Southeast : CARD CLUB CONFUSION

Hawaiian Gardens City Councilwoman Kathleen Navejas has asked state officials to clarify procedures for establishing the city’s first card club.

Navejas, a prime opponent of the club, which was approved by voters in November, said negotiations aimed at choosing an operator for the casino are not being conducted at “arm’s length.” In a letter to state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, she said steps for opening a club are too confusing. A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said Navejas’ letter was received Tuesday and no response had been prepared. However, he said that city and county government are mostly responsible for licensing operators of gambling clubs.

A representative of Hollywood Park Inc., which runs a casino in Inglewood, has also complained about the application process, saying last week that “no correct form was available” when company officials submitted paperwork last week to operate the casino.