HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0736.002 2008-2010 w , Phone: (808) 326 - 5684
BRENDA J. FORD : eiNk- ' -'!t • Fax: (808) 329- 4786
Council Member ':. :?. E -Mail: blbrd@co.hawaii.hi.us
District 7 - Central Kona .,tto, a.---
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL d"
County of Hawai A-
Kailua Trade Center e r n .
75-5706 Hanama Place. Suite 109 Q r
Kailua -Kona• Hawai'1 96740 — , ,1
DATE: March 16, 2010 I—. Fri r. Cr:
TO: .1. Yoshimoto. Chairperson, • -
and Membwai'i County Council L i
J
FROM: ` rcnda J. Ford , Council of the Ila M ember _ c0
ter,
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendments to Resolution No. 309 -10; Urging Our State Legislators to
Oppose Any Proposed Legislation Legalizing Gambling in the State Of I lawai'i
For your consideration, please find attached proposed amendments to Resolution No. 309 -10
correcting language and adding citations.
The proposed amendments, illustrated via Ramseyer format with respect to the contorts of
Resolution No. 309 -10, read as follows:
1. Add citation to the third WHEREAS clause and further amend to read:
"WHEREAS, the social costs generated by addicted gamblers exceed the income
benefits by at least $3 L to-S6 ] for every dollar going to governments when crime,
poverty, healthcare, and all other costs are included (Pulitzer, Morrow and Leavev
1981; Better Government Association 1992; Florida Budget Office 1994). The
• National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling states that gambling costs more than
raising taxes, even for those who never gamble! Each compulsive gambler costs the
economy between $14,006 and $22,077 per year. If 2% become addicted, that's $280
to $440 per year paid by every other citizen! (Grinols, Earl L., "Cutting the Cards and
Craps, right thinking about gambling economics." P. 14.); and"
2. Add citation to the sixth and seventh WHEREAS clause to read:
"WHEREAS, the social and economic costs of legalized gambling would include
divorce, domestic abuse, suicide, work absences, welfare, incarceration, homelessness.
and bankruptcy (Politzer, Morrow and Leavev 1981; Better Government Association
1992; Florida Budget Office 1994). The National Coalition Against Legalized
Gambling provides information that on the most recent study of all the casino counties in
the nation confirmed personal bankruptcy rates are 100% higher in counties with casinos
than in counties without casinos (Gross, Ernie and Morse, Edward. "The Impact of Casio
Gambling on Bankruptcy Rates: A County Level Analysis ". p. 1). A study of addicted
gamblers revealed. "Between 20% and 30% of the respondents made actual suicide
Cowl: No. 7 6 .2 .
Ref. Tos
Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Ref. 1)ute „j AR 1 , 201(1
Hawaii County Is An Equal Opportunity Provider: And Employer
March 16, 2010
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attempts. No other addictive population has had as high a prevalence for attempts."
(Widgery, Robin, President of Social Systems. "Warning: Legal Gambling is a Costly
Game." 1994 edition). Nevada has been the highest in the nation for suicides for 10 of
the last 12 years (suicidology.org/); and
WHEREAS, jobs would be lost as local businesses, retail establishments, restaurants.
and entertainment venues shut down and their income is diverted to gambling
activities and facilities that would send a large percentage of their revenue to offlisland
interests (Politzer, Morrow and Leavey 1981; Better Government
Association 1992; Florida Budget Office 1994). The National Coalition
Against Legalized Gambling quotes author Earl L. Grinols ("Gambling in America,
Costs and Benefits ", p.p. 55 -92) that most casinos attract 80% or more of their market
from within a 35 -50 mile radius absorbing entertainment, restaurant, and hotel
business, destroying other jobs in the trade area, and eliminating their sales,
employment, and property tax contributions; and"
3. The fourteenth WHEREAS clause is amended to read:
"WHEREAS, The Business- Economic Impacts of Licensed Casino Cabling in West
Virginia: Short -Term Gain but Long -Term 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"
A draft copy of Resolution No. 309 -10, Draft 2, is attached incorporating these
amendments.
