Moorpark to Keep Card Room Closed
In a surprise move, the Moorpark City Council Monday voted not to allow the reopening of the Rendezvous Card Room, which featured legal gambling in poker games.
The swing vote came from Councilman Thomas C. Ferguson, who twice before had voted to allow the club to reopen. However, on Monday, Ferguson, citing petitions signed by about 300 residents, voted against the reopening.
The club, which had operated for nearly 30 years, has been closed since the death in December of its owner, Robert S. Bonta.
City law allows existing card rooms to remain open during the lifetime of the owners, but prohibits their reopening under new ownership. Bonta’s two children asked the council last month to amend the ordinance to allow them to reopen the club.
On two earlier votes, council members Ferguson, Danny Woolard and Leta Yancey-Sutton backed an ordinance to allow the Rendezvous to reopen with new restrictions.
But, when the measure was brought back for a vote on amendments, Ferguson joined Mayor Al Prieto and Councilman James D. Weak in killing it.
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