October 5, 2006

Ho-Chunk Bingo Starts

During the early portion of August, the BINGO 4-U Inc. signs first appeared and we appealed to you to call, e-mail or write State Senator Halvorson & State Rep. Scully. The purpose of the call was to collectively demonstrate your disapproval of BINGO at the Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center primarily due to the fact that this is commonly seen as the "next stage" of ultimately placing a full blown Tribal and Sovereign Casino within a town or village where property has been purchased and a proposal presented to establish a Tribal Casino.

Your response to this request was overwhelming and both Senator Halvorson and Rep. Scully responded favorably. Within a day the signs were removed and we thought the issue had been resolved.

Important Background Information

BINGO 4-U INC. = is a Chicago company who only holds a State Issued Bingo Suppliers License (To supply Bingo materials to Bingo Operators)

STATE BINGO LAW = in order for Bingo to legally be played in the State of Illinois, three separate Licenses must be acquired by three different entities.

• One entity must hold a = Suppliers License (To Supply the Materials)
• One entity must hold a = Providers License (To Provide the Venue)
• One entity must hold a = Operators License (To Conduct the Games)

Each entity is subject to and Regulated by (230 ILCS 25/) Bingo License and Tax Act. which includes strong and enforced legal parameters that must be adhered to and subject to the Illinois Department of Revenue Criminal Investigation Division.

LOOP-HOLES TO THE STATE LAW = the only loop-hole or manner by which a company, municipality or none-profit can escape, negate or not be subject to the Illinois State Law is for the MUNICIPALITY TO ENGAGE the (230 ILCS 15/) Raffles Act. This simply strips the State of its power to regulate Bingo in the form of a Raffle & give that power to the governing body or municipality.

Raffles Act. (230 ILCS 15/2) (from Ch. 85, par. 2302)

Sec. 2. Licensing. (a) The governing body of any county or municipality within this State may establish a system for the licensing of organizations to operate raffles.

The First Bingo 4-U mailing (8/22/06) was addressed: Hello Bingo Player

The Second Bingo 4-U mailing (9/21/06) was addressed: Hello Again Ho-Chunk Hopefuls

Updates

On September 6, 2006 we presented a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Village of Lynwood via Clerk Roy Valle requesting the following:

1. Has the Village of Lynwood ever passed an Enabling Ordinance to allow Raffles to take place within village boundaries?
2. Have any of the following ordinances been amended since 2004?
   • Sec. 21-11. GAMBLING - MAINTENANCE, ETC., HOUSE.
   • Sec. 21-12. SAME - INMATES, ETC. OF HOUSES.
   • Sec. 21-13. SAME - HOUSES, ETC. AS NUISANCES.
   • Sec. 21-14. SAME - DEALING, PLAYING GAMES OF CHANCE, ETC.
   • Sec. 21-15. SAME - BRINGING INTO VILLAGE OR POSSESSING DEVICES.
   • Sec. 21-16. SAME - LOTTERIES.
   • Sec. 21-17. SAME - PLAYING GAMES OF CHANCE.
   • Sec. 21-18. SAME - BETTING, ETC. ON HORSE RACES.
   • Sec. 25-15. SAME - SEIZURE OF GAMING DEVICES.
3. To date, has anyone from the Ho-Chunk Nation signed the 2005 Tax Abatement agreement with the Village of Lynwood?
4. A copy of any/all Building permits issued to The Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center for 2005-2006.

Response

On September 13, 2006 Clerk Valle responded with the following information.

1. The Village has never passed an Enabling Ordinance to allow raffles to take place within Village boundaries as long as I've been around.
2. As far as amending Ordinance 21-11 through 21-18 and Ordinance 25-15, they have never been amended either as long as I have been around.
3. To this date no one from the Ho-Chunk Nation has signed the 2005 Tax Abatement Agreement with the Village of Lynwood.
4. Enclosed are all copies that I received from the Building Department of all the building permits issued to the Ho-Chunk nation in 2005 and 2006.

From Clerk Valle's response coupled with the current Village Ordinances, one would think that the Lynwood Village Board would be intolerant to the idea of Bingo. Raffles or Gambling in general. However, the Board's recent decision and actions dictate otherwise.

