NMC poker petition has more than 3K signatures

A petition for stricter regulations on the poker industry has now garnered the support of over 3,000 registered voters, surpassing the number of signatures required for a popular initiative to be placed on the election ballot.

Northern Marianas College student Vanessa Borja said yesterday that she and her 12 other classmates would continue to collect signatures until Dec. 10, 2005. College instructor Sam McPhetres’ current issues class is hoping to gather 5,000 signatures by then.

Registered voters who are interested in signing the petition may visit the Joeten Kiyu Public Library this Saturday and the next, at 9am-12pm and 1pm-3pm.

The petition seeks the passage of House Bill 14-267, which would impose higher poker fees, prohibit poker establishments from the villages, and increase the distance of poker rooms from schools and churches.

Introduced by Rep. Clyde Norita, H.B. 14-267 was also the basis of a failed local popular initiative petition that the Saipan Chamber of Commerce circulated in July 2005.

The students’ petition is originally intended to commence another popular initiative process. However, the class is hoping that the support for the petition would be enough to get the Legislature moving on Norita’s bill.

The next election is two years away.

“Hopefully, the Legislature will see the light before then,” McPhetres said.

Borja, who appeared at the local Rotary Club’s meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan yesterday, said that although the poker industry generates millions of dollars in revenue yearly, it may also have many negative social effects.

There are 189 poker establishments on Saipan. Many of them are located in the residential areas. Some 750 crimes committed since 2001 were reportedly related to the poker industry, Borja said.

“It is not our intent to shut down the industry, only impose restrictions on the location they may be situated; away from schools, churches, and in the midst of residential housing areas. Even poker players admit that they would not play as much if the convenience and close proximity were taken away from them,” Borja said.

On July 7, 2005, the Chamber of Commerce submitted to the Attorney General’s Office an initiative petition based on Norita’s poker bill.

The AGO refused to certify the petition because it did not have the 2,031 valid signatures required by law to represent 20 percent of Saipan’s registered voters in the 2003 elections.

There were 15,113 voters who registered for the Nov. 5, 2005 election. Thus, any initiative should have the support of at least 3,023 registered voters before it could be placed on the 2007 ballot.

According to McPhetres, only one initiative has been placed on the ballot in the history of the Commonwealth. He was referring to the 1979 initiative that repealed a law allowing casinos in the islands.

Norita’s bill would limit poker rooms to areas within Garapan, on Middle Road north to Hotel Nikko Saipan, and on Beach Road south to Pacific Islands Club up to Agingan Lane.

The measure would also ban poker establishments within 250 feet of any public or private school, Northern Marianas College, day care center, early childhood center, or church. It would not allow poker rooms near commercial laundry shops, grocery stores, and pawn shops.

Furthermore, the initiative would address the “aesthetic nuisance” caused by poker establishments by limiting signage to 2 feet height, 4 feet width, and 8 inches depth.

It would require signage to read “Game Room,” rather than “Poker Room,” and be fluorescent, backlit, fixed, and attached to the front of the game room facility. Illuminated neon or flashing signage would also be banned.