•
•
133F /dkr
Att
A RESOLUTION URGING OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE ANY
PROPOSED LEGISLATION LEGALIZING GAMBLING IN THE STATE OF HAWAII
•
WHEREAS, the residents of the State of Hawaii have consistently rejected all attempts
•
to legalize gambling because they recognize the economically devastating effects of such action
to individuals and families; and
WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (spgfoundation.org/) is
adverse to legalized gambling and was formed in 1994 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational
organization dedicated to protecting the health and economy of our nation. It remains a
nationwide grassroots cadre of concerned citizens and compiles information on the adverse
personal. social, economic and public health impacts of gambling and disseminates it to citizens
and policy- makers at the local, state and national level; and
WHEREAS, the social costs generated by addicted gamblers exceed the income benefits
by at least $3 for every dollar going to governments when crime, poverty, healthcare, and all
other costs are included (Politzer, Morrow and Leavey 1981; Better Government Association
1992; Florida Budget Office 1994). The National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling states •
that gambling costs more than raising taxes, even for those who never gamble! Each compulsive
gambler costs the economy between $14,006 and $22,077 per year. If 2% become addicted,
that's $280 to $440 per year paid by every other citizen! (Grinols, Earl L., "Cutting the Cards and
Craps, right thinking about gambling economics." P. 14.); and
WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling comments that since
gtunbling is highly addictive, legalizing it would increase the number of those addicted,
particularly among young adults and risk- addicted individuals. Once gambling appears in a
community, it brings a wave of addiction. In a mature gambling market, compulsive gambling
typically seizes the lives of 1.5% to 2.5% of the adult population. Howard Shaffer of Harvard
University, Addictions Department, (quoted by Kindt in "Managerial and Decision Economics"
22: p. 17 -63) states that: "Gambling is an addictive behavior, make no mistake about it ...
Gambling has all the properties of a psychoactive substance, and again, the reason is that it
changes the neurochemistry of the brain." The American Psychiatric Association says between
I% and 3% of the U.S. population is addicted to gambling, depending on location and
demographics (American Psychiatric Association, DSM -IV, P.673). Youth have even higher
addiction rates, between 4 an 8% (Shaffer, H.J. & Hall, M.N. (1996) "Estimating prevalence of
adolescent gambling disorders: A quantitative synthesis and guide toward standard gambling
nomenclature." Journal of Gambling Studies, 12. 193 -214); and
WHEREAS, the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous (gamblcrsanonyntous.org) states
that compulsive gambling is an illness, progressive in its nature, which can never be cured, but
can be arrested. Compulsive gamblers cannot accept the fact that he or she is in the grip of a
progressive illness. These people have an inability or unwillingness to accept reality, are
• emotionally insecure and immature; and
•
WHEREAS, the social and economic costs of legalized gambling would include divorce,
domestic abuse, suicide, work absences, welfare, incarceration, homelessness, and bankruptcy
(Politzer, Morrow and Leavey 1981; Better Government Association 1992; Florida Budget
Office 1994). The National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling provides information that on
the most recent study of all the casino counties in the nation confirmed personal bankruptcy rates
are 100% higher in counties with casinos than in counties without casinos (Gross, Ernie and
Morse, Edward. ''The Impact of Casio Gambling on Bankruptcy Rates: A County Level
Analysis ". p.1). A study of addicted gamblers revealed, "Between 20% and 30% of the
respondents made actual suicide attempts. No other addictive population has had as high a
prevalence for attempts." (Widgery, Robin, President of Social Systems. ''Warning: Legal
Gambling is a Costly Game." 1994 edition). Nevada has been the highest in the nation for
suicides for 10 of the last 12 years (suicidology.org/); and
WHEREAS, jobs would be lost as local businesses, retail establishments. restaurants,
and entertaimtent venues shut down and their income is diverted to gambling activities and
facilities that would send a large percentage of their revenue to off -island interests (Politzer,
Morrow and Leavey 1981; Better Government Association 1992; Florida Budget Office 1994).
The National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling quotes author Earl L. Grinols ( "Gambling
in America, Costs and Benefits ", p.p. 55 -92) that most casinos attract 80% or more of their
market from within a 35 -50 mile radius absorbing entertainment, restaurant, and hotel business,
destroying other jobs in the trade area, and eliminating their sales, employment, and property tax
contributions; and
WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling provides information
from author Vickie Abt, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania) cited in "Executive Summary,
Casinos in Florida: An analysis of the Economic and Social Impacts, for the Florida Office of
Planning and Budgeting ") that legalizing gambling does not reduce illegal gambling and may
even increase it because untaxed illegal gambling operators may offer better odds and bigger
payoffs and even loans; and
WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (spgfoundation.org/)
indicates that studies of crime and the cost of law enforcement increase when gambling is
introduced to an area. Their website describes the desperate need of gamblers needs to "chase"
and recover gambling losses which causes pathological gamblers often turn to crime. Fraud and
embezzlement become common among formerly hard - working and highly- trusted people.
Violent crimes also increase. Three years after the introduction of casinos in Atlantic City, there
was a tripling of total crimes. Per capita crime there jumped from 50th in the nation to first
(Schwer, R. Keith; Thompson, William N.; Nakamuro, Daryl; "Beyond the Limits of Recreation:
Social Costs of Gambling in Southern Nevada." p. 4). Comparing crime rates for murder, rape,
robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft reveals Nevada is the most
dangerous place to live in the United States (Morgan Quitno Press, "Determining the Safest and
Most Dangerous State Rankings"
http:// www .governmentguide.com/community_ and_ home /where_i_live /factors.adp); and
•
•
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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
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of this Resolution to the Honorable Governor Linda Lingle, members of the Hawaii State Ilouse
of Representatives and the Hawai`i State Senate, the Mayors of each county, and the Chair and
Council Members of each respective county.
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