COM 0736.002 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, tourists visit Hawai'i to enjoy scenic beauty. idyllic climate, island culture, and as a family destination, but if legalized gambling were introduced, Hawai'i's image would change and tourism associated with beauty, idyllic climate, and island culture would further decline, the type of tourist encouraged to visit Hawaii would change, and /or illegal gambling syndicates and gambling -based crime will arrive in Hawaii; and WHEREAS, legalized gambling is a form of regressive tax, particularly in the case of lotteries, according to studies that Lind those in the lowest income bracket, the elderly, minorities and persons with the least amount of education or those who have beliefs in luck -based philosophies spend the greatest percentage of their income on tickets; and WHEREAS, the ilawai'i Coalition Against Legalized Gambling's (hcalg.orgf) mission statement, reads " Hawai'i Coalition Against Legalized Gambling is an alliance of organizations and citizens united in our commitment to a concerted effort to prevent the introduction of legalized gambling into the State of Hawaii. Membership and supporters of the Coalition include civic, conservation, education, environments, law enforcement. political, public health, religious, senior citizen, small business, youth and other community organizations."; and WHEREAS, Keith Whyte, executive director, National Council on Problem Gambling states; "Many people [have] terrible ideas about the odds. Our brains are just not wired to understand the difference between 500,000 to 1 and 50 million to 1. "; and WHEREAS, The Business - Economic Impact's of Licensed Casino Gabling in West Virginia Short -Term Gain but Long -Tern: Pain by John Warren Kindt warns that legalized gambling has a corrupting influence on state and city governments requiring laws to prohibit contributions by legalized gambling interests or to prevent the industry from dictating economic, social, and tax policies, often resulting in embezzlement and scandal for those who are addicted and further, governments should not subject their citizens to exploitation nor should they give youth the message that hard work is not a virtue, saving money is impractical, or that higher education should be disregarded. Gambling "reinforces economically unproductive activities and is statistically impossible since the 'house' always wins eventually." Government should not encourage luck -based activities which may lead to addiction; and WHEREAS, the Ilawai'i State Association of Counties held a meeting on August 11, 2009, and took a position against legalized gambling in the State of Hawai'i; and WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu voted on November 18, 2009, against legalized gambling (Resolution 09 -313); now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it urges legislators representing the various counties and specifically, the County of Hawaii to oppose any legislation legalizing gambling in the State of I lawai'i. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies 3