The Concord Blue Devils, will make a loud noise at a Concord City Council meeting, Tuesday evening, July 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Over 300 band members and alumni of the internationally acclaimed music and dance program will march to City Hall to appeal the City’s push to approve a big box bingo operator from Virginia to run a regional bingo hall in Concord that will devastate community fundraising activities.
Since June, Concord city planners and commissioners have fast-tracked a planning development (PD) request from Enea properties to convert the former site of Velocity Sports training center, located at 1505 Willow Pass Road, into a regional bingo center operated by Pop’s Bingo World, based out of Richmond, VA.
The transfer of the “recreational use” of the zoning from gymnasium to a completely different use, is seen as a way for Enea to at least get some rent out of the vacant structure; by leasing the site to a national, turn-key Big-Box Bingo outfit.
The Blue Devils (CBD) say approving Enea’s “Pop’s Bingo Hall,” which takes a substantial percentage of proceeds as hall rents from charities, would cripple the local non-profit’s ability to raise funds for its local programs that benefit more than 430 local students every year.
Meanwhile, the City of Concord seems determined to approve the PD (without a continuance!), amending the plan to a simpler, speedier “Use Permit” Administration Application (AA) process, and without any environmental studies required by California statute (CEQA); as if there would be no traffic or environmental impacts. The applicants represented capacity could add peak loads of 600 vehicle trips per night on Willow Pass Road and crowded city corridors.
The Blue Devils contend that the AA violates (1) the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), (2) land use principles as to the consistency of approved uses with zoning requirements, (3) state constitutional provisions regarding bingo, (4) the state bingo statute, (5) the City’s bingo ordinance, (6) due process requirements, and (7) various community and public policy considerations.
According to the Blue Devils, which have operated bingo in Concord for over 30 years, current proceeds make up about half of its local fundraising.
“We are expanding our fundraising into additional areas, of course,” said Kit Rodgers, President of the Blue Devils Board Directors. “But in these tough times, we disagree with the city paving the way for a national bingo operator, that would devastate Blue Devil programs that benefit hundreds of local kids.”
According to Bret Rios, director of operations for CBD, “In northern California there are only three communities that have been able to support more than one bingo hall—Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento.” Rios believes that Pop’s Bingo World would dilute attendance and significantly reduce fundraising abilities, which would negatively impact the Blue Devils, in addition to other local non-profits including the Aquanuts, and the Concord High School Band.
The Council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., at the City Council Chambers located at 1950 Parkside in Concord.
The Blue Devils encourage their friends and supporters to tell Concord City Council not to approve Pop’s big-box bingo in Concord, by calling (925) 671-3158 or by e-mailing City Council.
See clip and Planning Commission hearing presentation below
Bill Gram-Reefer is Editor & Publisher of Halfway To Concord, founded in 2004. Halfway To Concord is the leading online source for community-driven political news, events, and opinion for Contra Costa County and the San Francisco East Bay.
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People that had out pull tabs and help out at blue devils bingo are geting paid!WHAT IS THAT?
~ EDITOR COMPARES — You think that’s bad, take a look at the number of City of Concord employees who make over $100,00 or its retiress that get multimillion dollar pensions without paying a dime. Perspective please, Penny.
The City Council by 4-1 basically upheld the appeal and sent the matter back to staff/Planning Commission for further study.
~ EDITOR ROLLS EYES — D’uh. Let me guess who voted “nay”
The planning board approved this for only one reason. More tax revenue, not the best interest of the community. Make Pops Bingo World open their books to see what percentage of the revenue will go into their pockets and how little will go into the community if approved. Nobody wins except the city government and Pops’ executives.
I’d love to support Concord Blue Devils by attending more of their performances!
Perhaps, they could sell tickets to dress rehearsals in the Concord area, for more of us to enjoy.
http://bluedevils.org
Analysis shows need for CEQA report for use change at Enea property
Analysis of Bingo Parlor Use_Loewke Report_070810
Any hit to the Blue Devils’ fund-raising lifeline could spell disaster for the entire organization, and I believe it could be a public relations nightmare for the city. Breaking the Blue Devils (the current Drum Corps International World Champions) would be an action that would reverberate around the world of pageantry. Other corps from California and beyond have already disappeared because their funding dried up; including the multi-DCI World Championship finalists Freelancers from Sacramento. It would be tragic if Blue Devils were to follow in Freelancers’ footsteps because a professional bingo operator wants to move in on an already shrinking fund raising base.
See just a couple examples of the many ways that the Concord Blue Devils have impacted kids’ lives
- Noah’s Story
- Being a Champion
- Making a wish come true
I wonder how much the council was paid off for this favor to let them open a new bingo hall? Will Helen be driving a new Cadillac again shortly? Will they roll over for the Blue Devil supporters like they did for the Cowell pool supporters?
~ EDITORS ASKS — Sitting on the fence is not all that insightful. Surely you have an opinion of which alternative is better? Taking 30 shekels for reelection or standing with local residents.
You are just a tool for the Blue Devils and their lawyer.
@Melissa — Your claim demonstrates complete ignorance of me and this site since 2004. But you are welcome to post more slander if you must. BGR
BGR – a tool for anyone? NOT!
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