms cannot move within 1,000 feet of a school, treatment facility or place of worship. • Voters have to approve new cardrooms or cardroom expansion. Cardrooms cannot become mini-casinos. • There will be less crime. The police can focus on protecting our homes and streets. • The Antioch cardroom that was closed by the State after repeated illegal activity will stay closed. Antioch’s other cardroom will stay open. Other cities already have similar laws. Local residents twice asked the Council to fix our ordinance, but the Council refused the 9,302 citizens who signed our petition. You would not know this reading the Council’s arguments. The Council would rather blame “outsiders” for helping our citizens’ coalition than take responsibility for issuing a gambling license to a felon and failing to fix our gambling laws. This is why the Voters need to be in control of gambling and not politicians. Our coalition includes community leaders, taxpayers and citizens from all over Antioch, as well as businesses opposed to ethically-challenged gambling operators. Let’s stop the Council from foolishly pursuing gambling at the expense of other local businesses and our quality of life. JOIN ANTIOCH CITIZENS IN SUPPORTING MEASURE E.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Wade Harper, Mayor, City of Antioch
- Tony Tiscareno, Antioch City Council
- Mary Helen Rocha, Antioch City Council
- Gene A. Cianfichi, Key Employee Kelly’s Cardroom
- Lori Ogorchock, Antioch City Council Mayor Pro-Tem
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
The California Grand Casino in Pacheco wants to corner the market on card rooms and has launched a deceptive campaign to eliminate competition from the family that is seeking a buyer for the former Kelly’s Restaurant & Card Room in Antioch. The owner of Kelly’s Restaurant & Card Room is in ill health and the family is seeking a qualified buyer who will pass the State and City background checks for Kelly’s Restaurant & Card Room to once again operate primarily as a “fine dining” restaurant with a small card room. The City wants to be fair to the two card rooms that have operated here traditionally, the 19th Hole and Kelly’s. The City Council has already passed a STRONG ordinance limiting the number of card rooms to just two. Any potential card room operator MUST have state approval first before the Antioch city council can consider approval. Don’t be fooled by these out-of-town gambling interests from Pacheco who do not contribute to the City of Antioch. They have tried to bully our City Council with political threats and are spending plenty of money on politics in this election year to further enrich themselves. For the California Grand Casino, it’s all about GREED. Antioch residents can see through these deceitful tactics. Send them a message that Antioch doesn’t need an out-oftown card room dictating to the citizens of Antioch how to do business. The City’s current ordinances are available online ca/. See ordinances 5-4.01 through 5-4.17. Stand up for Antioch and Vote NO on Measure E[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a successful initiative petition campaign.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Antioch Local gambling. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
