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� � - ll� • Family costs: Families also are fom,ed to suffes whm Sambliu8 bccomes a problam for a�ily member. Divorce, separation, spousal abuse, and child nep,l�t are some of the consequences sufferod by family members whea gambiing becomes aa addicctiaa. • Abused Dollars: This is ihe cost of all the money that is taken from £amily, frimds, aad e�mployas under faLse pretease to hetp support a gambler's addiction. Using a cost/benefit analysis of the above social costs, these eeonomists conciuded, "the costs of casinos aze at least 1.9 times greatcr tbaa the benefits". Local Government Loss of Control and cr m* acts on San iv�ateo After reviewing this subject at length, regardloss of one's personaI perspective of the cost/benefit of gaznbling and its impact on the comznunity, the loss of local control in decision malang is the fandarnentat concern of the passage of GRA. More and more frequenfly, local decision-maldng over local land use and planning issues has been taken away. The GRA is another signiftcant example of this erosion. IF the GRA, were successful, San Mateo wovld lose its local control to docide whether to pGrmit additional gambling in owr City. In November 1995. the voters of San Mateo defeated by a 60% majority the authorization of a 50-table card room at Bay Meadows. The measure was defeated �ven the voters concerns about th� impact of increased gamiag on the quality of life of the community. Regardless of the rcvcnue that would be derived, it was perceived the impacts did not justify the fenaacial benefits. The passage of the GRA might also frustrate the City's ability to achieve the vision of the extensive multi-year planning process to establish transit-oricntod development at this location. In addition, depending upon the amount of money that would eventually be generated from gambling at this location, the City couid find itself in a situation where we would have an unheaithy reliance on this source of funds to provide City senrices. The City has long held that a well-balanced diversification of revenue promotes financial stability. Other cities have run into diffroulties monit��g �� establishments when recognizuig that their financial livelihood (and many of the non-profits in the community) rely on the continued success of these businesses. Another concern from a practical perspoctive is that the bulk of the GRA will also become part of the State Constitution necessitaxing that any amendments would need to occur by a statewide vote on the ballot measure. Adding this detail in the constitution will lik�ely lead to problems in the future. Prononents and Oonc�ncnts• W�at aze th�v saving Proponents azgue that this initiativo wi11 require Indians to pay their "fair share" of the costs to California to operate a gambling monopoly in the State. The County Sheriffs of Los A.ngeles, San Matoo, and Sacramento endorse the initiative. Opponents azgue that the requirement to reach an agreement with all 61 tribes within the 90-day window is intentionally unachievable, aad that the real purpose of the GRA is to aIlow the 16 businesses to own and operate 30,000 new gaming devices in th� State. Governor Schwarzenegger opposes both the GRA and a competing gambling proposition to require Indian gaming tribes to be assessed at the corporate business tax rate. Page 6