Heights to ban video gambling

by Kevin Olsen
staff reporter

While many localities throughout the state have held off on voting to ban video gambling, Palos Heights took the first step toward its prohibition on Tuesday.

Encouraged by residents opposed to gambling and a petition signed by the pastors of 13 Christian churches in Palos Heights, the City Council voted unanimously to draft an ordinance to prohibit video gambling in Palos Heights. The council will vote to adopt the ordinance at the next meeting. Alderman Jean Gnap (1st Ward) was not present.

The vote met some applause from the audience, but there was little discussion among aldermen before adopting the motion.

Alderman Alan Fulkerson (2nd Ward) had moved to recommend banning video gambling in Palos Heights at the council’s License, Permits and Franchises Committee meeting on Sept. 8. He did so after the committee heard pleas from residents who sought the local ban after the Illinois General Assembly approved a capital plan, partially funded by the legalization of video poker in restaurants and taverns.

“I think we need to be a leader in Palos Heights and take advantage of that provision … and hope other towns follow suit,” Palos Heights resident Karen Hayes told the committee on Sept. 8. “I want to urge you and request you to lead and act swiftly to ban video gambling.”

Beth Paschall, longtime antigambling advocate, urged the committee to act quickly, citing businesses’ part in the legalization of video poker. She said the city is opening itself up to becoming liable if it waits too long to enact a ban.

“Many businesses would have to make changes to their facility to accommodate five large machines,” Paschall said. “They could do that under state law if the ban is not in place now.”

Barbara Pasquinelli, co-president of the League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area could not think of a reason why the council should wait any longer. She said the only thing the city will lose is the small amount of revenue from the machines, which residents oppose, as evident by a referendum in 1994 which residents voted against gambling in Palos Heights by a 10 to 1 margin.

“I would really like to know why we are waiting?” Pasquinelli told the committee. “It doesn’t belong here. If you can tell me why we’re waiting, I would love to know.”

When Fulkerson decided it was time to set the wheels in motion, it became apparent the rest of the committee agreed with the alderman.

“It’s abhorrent to anything good government stands for,” said Fulkerson to applause from the audience. “I recommend the city attorney draft an ordinance to ban video poker.”

Residents were not the only ones urging the City Council to ban video gambling. The Rev. Freddie Steel, pastor of Life Church of Chicagoland, in Palos Heights, led efforts to gather a petition signed by pastors of 13 churches in the city, asking the council to ban gambling at the council’s meeting on Sept. 1.

“As members of the Palos Heights clergy, we earnestly and respectfully appeal to you to avail to our city of the legal opportunity to opt out of the newly-created state gambling expansion by passing an ordinance prohibiting video gambling in our city,” the letter stated. “You may recall that Palos Heights voters have already voted overwhelmingly in the past in favor of a referendum prior to any expansion of gambling in our city.”

“I was very happy that something definite has been done to put in motion an ordinance to ban video gambling,” Paschall said. “Hopefully the city council will pass this ordinance. This is the first encouragement we have had; it was a very reassuring moment. We appreciate Alderman Fulkerson for making the motion.”

This is part of the September 17, 2009 online edition of The Regional.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.