Council States Its Opposition to Card Club : Gambling: The 4-1 vote follows a meeting that attracts an overflow crowd, most opposed to the club. However, the development company says its survey shows that residents are split on the idea.

MONTEREY PARK —  A record crowd of 700 people at this week’s City Council meeting--most of them wearing “No to Casino” buttons--could not dissuade a Los Angeles development company from considering plans to open a card club. Nor could the council’s resolution against any legalized gambling spots.

“I don’t think it was a fair representation of Monterey Park citizens,” said Richard Myers, vice president of BCTC Development of Los Angeles.

The company has not submitted formal plans for a card club but has been surveying residents on the idea and distributing flyers asking for support. BCTC’s private survey of 1,000 Monterey Park residents shows the population about evenly split on the idea, Myers said.

Myers said Monday night’s council meeting will not affect the company’s pursuit of plans for a $30-million card club on four acres at the northeast corner of the Long Beach Freeway (710) and Floral Drive. BCTC plans to make that decision within the next month, he said.

Monterey Park already has an ordinance prohibiting card clubs, so BCTC officials are considering plans for an initiative petition drive to put the proposal before voters. However, the City Council still would have a say on the club’s design and operation.

On Monday, after a 4 1/2-hour hearing, the council approved a resolution reaffirming support for the anti-card club ordinance and vowing to “take all steps legally permissible” to keep gambling establishments illegal. The midnight vote was 4 to 1, with Councilman Samuel Kiang dissenting because he had favored his original resolution, which was slightly stronger.

Kiang’s original resolution said the council would “take all steps,” instead of “take all steps legally permissible,” to keep out card clubs. That resolution failed by a 2-3 vote, with only Kiang and Judy Chu--the co-sponsors--in favor.

But Kiang said he was not disappointed.

“We achieved what we wanted to do,” said Kiang, citing the overflow crowd. “I want the developer to know for sure that he has an uphill battle.”

The unruly crowd--constantly admonished by Mayor Fred Balderrama for its loud outbursts-- crammed the 240-person capacity council chambers and spilled into the City Hall lobby. Nearly 70 people signed up to speak against the card casino, and nine people to speak for it.

Most opponents said they feared legalized gambling would attract organized crime and change the nature of the bedroom community, while opponents said gambling on card games is no different from playing the lottery.

Two people--Mitchell Ing and Cindy Yee--each submitted separate petitions with, they said, more than 1,000 signatures of residents opposed to card clubs, and several other people submitted smaller anti-casino petitions.

The crowd included five former mayors: David Almada, Rudy Peralta and Chris Houseman, who spoke in opposition; Louise Davis, who favored putting a proposal before voters; and Betty Couch, who is in favor of a card casino because of the tax revenue it would generate.

Other speakers included residents from East Los Angeles and Alhambra, a 33-year resident, a father of seven, at least five clergy members and a longtime gambler.

Resident Ralph Faciani told the council that he has been a gambler for 50 years and does not want the city to turn into a Las Vegas or Reno.

“We need Monterey Park to stay as it is,” he said.

Resident Evelyn Diederich said the city should welcome the opportunity to make money.

“I’m fed up with taxes,” she said. “I’d love to let the gambler pay for them all.”