The Stockton Legislative Committee is evaluating new regulations for for-profit donation bins and considering a proposal to expand the number of gambling card tables in the city. These recommendations are part of a broader legislative effort to address long-standing community concerns, including issues first raised in a 2014-2015 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury Report.
For-profit donation bins, operated by private companies such as USAgain, have become a controversial issue. These bins allow residents to donate items, but unlike nonprofit donation centers, the contributions made to for-profit bins are not tax-deductible, and the collected goods are often sold for profit, sometimes in international markets. The grand jury report highlighted how these bins negatively impact local nonprofit organizations by diverting donations away from charities that depend on community contributions.
Despite the grand jury's recommendation nearly a decade ago to regulate these bins, it remains unclear if Stockton took action in 2015. Legislative staff are now urging the city to revisit the issue and create an ordinance that would establish clear management responsibilities, enforce sanctions for non-compliance, and institute a permit fee to cover enforcement costs. However, the challenge lies in balancing regulation with free speech protections, which complicates the city’s ability to fully control the presence of donation bins.
Oakland’s donation bin ordinance, which survived a legal challenge in 2016, is being used as a potential model for Stockton’s new regulations. Stockton legislative staff believe a similar ordinance could survive legal scrutiny while protecting local nonprofits.
In addition to regulating donation bins, the legislative committee is recommending an amendment to expand the number of gambling card tables allowed in Stockton. If passed, the new ordinance would increase the current limit from 11 to 21 tables per gambling room, aligning Stockton’s regulations with recent changes in California state law. The proposal has gained support from the Stockton Police Department, Community Development, and Administrative Services.
The committee is also exploring the possibility of creating an Ethics Commission to improve election transparency. Stockton currently has five political consultants working across eight different campaigns. The staff reviewed the structures of six ethics commissions in other cities, highlighting San Francisco as the only Californian city that mandates political consultant reporting. Legislative staff are seeking direction from the committee on how to proceed with the creation of such a commission.
These proposals mark important steps in addressing long-standing issues while promoting transparency and fairness in Stockton’s governance.
