A man steps into the Lucky A Amusement Center in Sebastian, Texas, Wednesday, October 12, 2022. (Delucia Lopez/The Monitor | [email protected])
SEBASTIAN — Along the narrow streets of this small rural village, cars park in dusty parking lots and neon flashes on desolate, windowless buildings.
For years, residents like Joe Salinas have called the town “Little Las Vegas.”
Now they call it “Sin City,” he said.
Lyford, just north of Business 77, is the new “Little Las Vegas.”
From across the Rio Grande Valley, players have been driving here for years, pouring millions into the game room industry that has turned this town into an 8-liner mecca.
“You should see it on Saturday night,” Salinas said.
A game room that engraves the circle of justice
Five years after Sebastian Game Room challenged Willacey County’s tougher laws in court, the 8-liner arcade is doing big business here.
Lawyer Robert Flores, who represents La Victoria, Silver Star, Silver Express and Silver Outpost game rooms, said Wednesday that the case has been resolved.
“They are in the process of reconciliation,” he said, adding that they don’t have a timetable for reconciliation.
In 2018, after years of complaints, Willacy County Commissioners passed an ordinance regulating game rooms in large unincorporated areas of the county, requiring arcades to reapply for operating licenses.
Some game room owners have filed lawsuits, claiming they were denied the right to due process after claiming the county wrongly denied their applications.
Soon, a judge granted the request for a temporary injunction, allowing business to continue.
Since then, their case has been ground in the wheels of justice while the 8-liner arcade rakes in millions along the southern tip of the county.
“They keep getting stuck and wanting to continue,” said Salinas, the radio station’s technical director. .”
still awaiting the judge’s decision
Six game rooms now operate along Sebastian’s Narrow Streets, and Lyford has five arcades open and another under construction.
Some residents complain of blaring noise late at night and car lights blowing into their windows, while others say players walk across the yard to the game room, which closes at 3 a.m. I’m talking
Meanwhile, Sheriff Joe Salazar said he was waiting for a judge to rule on the case.
“We are waiting to be able to enforce the ordinance,” he said.
In his department, his short staff struggles to conduct undercover investigations to conduct raids.
“Personnel — it’s definitely a problem,” said Salazar.
ordinance
In Sebastian, residents count on an ordinance to keep game rooms out of town.
The ordinance requires new game rooms to be placed at least 300 feet from schools, churches, and homes, and at least 2,500 feet from other game centers on highway sidewalks with direct highway access. .
The ordinance calls for a fine of $10,000 per day for each violation, while opening the game room from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. We also require that it be limited to
On Tuesday, Willacy County District Attorney Annette Hinojosa sent questions to the county’s chief attorney, Rene Oliveira Jr., in the game room case.
Oliveira did not respond to messages seeking comment.
In Sebastian, a constant stream of players drive into town every day, pouring thousands of dollars into dark, smoky rooms full of glowing 8-liner machines.
“The town here has a lot of traffic, so it’s open all day, seven days a week,” Salinas said. “There is always the possibility of criminal activity. No one knows what’s going on in windowless buildings all over town.”
State law makes it illegal to operate an 8-liner machine that awards a player cash or merchandise worth ten times the price to play the machine or $5, whichever is less.
“It’s naive to think they’re handing out $5 gift cards,” Salinas said. Game room owners take advantage of it.”
Increased number of Lyford game rooms
The city commissioner just north of the town of Lyford raised the city’s game room limit from five to six after claiming the arcade remained open after a federal investigation nearly two years ago. rice field.
The former El Toro game room is now under construction and plans to expand, said Mayor Benito Estrada.
At the police station, Chief Armin Martinez, the army’s only officer, said he was under too much pressure to launch an undercover operation.
“I can’t believe they’re still active,” he said, adding that his full-time police officer retired two weeks ago to join the sheriff’s office.
“It’s true that criminal activity is taking place, but we have not been able to prove criminal activity,” he said. “It’s not that we turn a blind eye. We have to go undercover, but I’m the only cop working right now. It’s hard to shut down.”
Raymondville kicks arcades out of town
In Willacy County, Raymondville took the lead and won the battle against Game Room.
In 2016, a city board passed a draconian ordinance that forced eight arcades out of town.
Since then, police searches have kept them out.
Mayor Gilbert Gonzalez said, “We just follow the law. “They open up, they get raided, they go somewhere. If they get paid more than they should, we’ll wrap everything up.If they’re breaking the law, we’ll raid them.”
This story brings hope to Sebastian.
“We never gave up on the idea of trying to get these things out of town,” Salinas said.
Comments
Post a Comment