Chumash and Drunk Drivers

The ongoing protests of Santa Ynez Valley residents are largely ignored in what defines Slot Barns elsewhere - lost local control.

Much as the 2 Connecticut Slot Parlors have dumped drunks onto local roads, Tribal Gambling venues wave the banner of Sovereignty and fail to protect the community.

When Beacon Hill conducted their sham public hearings and debates (that weren't debates), nowhere was the threat of DRUNK DRIVERS considered, yet in the grossly flawed legislation (prepared by Industry, behind closed doors), 24/7/365 FREE ALCOHOL was included.

These are the terms below:

limiting the sale, service and consumption of alcohol between the hours of 9 a.m. and midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday

COUNTY WITHDRAWS ITS PROTEST OF CHUMASH CASINO LIQUOR LICENSE

By Jeremy Foster, Staff Writer

Before long, the board majority voted 3-2 to send a protest letter to the state licensing department, on the grounds that the casino is within a half-mile vicinity of three elementary schools, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, and the YMCA; would add to an already high concentration of liquor licenses in the area; and may worsen public safety problems in the Valley.

These conditions include banning sales, service or consumption of alcohol on the gaming floor and at the Chumash Café; barring patrons under 18 from using the gaming floor or showroom; ensuring that the sale of alcohol is commensurate with the sale of food; allowing Sheriff’s deputies to inspect the casino when alcohol is being served; requiring casino staff that sells alcohol to receive extra training in the sale and handling of alcoholic beverages; limiting the sale, service and consumption of alcohol between the hours of 9 a.m. and midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; and preventing the sale and consumption of alcohol during concerts, boxing and cage-fighting events.

In a letter to Farr, Kathy Cleary, the President of Preservation of Los Olivos, wrote that she learned the Sheriff’s Department had not been sending ABC alcohol and drug arrest reports, which is required by law. She also questioned the wisdom of approving a permit when there have been more than 1,400 arrests reported at the casino (ABC notes it only counts incidences related to the licensed portions of the casino and resort).

Farr said she’s been deluged with emails from Valley residents alarmed about the potential impact of an expanded liquor license on public safety. She said she shared the concern.

“Today, in my district, the alcohol licensees and all of the negative impacts to this community and the public safety impacts are enormous,” she said. “It’s real serious in Isla Vista. This has become a serious issue in Los Olivos – and a very serious issue in Santa Ynez.”

According to Sheriff Brown, the state is poised to take a portion of Indian gambling revenue. These state funds reimburse local law enforcement agencies located near casinos; but this fund “has been held hostage” as state lawmakers propose to slash it from $30 million to $18 million. This would make it difficult to keep nine public safety positions (including five sheriff’s deputies) funded, Brown told the board.

A 28-year Los Olivos resident said she opposed any kind of expansion because of “the atrocious casino track record of drug and alcohol crimes that has been chronicled in the police blotter for the last five years.”

“There’s nothing but expense and fatalities that will result if more liquor licenses occur,” she said. “And there’s certainly no monetary benefit to the county by expanding the casino’s ability to get hard liquor to most of the facilities of the casino grounds and gambling floor. This is just the beginning.”

Farr told the Journal she was “very disappointed” with the board majority’s vote. “I was quite concerned to learn from the sheriff during the hearing that the funding for maintaining the current staffing levels of both law enforcement and firefighters in the Valley is forecast to be sharply reduced by the state during this current fiscal year.”

Today's rosy promises become tomorrow's budget cuts.