Ryan Nicol
Though Amendment 13 remains in legal limbo, the Venice City Council is now on the record in support of the proposed greyhound racing ban being approved by voters this November.
The city lies in Sarasota County, a county which has hosted greyhound races since 1929 at the Sarasota Kennel Club.
But the Venice City Council is advocating for the passage of Amendment 13, which could ban those races starting in 2021, should it be placed on the ballot pending a legal challenge now being heard by the Florida Supreme Court.
“The City of Venice hereby declares support of proposed constitutional Amendment 13 to phase-out the cruelty of commercial greyhound racing,” reads the relevant section of the resolution.
The resolution also calls greyhound racing “a dying industry” and asserts “public opposition to commercial greyhound racing is increasing due to both humane and economic concerns.”
On the other hand, greyhound boosters, like Jennifer Newcome of the Committee to Support Greyhounds, have said dog racing “has been a proud Florida tradition for decades, as well as an integral part of the Florida economy, creating thousands of jobs, contributing to the tax base and supporting local charities.”
The Florida Greyhound Association challenged Amendment 13, arguing its title and summary were misleading. That argument satisfied a lower court judge earlier this month, who ordered the amendment stricken from the November ballot.
The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments on the case on Wednesday, and will ultimately decide the amendment’s fate. If it does make the ballot, it must earn 60 percent of the vote in order to pass.
8 comments
Don Goldstein
August 30, 2018 at 7:27 am
Thank you to the Venice City Council for having the courage of your convictions. It is a dying industry and it’s time to end it. #YesOn13.
Joyce Carta
August 30, 2018 at 7:44 am
Yes, WELL DONE Venice! Be on the right side of history and let greyhound racing fade into the bear-baiting, dog-fighting past “entertainments.” We’re better, stronger and smarter than this. Floridians love dogs and will vote YES ON 13 in November.
Andy
August 30, 2018 at 2:23 pm
If it’s not the hypocrite mule abuser putting her trickeration in
Michael
August 30, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Jennifer Nwecome claims that the racing creates “thousands” of jobs. Thousands mean more than 1 and at least 2 maybe 3 thousand in any math configuration. That is such a bold face lie. I challenge Jennifer Newcome to prove that statement by confirming with each track how many people they actually employ for racing only and not combine other jobs associated with the track like poker rooms, horse racing, simulcast, jai alai and such.. Lets see the real numbers..
Andy
August 30, 2018 at 2:19 pm
I expect she knows far more what she is talking about that you ever will. Are you EEVVEERRRRRRR going to tell us the date that the legislature put amendment 3 on the ballot.
No doubt the Venice City Council has ulterior motives for this, and does not mind one bit getting in bed with fraudsters, racketeers who were fined 15 million for paying a witness to LIE, with a group who regularly steals pictures and whose president is a documented LIAR and attempted blackmailer. In other words, what we have here is nothing more than OUTRIGHT TRICKERATION>
George
August 30, 2018 at 11:49 pm
You can not say that jobs other than in the racing department won’t be lost if the racing department closes. Your short sightedness has blinded you to the fact that if live racing closes.. The restaurant closes, a bar or two closes, a snack stand closes, a section of the property needing porters and tellers closes. The teletimer closes, the tote company will need to fire at least 1 person that’s responsible for live racing.. It’s not just as easy as oh.. Just get rid of the live racing department. If live racing closes, at daytona alone over 100 people will lose their jobs. 20 leadouts, racing officials, restaurant servers, cooks, tellers, snack stand, bartenders, tote, teletimer, porter or two, all information windows operators, trackmen, and at least a maintence man.. Minimum.. Most likely a housekeeper or two overnight as well as therr Won’t be offices in need of cleaning..
Gloria
August 30, 2018 at 10:11 pm
GREYHOUND RACING COSTS TAXPAYERS UP TO $3.3 MILLION A YEAR. THESE RESOURCES COULD BE BETTER USED TO SERVE PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS VS A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP. A report commissioned by the Florida Legislature in 2013 documented that the state LOOSES up to $3.3 MILLION a year on live greyhound racing because the cost of regulation exceeds tax revenue. This decline is expected to continue. The State’s mandate for live racing as a platform for other, more profitable forms of gambling is contrary to free market principles and costs Florida dog tracks $34 MILLION each year combined.
Andy
August 31, 2018 at 8:55 am
Not true
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