2011-27812 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2011-27812
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REJECT ANY AND ALL
EXPANSIONS OF GAMBLING, INCLUDING LEGISLATION TO
LEGALIZE "DESTINATION CASINOS" IN FLORIDA.
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature is currently considering various measures that would
substantially expand gambling in the State, and
WHEREAS, the legislation being considered would allow for casino operations that rival
in size and scope the gambling operations existing in Las Vegas and Atlantic City; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the assurances of gambling promoters, historically, large
scale casino operations cannibalize non-gambling businesses and have caused, for instance,
the shuttering of forty percent of all restaurants and one-third of all retail businesses in Atlantic
City; and
WHEREAS, our community will bear the severe and painful economic and social costs
that always accompany expansive gambling, including the misery of individuals and families
touched by problem gambling as they are at higher risk of divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse,
domestic violence, crime, and suicide, and
WHEREAS, expanded gambling promotes corruption of the governmental process as
immensely wealthy gambling companies from all over the world seek to receive benefits from
state governmental entities that regulate their existence and profits, and
WHEREAS, if gambling interests are allowed to obtain major casino expansion, full
scale casino and gambling operations will became commonplace throughout our community
and our State, and
WHEREAS, inward facing mega-developments will privatize public streets, destroy the
pedestrian experience of downtown neighborhoods, exacerbate traffic, and denigrate the quality
of life in our community; and
WHEREAS, the false promises of increased revenue and jobs, like the broken promises
that accompanied the lottery and other gambling expansions, are intended to convince
Floridians to make a fool's gamble with their future, and
WHEREAS, based upon the foregoing concerns, the Mayor and City Commission of the
City of Miami Beach, Florida, hereby urge the Florida Legislature to reject any and all
expansions of gambling in the State of Florida,. including any legislation which would legalize so
called "destination casinos "
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Florida Legislature is
hereby urged to reject any and all expansions of gambling, including legislation to legalize so
called "destination casinos" in Florida.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this /rill day of December, 2011
ATTEST:
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Robert Parcher, City sierlc :S
,INCORP ORATED:*
APPROVED AS TO
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F\ATTO\TURN\RESOS\Casino Gambling.docx
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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
FROM: Matti Herrera Bower, Mayor I\ ���
DATE: December 5, 2011
I .
SUBJECT: R9 Item: Discussion Regarding a Resolution Opposing the Expansion -
of Gambling in the State of Florida
Please place on the Dec 14, 2011 Commission meeting agenda a discussion
regarding a resolution opposing the expansion of gambling, including "destination
resorts", in the State of Florida. The resolution is attached.
I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter. If you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rebecca Wakefield at extension 6157.
Thank you.
M H B/rw
We ore committed to providing excellent public service end solely to all vdio live,work,and ploy in our vib
Agenda Item t 9 M
Date 12-1u-II