Supporters and opponents of the referendum that would expand legal slot machines
in Broward County agreed on one thing Tuesday night -- the state Legislature can't
be trusted when it comes to education funding in South Florida.
At debates in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, the question of whether voters
should approve Las Vegas-style slot machines focused on disappointment with the
history of legal gambling in Florida, recognition that it is present in many forms
already, and a mixture of worry and hope for increasing it in the future.
Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs and Commissioner Ilene Lieberman
squared off at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, making their
cases before about 30 local business leaders.
And about 140 people turned out in at the Hollywood Beach Community Center to
watch Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti and Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper
trade shots and sometimes-personal barbs over the issue.
"There are no guarantees, particularly with regard to what the losses and gains are
going to be," said Jacobs, the only member of the county commission to vote
against bringing the March 8 slots referendum before voters. "We are being
shortchanged by having a vote on this issue before the Legislature acts."
Jacobs said the measure came with a lot of empty promises about increased
funding for schools and benefits to the Broward economy, promises that may or
may not materialize, depending on how the state Legislature decides how legalized
slots would work.
She recalled the state lottery, which she called a "giant hoax" that was supposed
to benefit education but in reality provided no extra money for school systems
across the state.
Lieberman, a supporter of the referendum, agreed that the state has shortchanged
schools, but argued this was precisely why voters should approve expanded
gambling in the county.
"The lottery was totally controlled by the legislature," she said. "That's exactly
why we shouldn't let the Lgislature control this issue."
Agreements between pari-mutuels and the nonprofit Florida School Boards
Association guarantee that 30 percent of the revenues from slots would go to fund
the state's schools, Lieberman said.
Vote no, she warned, and the Legislature could easily ban any deals with the
pari-mutuels and leave Broward County in a weaker position when the subject
comes back up in two years.
Lieberman also said slots are already here -- at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino, the Coconut Creek Casino, and on the "cruises to nowhere," which take
gamblers far enough out to sea so that state gambling laws have no effect.
The only difference, she said, is that those slots are unregulated, and Broward
doesn't get a dime of revenue.
If approved, the measure would bring slots to seven existing pari-mutuel facilities
in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Lieberman, who personally opposes gambling, said approving slots would be a boon
to the local economy and help education.
Jacobs, who did not want to cast the vote as a moral issue, nonetheless raised
concerns about gambling addiction and the possible negative effect on senior
citizens.
In Hollywood, Giulianti argued that any benefit of legalizing slots would be
short-lived and not widespread.
In opposing the measure, Giulianti was joined by anti-gaming lobbyist Dan Lewis.
Joining Cooper, the Hallandale mayor, were lobbyist Alan Koslow and Dan Atkins,
vice president of the Hollywood Greyhound track.
"I'm very disappointed that Mayor Cooper has chosen to be so parochial on this
issue, because this proposal will not benefit all of Broward County."
Cooper, whose city is expected to reap millions in new taxes and fees if racetracks
are granted slot machine licenses, called Giulianti's stance an "offense" to the
people of Hallandale Beach.
"I'm a paid lobbyist for our residents," Cooper said.
She also complained that Hollywood has endorsed widespread development without
considering the effect on neighboring towns.
Atkins said gambling already exists in Broward, and local governments should
benefit from it.
"Right now all that money stays with the Indians and with the cruise ships, and we
don't see any of it," he said.
Hollywood's efforts to persuade voters to nix expanded gambling barely phased
officials in neighboring Dania Beach.
They voted 4-0 Tuesday night at a commission meeting to assist Dania Jai-Alai
with requests for modifications or redevelopment of the facility to make way for the
slot machines if the referendum passes in March.
In return, jai-alai officials agreed to pay the city a cut of the revenue to help with
increased traffic and other expenses the city may incur.
Staff Writer Lori Sykes contributed to this report.