Position to the Stop the 101 Casino Coalition

The following statement regarding my opposition to the 101 Casino is on the website:
http://www.stopthecasino101.com/id122.html This is where other candidates are allowed to present a position (none from the 5th thus far in this forum).

At a recent Democratic Club debate a couple of my fellow candidates expressed opposition to the Rohnert Park casino and stated they were going to “negotiate the best deal” they could get from Station Casinos in order to offset the social and economic cost to our community in Sonoma County. How does one “negotiate the best deal” walking into a room having already accepted the inevitability of this casino? I stated that I am a community activist and as the next Fifth District Supervisor I would fight the casino and I even encouraged those opposed to think of clever ways to defeat the casino with “civil disobedience”
(http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080401/NEWS/478055661/1305/ELECTION&template=kart) . I have also signed a pledge that I will not knowingly accept any contributions nor hosted fundraisers from supporters of the casino.

The labor unions understandably support the casino; they feel it would support union members with good paying jobs building and operating the casino. I stood in front of the North Bay Labor Council and when asked how I felt about the casinos I said, “…I am opposed to the Casino!” I do not think the unions nor some local political leaders in search of jobs and dollars, realize the social, environmental and economic costs to our community with this project. There are consequences with the aquifer, wastewater, gridlock, public safety, and further erosion of the social fabric in our community. Large amounts of money will be taken out of the County, disproportionately from poor families, minorities and the elderly -- looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that would free them from their economic suffering.

We need economic justice for Native Americans, but this is not the vehicle to choose. Additional harm on the backs of other’s sufferings, along with unacceptable burdens thrust upon our communities. Our cities and County are looking for money anywhere they can find it regardless of the eventual problems that will occur. Making deals with casinos is a Faustian bargain that will not be a panacea for our budget problems but will open a Pandora ’s Box of unexpected travail. There are other solutions to our lack of funding if we have the courage and vision to utilize them.

Since 2000 the median household income in Sonoma County has declined by 2% while salaries and benefits for County staff has increased by 64%. Of the 4000 County workers the top 1000 average compensation is over $160,000 per year. For four years now the County has cut programs and services from that of the previous year. In front of most of the Unions representing Sheriff’s deputies, SEIU Service Employees Int’l Union, and North Bay Labor Council I have been asked what can we do to stop the demise of our Human Services, Mental Health programs and lack of funds for roads and infrastructure.

I have said in a conciliatory tone that we are in a recession with declining income and increasing costs. Their ranks are being thinned through attrition of retirement without rehiring. In order to avoid additional layoffs of less senior workers and corresponding cuts in programs and services; we need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits. Also the community cannot rely upon our County workers to solve all our problems; we all have to step up to the plate ourselves and work toward a better future for everyone…we need to leverage our resources better by restoring funding cuts to our non-profits and volunteer organizations. Also we need to focus more on prevention; less on reaction…try to get more the gain from contributors, less the liability of our failures.

The unions were gracious host to me and they understand that I want to represent them along with the interests of everyone in Sonoma County. We need courage and vision with difficult times ahead. We need leaders who are up front and honest. Why do we elect our political leaders if not to solve problems?

Thank you to Stop the Casino 101 Coalition for giving all of the Supervisorial Candidates an opportunity to provide their detailed and well thought out positions on the Rohnert Park casino. Please go to our website (www.TomLynch4Supervisor.com) to learn more about our ideas of working “Together Toward A Sustainable Future”. Join US!!!

tlynch@tomlynch4supervisor.com
707-827-3415