South Gate Voters Reject Casino Plan

South Gate voters turned out in large numbers Tuesday to crush a measure that would have allowed gambling in the city.

Voters defeated by a margin of more than 2 to 1 a proposal to build a glitzy 90-table card casino as part of a $60-million entertainment complex. The complex also would have included a 125-room hotel with banquet facilities, restaurants and health spa. Preliminary results indicated that 3,221 people voted against the measure, while 1,393 voted for it.

“People have seen the light,” said Nate Benson, a longtime South Gate resident and leader of the fight against the casino. “The whole thing just didn’t make sense. Evidently people are disenchanted with gambling and the element that it brings to a city.”

The casino issue has been one of the most heated and expensive in the history of this quiet industrial city southeast of Los Angeles. By last week, opponents of the measure had spent almost $200,000 and supporters had spent about $150,000 in a fierce fight over whether a casino would bring the financially troubled city untold wealth or nothing but trouble.

City Council members strongly supported the plan, saying that it would bring in millions of dollars and resuscitate an economy racked by factory closures and a stagnant business climate.

Critics argued that the casino would breed crime and corruption.

By early afternoon, it was clear that even the most complacent of voters had been roused by the intensity of the debate. Voter turnout was an unusually high 28.6%. During a municipal election, traditionally about 20% to 22% of the city’s 18,000 registered voters cast their ballots.

“People I haven’t seen in 10, 20 years are showing up to vote,” said one resident, Margaret Grussing, who has lived in the city for 50 years. “This has been a big controversy.”

Visibly disappointed city leaders said they hoped that the critics of the casino will come forward with proposals for other sources of revenue. “I don’t think either side won,” Councilman Larry Leonard said. “I don’t think South Gate won.”

SOUTH GATE

* Measure A

Should the City Council authorize the establishment of a card casino?

17 of 17 Precincts Reporting

VOTE % Yes 1,393 30.2 No 3,221 69.8

Measure requires majority to pass.