MIAMI BEACH, Fla --- As Florida lawmakers convened a special session to consider a compact that would create the largest gambling expansion across Florida, community leaders in Miami-Dade County held a news conference Monday to urge legislators to stand with the three out of four voters who in 2018 voted to require that voters, not politicians and gambling, have final say on expanded gambling.
Miami-Dade leaders urge the Florida Legislature to reject gambling compact during press conference in Miami Beach City Hall on Monday, May 17, 2021. Left to right: Armando Codina, Founder and Executive Chairman of Codina Partners, LLC; Stephen Sawitz, Owner, Joe’s Stones Crab; City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber; Former City of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine. Photo Credit: No CasinosThe compact with the Seminole Tribe specifically opens the door for new casinos to open up in Miami-Dade, including Miami Beach, whether or not the people want them. Joining the news conference to warn that expanded gambling will hurt the region’s economy, communities, and taxpayers were Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, Armando Codina, Founder and Executive Chairman of Codina Partners, and Stephen Sawitz, owner of Joe’s Stones Crab.
“The citizens of the State of Florida were very clear in their mandate when we approved Amendment 3 in 2018: We are the ones that must decide gambling in our state. What we're watching is the Florida Legislature approving this law in back rooms and yachts. We need to let the people of Florida vote,” Gelber said.
“The compact gives the opportunity to open up casinos in Miami Beach, Miami and Doral,” Levine noted. “A casino is for a city that finds itself in a bad situation and throws a Hail Mary. This is not Miami Beach. The people of Miami Beach don't want casinos. Let the people of Florida make this decision.”
Codina questioned the process that led to this week’s special session: This pandemic brought unimaginable human suffering, and while all this was happening, our Republican leadership was hard at work on a gaming bill behind closed doors. This is not how the process should work. The leadership in Tallahassee says that the compact does not allow portability of licenses, but that is not true. It includes a provision whereby the tribe is waiving objection of licenses being moved for new casinos outside of a 15-mile radius from the Seminole Casino in Hollywood, which was specifically designed to allow gaming in The Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Trump National Doral Miami.”
