Published on: Thursday, November 17, 2011

By Ashley S. Westerman

Prince George’s County Council voted Tuesday to postpone further discussion of the controversial zoning bill, CB-49, which would prohibit video lottery terminals or “slots” in the county.

The 5-4 vote to table the legislation now leaves CB-49 in the hands of the General Assembly, which in turn will likely require a popular vote by the people of Maryland to resolve the issue.

A slots site in Prince George’s County was not included in the referendum Marylanders voted on in 2008 to allow slots casinos in Baltimore and four Maryland counties. Penn National Gaming, the company that revived Fort Washington’s Rosecroft Raceway earlier this year, has been pushing for slots since it acquired the race track.

CB-49 was originally introduced in September by Councilman Eric Olson, D-District 3, along with fellow council members Mary Lehman, D-District 1; Will Campos, D-District 2; and Andrea Harrison, D-District 5, in an effort to further ensure slots stay out of the county.

The Council Hearing Room in Upper Marlboro was packed wall-to-wall with people during the Nov. 15 hearing. Some were present for other items on the agenda that day but most attended for CB-49. When actual seats ran out, people stood against the walls — two layers deep in some places.

Those who opposed the ban on slots sported bright yellow shirts and yellow stickers with black wording that read: “NO on CB 49.” While those in favor of the ban donned red and white “NO SLOTS” stickers.

Hours of public comment before the council brought forth the various pros and cons of slots at the raceway.

Those opposed to slots waged concerns of the potential social and financial degradation of those who choose to participate in gaming. 

An initiative called the Rally to Stop Slots in Prince George’s County, which is undersigned by 63 leaders from the civic, faith, civil rights and business communities, distributed literature that stated places in the county such as Temple Hills, Capitol Heights and Fort Washington have been deemed by the state as “hot spots” for foreclosures. The literature also highlighted the connection between gambling and household debt and crime.

Margaret White, of Capitol Heights, asked the council where jobs are that were supposed to be created when the lottery was allowed in years ago.

“If a dog bites you one time, it’s the dogs fault; if he bites you again, it’s your fault,” White said. “Smart growth of the county should not grow from gambling.”

Arthur Turner, of Kettering, criticized the notion that revenues from slots would help public schools by pointing out that both Las Vegas and Atlantic City have poor public school systems.

“If slots are so great, why don’t you see Montgomery (County) or Howard (County) fighting for it?” Turned asked. “It’s shameful that we are a society looking for jobs, with benefits to help people raise up, we have to turn to slots…. Slots are not the answer.”

Lanier C. Twyman, pastor of St. Stephen’s Baptish Church in Temple Hills, said slots do not benefit the youth.

“Slots will serve as a scene for the gambling pandemic moving eastward,” Twyman said.

Supporters of slots at the raceway pointed out that gaming could not only generate some much-needed revenue for the county but also provide many steady jobs with good wages and benefits. 

James Young, of Fort Washington, told the council that slots are a potential catalyst for that part of the county. He also pointed out that with slots, the county could also tap into D.C. tourism.

“Gambling is already in our county,” Young said. “At the end of the day, Rosecroft is already a gambling facility.”

Franklin Johnson Jr., of Capitol Heights, added that slots would benefit local residents.

“We need this because many people today are hungry and without jobs,” said Johnson to the council.

Former Rosecroft Raceway board of directors member Robert L. Davidson Jr., of Fort Washington, said slots would create more jobs, boost tourism in the county and increase tax revenues.

“If people are going to gamble, they are going to gamble,” Davidson said. “You (the council) should let the people decide.”

Councilman Obie Patterson, D-District 8, was the first councilmember to move to table CB-49, followed by Council Chairwoman Ingrid Turner, D-District 4, and council members Derrick Leon Davis, D-District 6, Karen Toles, D-District 7, and Mel Franklin, D-District 9. Council members Olson, Campos, Harrison and Lehman opposed.