Racetracks Orange County

Fearing financial harm to the community, city officials have decided to fight a statewide initiative that would make the racetracks in Cypress and four other cities into legal gambling casinos. Backers of the California Gambling, Regulation and Taxation Amendment are seeking 693,230 signatures of registered voters by May 16, hoping to qualify the measure for the June 2, 1998, statewide ballot.

State laws may prohibit the City Council from taking a formal stand on a controversial casino initiative that would affect Los Alamitos Race Course, City Atty. John E. Cavanaugh said Wednesday. "Council members can certainly speak individually--that's their 1st Amendment right. But state law might prohibit the council from doing anything else," Cavanaugh said. "The reason is public funds," he said.

State laws may prohibit the City Council from taking a formal stand on a controversial casino initiative that would affect Los Alamitos Race Course, City Atty. John E. Cavanaugh said Wednesday. "Council members can certainly speak individually--that's their 1st Amendment right. But state law might prohibit the council from doing anything else," Cavanaugh said. "The reason is public funds," he said.

Fearing financial harm to the community, city officials have decided to fight a statewide initiative that would make the racetracks in Cypress and four other cities into legal gambling casinos. Backers of the California Gambling, Regulation and Taxation Amendment are seeking 693,230 signatures of registered voters by May 16, hoping to qualify the measure for the June 2, 1998, statewide ballot.