Activists move to block D.C. proposal

Derrill Holly

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 | 9:06 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Community activists called on a District of Columbia judge Monday to block efforts to place a gambling initiative on the November ballot.

"This is not the kind of economic development we want in our community," said Dorothy Brizill, founder of D.C. Watch, a community-based government reform group. Brizill joined civic and religious leaders in challenging a referendum backed by former D.C. Councilman John Ray.

"Everyday that I can't get on the streets and collect petitions, the clock is running," said Ray, who served 15 years on the council before leaving government service in 1996. Ray is spearheading efforts to develop the Capital Horizon Entertainment Complex on a 14-acre site along New York Avenue, about four miles west of the Maryland state line.

The $510 million project would include a hotel and casino, stores and restaurants. Ray said it would generate 1,500 jobs and produce $210 million in revenue each year for the city, which supporters said could be used for public education and a prescription drug program for senior citizens.

The casino would not have slot machines or table games. Instead, it would contain about 3,500 video lottery terminals tied into a computer system run by the D.C. Lottery. Players would purchase vouchers enabling them to wager against the pool of lottery players for cash payoffs, with Ray comparing it to video Keno.

But Brizill told D.C. Superior Court Judge James E. Boasberg that the petition language approved by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics contained several flaws that might confuse voters. She also said it would establish a sole source contractor to operate VLTs in the city for a decade, and usurp the authority of the D.C. Council to set tax rates and determine how city revenue is spent.

"I'm not keen on the idea of a casino four blocks away from my church," said Alpha Estes Brown, a resident of the city's Trinidad neighborhood who attended the hearing.

Boasberg is expected to issue a bench ruling this morning. He acknowledged that a quick ruling would be necessary if supporters have any hope of collecting the 17,500 verifiable signatures of registered D.C. voters by July 6 to place the measure on the Nov. 2 ballot. Canvassers hope to collect about 50,000 signatures before the deadline, Ray said.

Mayor Anthony A. Williams said he is personally opposed to gambling as a way of boosting city revenue, but believes residents should be able to decide.