On Tuesday September 26, 2006 Mayor Eugene Williams & Trustees Sims, Carducci, Stephens & Ryan voted unanimously to enact Ordinance 06-41 and CREATE NEW CHAPTER 42, "RAFFLES." Thus enabling and allowing this form of NONE STATE REGULATED Gambling in a Village that currently has Nine (9) Ordinances in place to preclude "Gambling" or "Games of Chance" from operating within the boundaries of the Village.

Let's Be Clear

There are some who would say that this is just BINGO like the Churches, VFW Halls, Elks Club, Lions Club, Moose Club & American Legion Halls provide and offer for the retired Seniors during the week. THIS IS NOT SO!!!

1. The above mentioned Non-Profits can only host BINGO one day per week. (Unless a special State License is granted permitting three days)
   The Villagehas enabled Bingo 4-U at the Ho-Chunk Expo to offer bingo "raffle" six days per week, five sessions per day.
2. The above mentioned Non-Profits can only award a maximum cash prize of $2250.00 per day.
   The Village has enabled Bingo at the Ho-Chunk Expo to award one hundred thousand ($100,000.00) dollars per raffle not to exceed one million ($1,000,000.00) dollars per day.
3. The above mentioned Non-Profits can only charge One Dollar ($1.00) per Chance Card.
   The Village has enabled bingo at the Ho-Chunk Expo not to exceed one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars per chance.
4. The above mentioned Non-Profits must display a State issued License Number on all promotional and advertising material.
   The Village has enabled bingo at the Ho-Chunk Expo to completely be unaccountable to this state standard by creating a new ordinance for the purpose of unregulated gambling to take place within Village Boundaries. All within a Village that currently has nine (9) existing ordinances to prevent gamlbing within its boundaries.
5. The above mentioned Non-Profits must be just that, a Bonafide State Registered Non-Profit.
   Bingo 4-U Inc. is not a non-profit therefore they must partner with existing non-profits within the Village.

Read this NW-Indian Times article to see who they've approached along with the Village employee who pushed the possibility: Dist. 172 Won't take Chance on Ho-Chunk Raffles

Read this NW-Indian Times article in yesterday's paper: Legality of game at Ho-Chunk Expo Center questioned

We're in touch with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Illinois Department of Revenue. This unit has assured that they will do all within their power to insure that the legal ramifications of this effort are adhered to.

This entire situation is yet another insulting blow to the residents of Lynwood by the elected officials who should be protecting our best interest. On July 4, 2006 the NWI-Times released the findings from a survey asking the following survey question.

Should the Ho-Chunk Nation be allowed to build a casino in Lynwood?

The Results: 75% No & 25% Yes

With residents speaking out this clearly and overwhelmingly, you have to ask yourself the question why? Why would a Village Board continue down a path that only leads to a significant, measured and assured outcome of decreased property value, a circumvent rise in crime and substantial added pressure on an already weak municipal infrastructure.

Action Items

Call Lynwood Village Hall and voice your disapproval of the board creating an ordinance to allow this kind of gambling within the village. 708-758-6101 Clerks Office

Call Congressman Jackson's office and voice your disapproval of this activity happening within the 2nd Congressional District.

Capitol Hill Office
2419 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0773
Fax (202) 225-0899

District Offices
17926 South Halsted
Homewood, IL 60430
(708) 798-6000
Fax (708) 798-6160

2120 East 71st Street
Chicago, IL 60649
(773) 241-6500
Fax (773) 241-6503

Call State Senator Halvorson and Representative Scully to voice your disapproval of this activity happening within the 40th Legislative District.

District Office: Halvorson
241 West Joe Orr Rd.
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 756-0882
(708) 756-0885 Fax

District Office: Scully
722 West Exchange, Suite 4
Crete, IL 60417
(708) 672-0200
(708) 672-0700 Fax
Cook County

Meet us at the next Village Board Meeting to make our oppositional voices hard and our presence known

Lynwood Village Board Meeting
Tuesday October 10, 2006
6:00 p.m. Sharp (Arrive at 5:45 p.m. for seating)

Thank you!!!!!
Citizens for Our Community

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