Attorney General Rob Bonta is proposing a series of regulations that would eliminate blackjack-type games and drastically limit turnover among players in gambling halls in many communities in California.

At first glance, these rules may seem like a technical matter. In reality, they threaten thousands of good Latino and Asian jobs, indirectly cut vital revenues for many cities, and undo decades of economic progress in working-class communities like Bell Gardens, Commerce, Hawaiian Gardens, and Gardena.

Gambling halls are not casinos like those operating in Las Vegas that cater to tourists; they are regulated local employers that sustain the economies of their communities. In the City of Hawaiian Gardens, tax revenue from gambling halls accounts for approximately 70% of the city's general fund. Bell Gardens relies on its gambling hall for more than half of its budget, and the City of Commerce relies on a similar share. These funds pay for after-school programs, street repairs, police patrols, and senior centers—essential services for Latino families.

The attorney general's proposal could eliminate up to 50% of the jobs in these gambling halls and the tax revenue they generate. This would force cities to cut essential services or raise fees for residents already struggling with high rent costs and the uncertainty created by the federal administration. Taking away critical funding from Latino-majority cities in the name of supposed "legal clarity" is neither fair nor equitable.

Gambling halls provide jobs with decent wages and health benefits to thousands of workers: dealers, security guards, cooks, and cleaning staff. The vast majority are Latino and Asian, many of them the first in their families to earn a living. achieve economic stability. Many are single mothers or fathers. Others are older adults who left low-paying jobs. For them, This proposal isn't a simple regulatory adjustment—it's a termination notice.

Our state leaders often talk about their commitment to equity, inclusion, and racial justice. Yet this proposal was written without meaningful consultation with the hardest-hit communities. There has been no transparent economic impact study, no serious consultation with gaming owners and employees, and no serious consultation with unions; and no plan to replace the lost revenue that keeps local governments afloat.

Policies that disproportionately affect communities of color—even if unintentional—are, by definition, unjust. If California truly values its Latinx population, it must create regulations with us and not impose them.

We also find the timing of these regulations odd. Last year, the legislature passed SB 549, and now these same games are being challenged in court by powerful casino tribes. The regulations shouldn't be up for grabs, as a judge will decide whether these games are legal, as SB 549 requires.

Latinos make up nearly 40% of California's population and the heart of its workforce. We've already borne the disproportionate brunt of the pandemic and inflation, and now immigration raids. We shouldn't be the ones to pay another avoidable blow—much less from a state government that claims to be on our side. We ask District Attorney Bonta to protect our communities as he claims to and not attack us with his regulations. That is why we ask the District Attorney to immediately suspend these regulations and convene a transparent and good-faith dialogue with the most affected cities and workers. Any other action would be disrespectful to our communities suffering under federal actions. Daniel Ramirez is the president of Hawaiian Gardens Little League. If California truly values its Latino population, it should create regulations with us, not impose them.

We also find the timing of these regulations odd. Last year, the legislature passed SB 549, and now these same games are being challenged in court by powerful casino tribes. The regulations shouldn't be up for grabs, as a judge will decide whether these games are legal, as SB 549 requires.

Latinos make up nearly 40% of California's population and the heart of its workforce. We've already borne the disproportionate weight of the pandemic and inflation, and now immigration raids. We should not be the ones to pay another avoidable blow—much less from a state government that claims to be on our side. We ask District Attorney Bonta to protect our communities as he claims to and not attack us with his regulations. That is why we ask the District Attorney to immediately suspend these regulations and convene a transparent and good-faith dialogue with the most affected cities and workers. Any other action would be disrespectful to our communities that are suffering under federal actions. Daniel Ramirez is the president of Hawaiian Gardens Little League. If California truly values its Latino population, it should create regulations with us, not impose them.

We also find the timing of these regulations odd. Last year, the legislature passed SB 549, and now these same games are being challenged in court by powerful casino tribes. The regulations shouldn't be up for grabs, as a judge will decide whether these games are legal, as SB 549 requires.

Latinos make up nearly 40% of California's population and the heart of its workforce. We've already borne the disproportionate weight of the pandemic and inflation, and now immigration raids. We should not be the ones to pay another avoidable blow—much less from a state government that claims to be on our side. We ask District Attorney Bonta to protect our communities as he claims to and not attack us with his regulations. That is why we ask the District Attorney to immediately suspend these regulations and convene a transparent and good-faith dialogue with the most affected cities and workers. Any other action would be disrespectful to our communities that are suffering under federal actions. Daniel Ramirez is the president of Hawaiian Gardens Little League.