Ruston Council Member Wayne Stebner proposed an ordinance that is ready for a vote on Monday to increase the gambling tax on Point Defiance Cafe and Casino from 2% to 20%.
Steve Fabre, the owner of the casino, was understandably concerned when he heard this rumor. He called Council Members Huson, Albertson, Hedrick and Stebner to ask what was going on. Only Hedrick and Stebner called him back. Stebner's message: Either close the casino now or it will close when Tacoma takes over.
Stebner made this proposal during council time at the last meeting (after public comment had closed). The ordinance is set to be voted into law without any public notice at the very next meeting. Anyone who happens to attend the meeting will be allowed 2 minutes to comment under the new council rules.
This is billed as a way to raise tax revenue. But Fabre says he cannot afford to absorb this increase. It will force him to shut down most of the gambling operation and potentially put 60 people out of work.
Interesting message from our elected leader, especially one who has close ties with the Ruston Connection. Ruston Connection just settled a lawsuit that alleged they were attempting to put the casino out of business. What are your thoughts?
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10 comments:
Point Ruston will not be enough to save Ruston from these people. We will be buried under these lawsuit losses. Stebner just lost the BALLET lawsuit with the Commencement Group.
Apparently, they are going to merge this town into Tacoma come hell or high water. He has close ties to Bob Everding whose wife and the RC settled out of court recently versus the Casino.
Sore losers but ultimately the Town of Ruston will pay the price. three hundred employees out of work! What a class action lawsuit that will be.
Mr. Fabre,
When you decide to sue over this injustice. Would you please specifically name Council Members Stebner, Albertson and whoever else votes for this ordinance. That way their financial assets are personally at risk. Don't settle this time until you take them for all they are worth. Maybe they will resign and we can elect responsible Council Members that want an exciting local and independent community.
If a community wants to eliminate gambling then follow the appropriate process that allows the people to vote on this issue.
Let us have an open and intelligent debate on the pros and cons of having gambling in Ruston. Lets find out what the (financial and other) ramifications of eliminating gambling in Ruston.
Eliminating a business this way is a terrible and unjust way of Governing.
Some council members (and/or their friends) are taking the wrong lessons from History. A community must rise in defense of its institutions, the rights of our businesses that are operating legally and justly, as well as the rights of our citizens. Once upon a time a government tried to rid itself of groups of people that they did not agree with in order to purify themselves. As these groups of people were eliminated one by one, other groups did not speak out because they were not the ones targeted (and they were afraid). They they became the ones targeted for elimination and there was no one to speak out for them.
This council knows that the collective community of Ruston actually contains more intelligence and understanding of all of the various issues and problems that face us than they have. That would be true of any Council. Instead of tapping into these resources so that the best ideas that support and improve Ruston are pursued, the people are shut out as much as possible. We are for the most part just forced to watch what seems to be a bad movie. The community can easily detect a bonehead idea from a mile away. The current council members are unable to articulate a well reasoned, logical and convincing argument for their bonehead ideas so they refuse to debate except when they are forced to such as the planned education tour for changing the government from Mayor to City Manager. This is why public comment is minimized or repressed. This is why there are personal attacks on Karen for running a blog that ANYONE can participate. People can and have put out thoughful arguments on both sides of issues that are germane to our community (not the bonehead ideas). They can be anonymous or fully identified if they choose to be.
They can be funny, ironic, logical, or just vent. Some tough and biting commentary have also been submitted, but like opinions, everyone has one and if they are just rants or don't add anything intelligent to the discussion then they are less valuable and can be ignored. If the tough commentary points out truth, then people will be forced to think. Anything that is an error or perceived to be an error can be responded to set the record straight. No one is forced to read this blog. This blog originated as a natural response to a sometimes irresponsible advocacy group that publishes stories (and I do emphasize stories) that often contained biased viewpoints or inaccurate portrayals of people and institutions. When people wanted to publish responses and commentaries, their "memberships" were revoked. That was their right as a private publication, but exposed their biases all the more. Combine that with a significant repression of public comment during Town Council meetings which had been a tradition (but not necessarily a protected right), THE PEOPLE (with Karen's help) found an outlet, or a way to publish and communicate their ideas out into the open.
