W/Pic of Carl

Initiative 892 Not Worthy of Our Vote A wave of opposition has been growing within the minority community against an initiative that will be on the November ballot. From Vancouver to Olympia, from Spokane to Seattle, people are taking a look at Initiative 892 and coming to the conclusion that it is a terrible idea. Initiative 892 wants to open the floodgates on gambling in Washington State. It says let us put electronic slot machines in bars. Let us put them in bingo halls. Let us put them in bowling alleys. And while we’re at it, why don’t we go ahead and put them in restaurants too. I mean come on. This state already has card rooms. It already has casinos. We’ve got Lotto and MegaMillions. Why would we possibly need more? Tim Eyman, who has orchestrated this initiative at the beck and call of out of state gambling interests, tried to sweeten this garbage by saying the state could use some of the money from these slot machines to lower property taxes. But when you look closely at the wording of the initiative, you’re left wondering if this could really work. The people that we have elected to make decisions about the state’s financial health don’t think Initiative 892 is good public policy. I don’t see how putting slot machines everywhere will do anything to improve the unequal education our community still struggles with. I don’t see how slot machines will turn the trend on joblessness and homelessness that afflicts our people. In fact, it’s likely to make matters worse for the people who are most vulnerable. And it’s a pretty sure bet that the first place they’ll want to put those slot machines is right in our communities. There would be no stopping them from placing these gambling machines near schools or playgrounds. In fact, this initiative is worded so that it overrides the authority of local jurisdictions to limit where gambling can go. Initiative 892 doesn’t begin to address any serious need we have in Washington and I think we deserve better. If we are going to use a mechanism that sidesteps our elected leaders, it needs to be a win-win for all people not just for fat-cat gambling corporations. Just as I wouldn’t waste my money on a slot machine, I wouldn’t waste my vote on this initiative. I’m urging everyone to use their voting privilege to vote no on Initiative 892. Carl Mack, President of Seattle/King County Branch of the NAACP