Opinion: California tribes destroy charities

Tuesday, December 9, 2008  

"The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors just acted to comply with a new law banning electronic forms of charity bingo – one the Legislature crammed through in 11 days at the end of the 2008 session.

How nice. Our state leaders can't agree on how to address a $28 billion budget problem, but they can act in 11 days to destroy charities because Indian tribes tell them to.

Today, legal forms of e-bingo overseen by the county and the sheriff account for almost $5 million of services provided by charities such as the Society for the Blind, United Cerebral Palsy's Saddle Pals therapeutic horse-riding program, WIND Youth Services, Disabled Sports USA and support for after-school activities at seven of eight San Juan Unified School District high schools.

As of Jan. 1, a giant hole will begin forming – all because of 11 days in August and the greed of powerful tribal gambling interests.

Sure, they created a one-time, $5 million mitigation fund and a new, unproven statewide game that will offer zero benefit to small charities.

But what about next year? And the next?"

Get the Story:
Topo Padilla: Bingo ban hurts many charities, helps tribes (The Sacramento Bee 12/8)