Council Member Stebner and those that he represents again reveal what they want: Tacoma to take over Ruston. They are like traitors that want to deliver Ruston into Tacoma. Why don't you all move to Tacoma. You all are wealthy enough to afford view homes in Tacoma. The housing market is slow so there are probably some good bargains.
Why would a town risk losing the tax income they recieve because a few Elected individuals(the council)dont like the buisness.I hope these concil members(traiters to their own town)will be more than willing to cough up the tax money out of their own pokets.What is the 60 or 70 thousand to them?Maybe they are all in bed with the Puyallap Tribe in trying to stop mini casinos.Maybe the council members have allready cut a deal with the tribe?I guess we should have them investigated and check under their mattress,maybe thats where all the lost tax revenue will be placed by the tribe.
I hope everyone thats votes here will look at the message that the concil is sending to us.It seems that they are saying WE DONT CARE ABOUT JOBS TAXES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FAMILIES... have they thought about the impact to the employees and their families.Obviously NOT!!! Remember the boston tea party was one of the main events that helped start the american revolution. It is time for the people of Ruston to have their own revolution and rid themselves of the concil and its evel taxing ways.It is time to make the council do what is good for this town and losing jobs and income is not good.Lets have a special election and rid ourselves of these people.
It's way past time to organize our community to rectify the damage being done by Mr. Stebner and Mr. Albertson. These two council members have personal agendas that are damaging to our Town and our survival. I continually hear "we'll vote them out next election" but if there is no one stepping up to run against them ..... they will sit and finish us off! We need to thicken our skin and step up to replace them as soon as possible.
Abuse of Power of this sort to arbitarily pick out lawful businesses that do not fit their criteria is insane. How can we sit and watch this happen? Who is next? Wrong flavor ice cream... wrong antique in the window...gas too high...?
To Steve Fabre, et al: Let us not forget it was Bradley Huson and Dan Albertson who visited the Point Defiance Casino as private citizens before the last election and threatened to close it down if they did not remove there sign.
You can bet that Wayne and Jane will join in a 4-1 vote to extinguish this legitimate business. And remember at the Stebner announcement the RC crowd was cheering in the audience "the Casino". They do not do well at covering their conspiratorial trail.
SUE THEM ALL!!!!!!
We keep seeing over and over again the "new folks" that have moved in and want to take over. They have their view of what the town should be and will accept no one else's view.
I am so sad that they can't represent the town and not just themselves. I am so sad to see them tear apart what so many of us worked to improve.
Too bad they can't see where we came from, it might build some appreciation.
Too bad they can't do some rebuilding and try to meld the old Ruston with the new Ruston. It is possible and there are examples around us.
Thank God I wasn't so arrogant that I couldn't do someone the courtesy of listening to their opinion.
Good luck Steve, you deserve to have your dream too.
Mr. Fabre,
I'm a firm believer that lawyers and lawsuits are two of the most damaging things in our country. However, I think you should sue the town for all it's worth. There's legal precedent up the kazoo to back up your case.
If/when they force you to shut down, there's numerous new businesses you could convert your building into. Such as... Hip Hop Club, Cock Fighting Ring, "Massage Parlor". Maybe the council would realize a well-run, clean, neighborhood casino wasn't all that bad after all.
I'd suggest you convert your business into a hip-hop club,I HATE lawyers and law
One Thousand percent increase in gambling taxes! Not bad Wayne.Sound Transit is looking for a few good men.
With any luck Ron Sims will move to Town.
Stebner isn't even trying to hide his intenssions.
This group is on a mission to break
us as a Town.
At least Mr Fabre will be able to retire sooner rather than later.
I wonder who will get more money, Steve Fabre or Chief Reinhold?
Way to go Ruston!
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