1674-3-Bennett M. Lifter 47 of 175, 6 Terms
mh VETERAN OF '86 CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS AMBITIOUS CASINO PLAN 03/03/1994
THE MIAMI HERALD
Copyright (c) 1994, The Miami Herald
DATE: Thursday, March 3, 1994 EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: 1C LENGTH: 58 lines
ILLUSTRATION: photo: Bennett LIFTER
SOURCE/CREDIT LINE: ANTHONY FAIOLA Herald Business Writer
VETERAN OF '86 CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS AMBITIOUS CASINO PLAN
Bennett Lifter, a leader in the failed 1986 campaign to legalize casinos
in Florida, confirmed Wednesday that he is a primary backer behind the new
pro-gaming group hoping to bring one of the most liberal casino laws in the
nation to Florida in 1994.
"I'm tired of seeing our hotels and our tourism industry running down, "
said Lifter, owner of the Marco Polo and Waikiki hotels in Sunny Isles.
This week, a political action committee backed by Lifter launched its
campaign for the 430,000 petition signatures needed to bring its gambling
proposal to Florida voters on Nov. 8.
The measure, much more lucrative for gaming interests than the one put
forth in 1986, could potentially bring hundreds of casinos to Florida. It
would give each county the right to choose among free-standing casinos,
casinos in big hotels, riverboats, dog tracks, horse tracks or jai-alai
frontons. Counties could choose all or none of the options, with any mixture
in between.
On Tuesday, the group had refused to release details of its
financial backers. Reached Wednesday, however, Lifter confirmed earlier
speculation of his involvement as a "key player. "
He added that he was not the lone South Florida hotelier supporting the
measure, but refused to release other names. "They'll have to do that when
they're ready." "We have done nothing to fend off competition with other
towns where casinos are becoming a way of life, " Lifter said. In 1986,
Lifter became one of the must vocal supporters behind a move to legalize
casinos in hotels of 500 rooms or more. He contributed $265,000 of his own
money toward the ' 86 campaign.
Besides Lifter's hotel properties, he owns 60 acres of undeveloped land
near Joe Robbie Stadium, and another 60 acres near the Golden Glades
Interchange in North Dade. Lifter, 68, insisted that he doesn't want to build
casinos on his properties.
"I'm doing this for tourism, not just for myself, " he said.
Lifter's political action committee has hired Miami media consultant
Michael Levine to be its public voice.
Levine, who previously did work for large casino companies, most recently
represented a group of private citizens supporting statehood for Puerto Rico.
He owns Next Communications, a Coral Gables public relations firm. The
group's proposal is the most liberal yet in Florida's steam-rolling gambling
movement. Another PAC backed by Florida politico Patrict Roberts is collecting
names for a more conservative measure permitting seven free-standing casinos
statewide, and smaller gaming parlors in Florida's 35 licensed horse tracks,
dog tracks and jai alai frontons.
Two other groups -- one supporting just hotels and another supporting
just riverboats -- are also in the wings.