City officials in Bessemer remain at odds over the legality of electronic bingo gambling.
Mayor Ed May vetoed a July 21 ordinance passed 5–2 by the City Council legalizing it, but City Council members say his veto, delivered Aug. 18, is illegal. And James Stephens Jr., one of the two council members who opposed the electronic bingo gambling ordinance, is not sure what is reality as far as the future of electronic bingo gambling in Bessemer.
“I’m concerned about the image it puts forth for our city. I’ve worked hard to make it more favorable for people to move back in (to Bessemer), for families to move back in,” said Stephens, a member of Canaan Baptist Church, Bessemer.
“Now if we turn around and pass a bingo ordinance, what does that say about our leaders? I cannot allow an illegal and immoral act to take place in our city.”
Earl Cochran, Bessemer City Council president, said the mayor has only 10 days to file a veto once an ordinance is passed and the council did not receive a veto during that time period. “As far as we are concerned, we are going on with business,” he said. “We are … proceeding with [the ordinance] as law.”
Cochran said he appointed a committee of three council members — himself, Sarah Belcher and Louise Alexander — to work out the details of the ordinance.
The committee met Aug. 25 following the regularly scheduled City Council meeting but did not indicate when it would make a report to the council.
But May contends that his veto stands. “As I understand, by taking no action, that sustained the veto and the ordinance was defeated.”
And in regard to receiving his veto within the 10-day time frame, May said he did deliver the veto to the clerk’s desk within that time frame.
May also said he will continue to veto every ordinance concerning electronic bingo gambling.
“I recognize that we are living in end days and that a lot of people will fall away from the faith. But I still have my faith in Jesus,” May noted. “I will do nothing to further illegal gambling or gambling of any sort. I will do everything to prevent it from coming to Bessemer.”
Stephens said Bessemer has five or six electronic bingo gambling operations. “Three of those are large ones,” he noted. (TAB)
Share with others: