Anti-card room group forms in Milpitas

By Ian Bauer, Milpitas Post

A movement has materialized to thwart the potential move of the Bay 101 Casino from San Jose to Milpitas. The all-volunteer group of Milpitas citizens last week announced the launch of Milpitas Voters Against Measure E (Voters Against E).

Unlike supporters who say passage of Measure E on Nov. 4 will allow a card room to operate within city limits and adopt a 10.5-percent card room tax that will result in approximately $8.4 million in annual general fund revenue, the Voters Against E believe the action will degrade the city's quality of life.

"Milpitas has a well-earned reputation as a family-friendly town. In 1954, Milpitas won a major battle for independent status over the City of San Jose, celebrated by the 'Minute Man' statue in front of city hall today," Mike McInerney, a Voters Against E spokesman, wrote in a Sept. 18 statement. "Welcoming a card room to Milpitas, even if it locates on a corner of Milpitas next to the landfill, does not fit the character of the Milpitas where we want to raise our families."

McInerney added a card room will tarnish Milpitas' reputation as a family-friendly town.

In addition, opponents say Bay 101 -- in its quest to relocate from San Jose to Milpitas -- gained a "sweetheart deal" toward the relocation.

"The Bumb family, owners of the Bay 101 card room, want to relocate it to Milpitas," he wrote, noting Ed McGovern, the Bumb family's spokesperson, told this newspaper the family was tired of their treatment by the City of San Jose. "Measure E gives the Bumbs a sweetheart deal -- a substantial financial gain over their present arrangement with San Jose and a gambling-friendly environment where local control is severely handcuffed.

"In San Jose, only voters can decide whether to increase the number of tables per card room or allow new Vegas-style slot machines. Under Measure E, the city council may increase the number of tables and the state decides what games are allowed unless the voters pass a ballot measure to prohibit."

The group claims:

Milpitas City Manager Tom Williams countered that by saying the card room would be subject to annual reviews, and that employees would have to be re-licensed with a type of work permit every three years.

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Anti-card room group forms in Milpitas