Central Los Angeles : For These Foes, Bingo Isn’t in the Cards
Moose Lodges do it. Churches do it. Even little old ladies do it. Bingo does have its supporters.
But some South Gate residents are adamantly fighting the city’s plans to build a bingo emporium to raise money for the city and a nonprofit service organization. The residents object to the bingo parlor because the city voted against a card club in 1991. Whether it’s bingo or cards, they say, it’s still gambling and they want none of it.
But Andrew Pasmant, community development director, said the difference is that state law requires that card clubs go to a vote for approval and are very site-specific.
With bingo, “The city would generate a 1% tax which would go directly to the city and the balance is all regulated by the state,” Pasmant said, adding that the net proceeds would be split between the city and the Old Timers Foundation, a nonprofit community service group.
A public hearing on the bingo emporium is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at South Gate City Hall, 8650 California Ave.
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