"With all the cultural sensitivity of a John Ford western, Irvine City Council members Larry Agran and Beth Krom appear intent on resurrecting the 19th century doctrine of Manifest Destiny.

It began with a Sept. 27 council agenda item titled, 'Citywide Restrictions on Commercial Gambling.' Mayor Krom declared her intent to 'create an anti-gambling ordinance for the City of Irvine,' apparently clueless that such an ordinance has existed since 1972. After Councilwoman Christina Shea read it aloud, a bewildered Krom asked, 'Is this in our existing code?!'

Indeed it is, and it already prohibits any gaming interest from operating a casino or card club within Irvine.

With Krom flailing on the hook of a 33-year old law, Councilman Agran came to the rescue by invoking the specter of a Redskin Menace.

'The Indian gaming interests, which started in the remote areas of the state, are salivating at the opportunity to bring large-scale, commercial gambling into the highly populated areas,' Agran claimed. 'We have to have a strategy to deal with tribal claims in Washington, D.C. We have to have a strategy to deal with claims and negotiations for compacts that may be coming by way of Sacramento. The Indian gaming interests are hard at work in Sacramento all the time.'"

Get the Story:
Agran on the Warpath (Orange County Weekly 10/14)