Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge Rejects Casino Ballot Proposal, Again
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has refused yet another casino ballot referendum, this right time on grounds that the proposed question features ‘ambiguous’ wording.
If gambling proponents in Arkansas wish to put the dilemma of casinos before voters, they’ll need to better just their amendments that are constitutional submitting them to Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.
It’s the 2nd time this present year that their state’s chief legal advisor has rejected a gambling motion.
Rutledge stated this week that the effort that is latest can’t be effortlessly summarized for voters to understand in the little period of time they spend inside polling booths.
‘It is my viewpoint that number of improvements or modifications to your ballot title are essential in order to more completely and correctly summarize your proposition,’ the AG ruled. She included that the relevant concern, as presently worded, would ‘inevitably lead to confusion.’
The proposal came from a committee named ‘Arkansas Wins in 2018.’ The effort sought to authorize four casinos into the counties of Benton, Boone, Miller, and Pulaski. Tax revenue generated by the gambling facilities would have been earmarked for highway improvements.
Arkansas is one of 11 states without full-fledged commercial or tribal casinos. It does, nevertheless, allow slot machines and table that is electric at its two parimutuel tracks, Oaklawn Park and Southland Park.
Advocates in a Rut
It had been only January that Leslie Rutledge rejected another demand to ask Arkansans whether they wish to authorize gambling that is casino-style. Both sought to generate highway funding, the individuals backing the two groups are reportedly unrelated though the two casino ballot referendums.
Proposed by Driving Arkansas ahead, the past effort also desired to generate brand new tax revenue from gambling in order to help fix the state roads. It called for the creation of three gambling enterprises.
Rutledge dismissed the motion saying there may be confusion ‘whether the words ‘Highway Funding Amendment’ … fairly represents the feature associated with proposed amendment that is constitutionalgambling enterprises).’
A year earlier in the day, Rutledge rejected Springs that is hot resident Emigh’s casino ballot proposal for being ‘overly long and complicated.’ Emigh has recommended a large number of gambling referendums on the years, all unsuccessfully.
His latest was titled, ‘An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution gambling that is legalizing the Fairplay Holdings ballot question committee members.’ Confused? So was Rutledge.
‘Your proposal is wholly bereft of specifics. The first problem concerns your mention of the Fairplay Holdings,’ the attorney general concluded in her denial.
Referendum Procedure
Arkansas is one of 26 states that allows residents to propose initiatives and/or referendums laws that are recommending consideration. Citizen initiatives and referendums are to make a ‘direct democracy’ where in fact the sole governing power doesn’t rest with the unit that is legislative.
However in Arkansas, the attorney general must first sign down on the proposals and assert that their wording is clear and concise. He or she isn’t to involve their own political opinions into the approval.
‘The choice to certify or reject a popular name and ballot title is in no method a reflection of my view of this merits of a specific proposal,’ Rutledge declared.
Should she have authorized the casino referendum that is latest, the Arkansas Wins in 2018 committee might have needed to collect 84.958 legitimate signatures to put the question regarding the November ballot.
Guidiville Rancheria Tribe Loses 14-Year Battle for Richmond, California Casino
A judge that is federal Thursday permanently quashed a 14-year bid by the by the Guidiville Rancheria Native United states tribe to build a $1.2 billion casino on the site of a former US Navy Depot in Richmond, California.
The Point Molate peninsula, near Richmond, California, where in actuality the tribe once imagined building a $1.2 billion casino, claiming ties that are ancestral. The land will now be utilized for a housing development, while its wineries that are historic be restored and preserved. (Image: The Center for Land Use Interpretation)
The judge in Oakland officially annihilated the tribe’s casino plan and ruled in 2010 and 2011 that it was not entitled to damages from the city that rejected it.
In 2004, the tribe proposed the construction of a casino at Point Molate, Contra Costa County, close to the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. The Navy had closed the depot in 1995 and sold the parcel of land to the City of Richmond for $1, which in turn desired development ideas for the area.
