Richmond voters on Richmond voters on Tuesday chose to levy a five percent tax on the city's medical marijuana dispensaries, and expressed displeasure about a proposed casino development at Point Molate.

The casino referendum, Measure U, asked residents to weigh in on whether the city should support the proposal from the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians to build a tribal casino at Point Molate. While the referendum is an advisory measure, Tuesday's results reflect the progressive trend that re-elected Green Party Mayor Gayle McLaughlin to a second term and put Jovanka Beckles and Corky Boozé on the City Council.

"We do want development at Point Molate," Boozé said, "but we want it without a casino. We can do better than just a casino."

Defeated mayoral candidate John Ziesenhenne was disappointed by the voters' decision to elect officials who were "anti-business."

"It looks like people who were elected have a different agenda for Richmond than the direction it has been going," he said. "I'm worried for business in Richmond."

Read the full story at RichmondConfidential.org.

Posted By: Richmond Confidential ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) | November 03 2010 at 06:37 AM

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNELpLbB0fZBTqTP4dmvnU2CMmAWQQ&url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?entry_id=76205