Originally published 03 June 2002
in San Francisco Chronicle
WHEN YOU think of bingo, perhaps your Aunt Bertie and
Uncle Joe come to mind. It's what they do Saturday nights down at the community
hall -- wholesome, innocent fun that raises funds for the local high school
band or church, right?
But
in California, it's a $300 million per year industry that urgently needs
reform. Although most bingo operators are the sort of small, community- based
charities contemplated by the state's voters when bingo was legalized in
1976, a few are large operations that take advantage of the anything-goes
environment.
Of the 48 states that allow bingo, California is one
of only five that lack a regulatory system for the business. As a result,
law enforcement officials say, the potential for money laundering and embezzlement
is enormous.
Attempts in Sacramento to pass reform legislation have
been blocked by big bingo operators, who spread campaign cash freely around
the Legislature. Most notorious is the state's largest bingo king, Irving
Moskowitz, who runs the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club in Hawaiian Gardens,
a tiny suburb of Los Angeles.
Moskowitz sends more than $10 million
annually in his "nonprofit" organization's bingo proceeds to ultra-rightist
Israeli groups, such as the Hebron settlers in the West Bank, that seek to
expel Palestinians from their lands and wreck the region's prospects for
peace.
Moskowitz is again rallying his supporters to try to kill reform
in Sacramento. SB1959, sponsored by Sens. Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles,
and Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, would mandate annual audits of bingo operations
that raise more than $1 million a year and are open more than 4 days a week,
and would put stiff regulations on the largest outfits.
The bill is backed by a wide variety of churches, synagogues and nonprofits such as the United Cerebral Palsy Association.
Because
of the stiff opposition, the bill has been stripped of its teeth. Today,
a crucial vote will take place in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sens.
John Burton, D-S.F., Don Perata, D- Oakland, and Jackie Speier, D- Hillsborough,
will be key votes in deciding whether the measure advances to the Senate
floor.
Ultimately, SB1959 should be strengthened. For example, audits
must be carried out by an independent agency, not by lapdog local governments,
as the bill currently permits.
Aunt Bertie and Uncle Joe deserve to
be able to play bingo without worrying about possible impropriety. It's meant
to be good, clean fun. It should stay that way.
Copyright 2002, San Francisco Chronicle For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
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