Cautious concern is the reaction of public officials to a comment by Santa Anita Park race track spokesman, Robert Sweeney, that the track could go out of business if Proposition 37 passes this November. Jim Helms, chairman of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Committee said that his group opposes the Lottery Initiative in part because it could reduce revenue to Santa Anita and the city.
If the lottery initiative on the November ballot passes, Santa Anita Park race track could go out of business, dragging down with it reserves that the city of Arcadia obtains from the track's handle, according to Robert Sweeney, executive vice president and general manager of the California Thoroughbred Association.
A bill that could generate an estimated $700,000 yearly in additional race track revenue for Arcadia cleared the State Assembly on Thursday and now heads for the Senate. The bill, AB 2780, seeks to authorize Arcadia and other cities to collect up to 1/3 of 1% of the total amount bet at a race track within their boundaries if the city were willing to forego any tax on admissions or parking. Arcadia has never charged a parking tax at Santa Anita Park. Arcadia city officials are neutral at this point, according to City Manager George Watts.
Council revises tax for admissions over race track protests. The revisions recommended apply to the existing admissions tax (a tax on other events, entertainment, amusement or competition other than horse racing held on premises with a capacity of 1,000 or more.)
City Council has renewed an examination of the admission tax Santa Anita pays compared to other race tracks. The track provided 34.1% of the city's total annual revenues in the fiscal year 1980-81. Traffic control costs in Arcadia are higher than in other cities with race tracks.
With the passage of Governor Deukmejian's cost-cutting state budget, the Arcadia Board of Education will have to find more than $1 million to cut to get down to its estimated $24.2 million income and that, according to Superintendent Stephen Goldstone, probably means some employees will have to go.
Arcadia schools have received $377,665 from the California state lottery and the district expects another, slightly smaller, payment for January-March 1986.
City Council delayed action on racetrack tax. Tucker Bill provides that a city with race track be given .33 of 1% of the parimutual wagers instead of charging admission tax.
A lawsuit by the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency seeking reimbursement of $855,000 it spent to remove toxic and other waste from 1.6 acres of land will go to trial in June.
Don Pellegrino, incumbent on the ballot for City Council, has definitive opinions, listed in this article, on the election issues: the budget, race track admission, utility tax, etc.
A lottery was held to determine who would receive priority in the opening of the Naomi Gardens housing project for senior citizens and the handicapped.
Santa Anita Park race track will be the site of a preview of equestrian events for the 1984 Olympics on Friday, July 27, 1984. The Community Olympic Preview Open House will be held just prior to the opening of the Equestrian Olympic Games at the race track. The public will witness the layout of the venue as well as demonstrations of Olympic equestrian events.
The Atlantic Richfield Company has contributed $25,000 to the Arboretum to ensure resumption of several programs cut with the passage of Proposition 13.
Doctors voice protest over medical facility. A petition signed by 140 doctors was sent to Robert P. Strub, Santa Anita president, requesting that he reconsider the proposal.
City Council met with representatives of Santa Anita Park race track to discuss the possibility of raising the admissions tax. Council is concerned with the cost of traffic control. Benefits to the city from the track have increased 22.6% in the past two years and 43% the previous season.