The Fresno, California, city council has approved of the relocation of Club One Casino from the downtown to the Granite Park district. But the move means fewer jobs at the card club.
Over the past several months, Club One has been pummeled by a series of requirements from the city. The latest is that the casino, owned by Kyle Kirkland, reduce its inventory of tables from 51 to 31.
Council member Tyler Maxwell insisted on the smaller number “as a show of good faith,” adding that the remaining 20 tables be held in abeyance to “show to this council, and more importantly, your new neighbors… that you [Kirkland] are a good actor.”
Two weeks ago Maxwell, who represents the Granite Park neighborhood, had called on the casino owner and the council to hold a public forum to get feedback and address community concerns on the relocation.
One council member reacted with outrage at the “good actor” requirement and comment. Garry Bredefeld declared, “I find it insulting that the motion is to come back in 90 days for 20 more tables to see if Mr. Kirkland is a good actor—that was the quote I heard.” He looked at Kirkland, “I guess we don’t know from your 10 to 20 years of business here whether or not you’re a good actor.”
The 20 fewer tables means 100 fewer job positions at the club.
After the vote Kirkland commented, “On one hand, we want to celebrate. On the other hand, we want to get past this.”
