Council Rejects Bid for Stricter Financial Reports From Casino

Amid allegations that casino operators are using campaign contributions to sway Huntington Park City Council votes, council members have turned back an effort to demand stricter financial reports from the card club.

Owners of the Huntington Park Casino missed a Jan. 23 deadline for turning over delinquent financial reports and are two months behind on their monthly payments of about $25,000 to the city and owe about $300,000 in city loans, officials said.

Councilwoman Rosario Marin wanted her colleagues to back her plan to have the city attorney turn up the heat on the three Fresch brothers who operate the casino, but her motion died Monday on a 2-2 vote. (The council has a vacancy as a result of the recent death of Raul Perez.)

The meeting descended to charges and countercharges about the casino’s alleged political influence.

Councilman Richard Loya held up enlarged copies of statements showing contributions the casino made to Mayor Thomas E. Jackson and Councilwoman Jessica Maes. Jackson received $13,500 in 1996 and Maes received about $11,000 in 1994.

“It’s the casino trying to buy the whole damn town!” shouted Loya, whose remarks were applauded by about 30 people attending the meeting. Jackson and Maes denied any wrongdoing.

Jackson was among several city officials investigated in 1991 for alleged profit-skimming, kickbacks and other improprieties in connection with the casino’s operation. No charges were filed.