LA County Officials have been criticized for their gatherings at Commerce Casino and Hotel. Public opinion and some County officials do not find compatible to have these meetings in such location and enforce gaming laws. The fact is that such conferences have been held for more than a year, and casino executives have given valuable gifts to Sheriff Lee Baca for years, which puts him in a very uncomfortable position in front of public opinion.
Undersheriff Larry Waldie, organizer of these meetings at the Commerce Casino, said that these events last one day and include a discussion about policy and an awards ceremony. Each attendant has to pay 35 dollars, and taking into account the number of people attending these meetings, which exceeds one hundred, one can imagine the amazing revenues of the casino in just one day. Along with this kind of events, parties for retiring deputies or the recent awards ceremony of medals of valor were also held at Commerce Casino. Vice President of the Commerce Casino, Andy Schneiderman, said that the Sheriffs Department is not the only government group that organizes events in their establishment, but other businesses and groups, such as State Farm Insurance or Mary Kay Cosmetics use the hotel for similar purposes.
The Commerce Casino opened in 1983 and for many years has been suspected of political corruption. Actually, two years after its opening, the president and four officials were sentenced to prison for corruption. They were found guilty of bribing county officials to obtain the approval for the casino license. Critics think that taking into account all this, the Sheriff Department could have found a better place to held their meetings. It is believed this choice has something to do with campaign contributions. As a matter of fact, there is a solid basis for these statements. Last year, Baca received a donation of 10,000 dollars from the Commerce Casino for his campaign to raise the sales tax in LA with the purpose of funding the enforcement of law. A little later, the sheriff proposed the allowance of installation of more than 1,000 slot machines to Commerce Casino. The proposition was rejected along with Bacas Measure A.
The Commerce Casino has been giving money to Baca in the form of gifts or donations for more than 5 years. In political contributions, the sheriff has received more than 25,000 dollars. For charity purposes, he has received more than 100,000 dollars. The gifts he has received are worth more than 2,300 dollars. Baca, on the other hand, has renewed weapons permits to three Commerce Casino executives.
Baca says that he does not see anything wrong in having meetings at the Commerce Casino. However other officials and deputies who preferred to remain anonymous assured they wished these events were held elsewhere, because they believe the department gives a very poor image.
