Dear Members of the Edina City Council - We are Edina parents, writing to request a pause on the recent ordinance that legalizes multiple forms of gambling in restaurants.
The ordinance was proposed with the explicit goal of generating funds for Edina Public Schools students, and approved by a 4-1 vote—without any communication from the City or EPS to the families you intended to serve. We share your commitment to our schools, but we question whether gambling is the answer.
We respectfully ask you to:
Pause further implementation of the ordinance
Hold a public hearing at an upcoming Council meeting to gather community input
Partner with Edina Public Schools to inform and survey families
Regardless of where one stands on gambling, one point should unite us: decisions of this magnitude must include the voices of our community.
As a City Council, you did not hold a public hearing prior to passing the ordinance. Likewise, Edina Public Schools did not notify families that gambling had been proposed as a funding mechanism for our students.
We have concerns about whether gambling aligns with our community values. Here’s why:
The Edina community already shows up for each other—no gambling required.
Edina is a generous community, and we consistently show up. From urgent, one-time efforts like the Hornet Cares Fund, to the many established nonprofits that supplement the offerings of EPS, our community responds when there is a need. We’ve never depended on gambling to do this—and it’s unclear why we need to now.The ordinance normalizes gambling and runs counter to what our schools teach.
As sports betting and prediction markets proliferate, parents are increasingly concerned about the addictive nature of gambling. This ordinance introduces gambling—including electronic, slot-style games—into the restaurants where families gather. Embracing gambling as a means of supporting our children runs counter to the very lessons our schools teach: financial literacy skill, sound judgment, and an understanding of risk and probability.The ordinance raises potential equity concerns.
Research suggests that gambling revenue can disproportionately come from lower-income individuals. Using gambling as a funding mechanism may shift some of the burden of supporting our community from those who can afford to be generous—to those who cannot.
This isn’t a request to reverse course. It’s a request to pause and discuss this issue with the nuance it requires—so families can understand what’s being proposed, why it’s needed, who benefits, and at what cost.
Edina is a community that values engagement, transparency, and thoughtful decision-making. This issue deserves the same care.
Respectfully,
Concerned Edina Parents