Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said Thursday that he will vote against a March initiative to
legalize slot machines at parimutuels in South Florida, sounding a rare note of caution in a county
that has largely embraced the proposal.
Alvarez, a former police director, said he's opposed to gambling, and believes that it brings ``a lot of
social problems.''
The measure on the March 8 ballot would allow slot machines at horse tracks, dog tracks and
jai-alai frontons in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and devote a significant portion of the
revenues to state education.
Alvarez gave no indication that he would campaign against the referendum.
CONTRAST IN COUNTIES
Thus far, little opposition to the measure has emerged in Miami-Dade -- in contrast to Broward,
where the mayors of the county and Fort Lauderdale have been highly visible opponents.
''The silence out of Dade is deafening,'' said Rep. Randy Johnson, a Republican lawmaker who
chairs No Casinos, a statewide group that opposes the measure. ``There is major push back by local
leadership in Broward and none in Miami-Dade. My guess is that the proponents have done a good
job of dealing with every potential adversary they might have in that county.''
Ron Book, the longtime Miami lobbyist who represents the parimutuel industry, acknowledged the
lobbying effort has been considerable.
''We've got a significantly higher level of political support in Dade,'' Book said. ``There's a better
level of understanding of the importance than there is in Broward.''
There also may be little upside for politicians to oppose the measure. Slot proponents have
promised millions of dollars for education and to the two counties -- though critics suggest the
claims are wildly inflated.
Alvarez said Thursday that he considered vetoing the County Commission's 11-1 vote that put the
measure on the ballot last month. But he said he was told that scrapping the election would cost the
county between $3 million and $9 million -- money the parimutuel industry pledged to the county if it
agreed to hold the election this spring.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson, the lone dissenting voice on the commission, said she
has voiced her disdain for slots during radio interviews and other public forums, but she noted that,
``it's not at the top of people's priorities right now.''
''I think it's bad public policy to prey on people's weaknesses to fund essential public services,''
Sorenson said. ``But I think it's going to pass.''
NO EFFECT
Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer said Thursday that he also is opposed to the measure, but he
believes that, pass or fail, it will have no direct effect on his tourist-dependent city.
''I think the slots are an unfortunate foot in the door that could lead to more efforts to expand to
casinos,'' Dermer said. ``It's just not the way we should be raising revenue.''
Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, whose district is home to two of the parimutuel facilities that expect to
reap a windfall -- Miami Jai-Alai and Flagler Dog Track -- said she supports the measure but hasn't
been promoting it.
''I have been telling people about the issue if they ask, but that's it,'' Sosa said. ``Voters should
decide for themselves.''