R9G-Discuss- Resolution To Reject Expansions Of Gambling-Destination Casinos -LlD MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION
TO: Members of the City Commission
CC: Jimmy Morales, City Manager
Rafael Granado, City Clerk
FROM: Philip Levine, Mayor
DATE: February 25, 2014
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: 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
Please place the aforementioned item on the March 5th City Commission Agenda.
Resolution language will be forthcoming. If there are any questions or concerns,
please do not hesitate to contact Alex Miranda at AlexMiranda@MiamiBeachFI.gov.
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Agenda Item Rq Cr
Date 3-S-Il[
RESOLUTION NO.
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 could substantially expand gambling in the State; and
WHEREAS, the legislation being considered would allow for large scale casino
operations and potentially allow the expansion of existing gambling to additional
locations throughout Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the assurances of gambling promoters, historically,
large scale casino operations cannibalize non-gambling business and, for instance,
caused 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 become 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, urge the Florida Legislature to reject
any and all expansions of gambling in the State of Florida, including any legislation
which would legalize "destination casinos."
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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 __ day of-------' 2014
PHILIP LEVINE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
RAFAEL E. GRANADO, CITY CLERK
;.
,__,/
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