Even though that its reservation is situated 100 miles to your north, in Ukiah, Mendocino County, the Guidiville Ranchera stated the Point Molate promontory must certanly be transferred towards the tribe under the ‘restored lands’ provision of this Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe said its ancestors had once inhabited the Bay hundreds of years ago.
‘Reservation Shopping’
In 2006, it spent $2 million preparing a report in an effort to show its historic claim to the territory.
The report recounted entries in the log of a Spanish ship that landed at the Bay into the 1700s, whose crew ended up being greeted by Indians putting on clothes made of tule grass, resembling the dress that is ceremonial of Ohlone, from who the tribe claim lineage. But casino opponents accused the tribe of ‘reservation shopping’ and Contra Costa County spent over $1 million attempting to disprove the tribe’s historic claim towards the land.
It soon changed its tune, however, with regards to was guaranteed a $12 million a revenue-sharing deal year.
The proposition went to a ballot but was rejected by Richmond voters in 2010 and then by the City Council the year that is following. But the tribe said it had lost millions pursuing its desire a casino and sued the town for $750 million in damages.
Richmond’s Plan B
Now, with all the litigation officially ended, the town is free to push ahead having its alternative policy for Point Molate. Rather than a Las Vegas-style casino, 670 units that are residential be built in the plot, even though the Winehaven District a place of historic winery buildings will likely be preserved for future generations.
The tribe are going to be entitled to some proceeds from the development that is new the terms of the agreement.
‘We are excited to have ended the litigation to ensure that the public planning process can begin, and we can place that land to good use for the benefit of the entire community,’ stated Councilwoman Ada Recinos in a formal statement.
The Richmond area should be happy, because they will know are able to create a project that is new should be more appealing to area residents and voters alike.
Venetian Company Picnic Turns Deadly in Las Vegas, Police Say Act of ‘Workplace Violence’
A company that is venetian in a popular Las vegas, nevada park for locals turned as a murder scene on Sunday, after a member of staff showed up to the event with a handgun and allegedly shot at least two people.
Venetian employee Anthony Wrobel is alleged to possess shot and killed a feminine executive at Sunset Park over the week-end, but the motive is unclear and he continues to be at large. (Image: Las Vegas Review-Journal/LVMPD)
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has identified Anthony Wrobel, 42, as the shooting suspect. Law enforcement says he is 5’9″, approximately 200 pounds, and stays at large.
‘Wrobel is recognized as ARMED and HAZARDOUS,’ Metro Police tweeted Sunday night.
According to authorities, Wrobel showed up to the company picnic at Sunset Park around 6 pm local time. He approached a table where executives that are several sitting and proceeded to start fire.
Witnesses stated they heard several gunshots. One woman was killed, and a guy ended up being transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Police said Wrobel’s vehicle was found at nearby McCarran International Airport, but he’s got perhaps not been located. Metro didn’t say if the suspect is believed by them has brought a flight or not.
You aren’t information is asked to get hold of Metro Police at 702-828-3521 or homicide@lvmpd.com.
Sin City Shootings
Las Las Vegas has been marred by shootings as of late, the worst, of course, being the October 1 massacre that killed 58 people.
2017 was the year that is deadliest on record for Las Vegas murders, with 264 shooting deaths. Even without the mass shooting, 206 homicides still would have set a new murder record.
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said the murder price increase is because of the city’s growing population. The Las Vegas area that is metropolitan; which includes unincorporated areas of Clark County — has an estimated population in excess of 2.2 million, with about 633,000 living within the city’s specific boundaries. A recently available spate of MS-13 gang murders has placed a city that is already uneasy high alert.
Workplace Violence
Metro Police said Sunday’s shooting was not random, but a deliberate and targeted attack. The homicide target is reportedly a female in her 50s, and an executive during The Venetian.
Wrobel was reportedly a casino dealer at the Strip resort. Per Heavy.com, he additionally filed for bankruptcy in 2010, declaring more than $300,000 in debts while earning roughly $2,900 a month.
Police said the victims were seated at a park picnic table when Wrobel approached and shot them. ‘a picnic was being had by those employees once the suspect arrived on scene,’ the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said in a declaration.