Tuesday, February 20, 2007
" CASINO NORTH ADAMS "
It's a Casino stupid! Want to cure our monetary problems...build a Casino in North Adams Stupid! Most people wouldn't cross the street to look at a broken bolder on a string, but they will travel multi miles to lay down a bet! Oh the evils of gambling...hog snot, everyone gambles in North Adams and to pretend that we are some sort of puritonian upholders of the high and mighty righteous right is bull shit. It's in our nature so why not make some money from it? Maybe it is asking a lot that our people in charge have a little common since and foresight. I fail to see Dan Bosleys steadfast resistance to Casinos, when it is obvious that our neighboring states are sucking away dollars, lots of dollars, that should be staying in the state, and North Adams. Seems that he is putting his personal feelings before the interests of the majority of the people. Get with the program and stop thinking small and start thinking like a visionary. Maybe the city council could set up an independent study group and get some truthful unbiased numbers and input. That would certainly be a refreshing blast of spring air for North Adams. It's a Casino Stupid!
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10 comments:
Jack, here is a link to an article that fairly well expresses my views on casinos and, I suspect, Bosley's - though he can certainly speak for himself.
http://artvoice.com/issues/v5n8/there_goes_the_neighborhood
I think casinos elicit the illusion of money pouring in more than the reality . . .
Me an da boyz likes da idea of a casino.We could all make a lot of money.
John...interesting article...Question, Why don't they pay taxes? Then again Mass Moca doesn't pay property tax either, who's fault is that! Question, Arn't those writers of the article members of an anti-casino group? Question, Were not most of those businesses in a depressed area of Buffalo and going under even before the casino? Question, If casinos are such a destructive force to a community then why are they so saught after by cities? Question, Isn't it the responcibility of the city fathers to work out the details before a casino opens so as to coexist? Question, Doesn't a casino usually pay their help a descent salery with bennies and hire local people as opposed to bringing in outside help?
Yes there are down sides to every venture but in this case the up side greatly outways the few adverse effects. Your arguments have not held water so far. You can't judge the impact on a community by just one article written by people opposed to something in the first place. Facts my man, lets look at the city books and see how the casino impacted the communitys in more than one place. Just to be against something because you read something someplace or were told something by someone who overheard someone is not a bases for factual research and trueful deliberation.
So Southview what facts do you base your opinion that a casino would be good for a community? How many families are destroyed do to problems with gambling? What happens to the crime rate in an area that hosts a casino? Ever been to Atlantic City and step off the boardwalk to see what is behind all those bright lights?
Casinos are a zero sum game, for every winner there are multiple losers, by supporting a casino you are supporting the idea of building an economy on the fact that many will lose large sums of money.
I enjoy the occasional game of craps as much as the next person, but I also like the idea that it has to be a planned trip and not just walking buy on a whim.
da snoop.....the main reason is purely financial. It should either lower the tax rate or at least keep it very low because the casino, unlike Mass Moca, would pay a large part. A casino would bring a tremendous influx of people to the area, and contrary to the anti-casino PR, they do spend money in the community. (food, gas, lodging, supermarkets, wallymart, ect.) and as for the ruination of families, da snoop, the same argument was presented when they started the lottery and keno. again PR from the anti-gambling group. I am not saying that some people arn't effected but no more than are now. Our daughters will not become prostitutes and our sons will not become gangsters....(well depends on how good it pays? :~) ) there is more than just gambling at a casino. there is also entertainment. People come also not just to play the slots, but to see name celebrateries perform. Casinos are a plus sum game and for every looser there are multiple winners. If regulated right, watched over right, taxed right a casino would be a boon to this city and All the people living here.
Southview maybe you have more experience in the matter than me. You'll have to explain to me how a casino can stay in business with multiple winners for each loser.
I can only go what I have seen in my trips to Atlantic City, Vegas, and Foxwoods. I guess it would be easy enough to see if the tax rate dropped significantly in Ct. I will say that in all my trips I have never shopped at Walmart or a grocery store. I have stopped for a tank full of gas and I did stay on property in Vegas but that was a conference I was attending - the gambling was a benny.
The event I attended in Foxwoods was to see an aging "celebritiy" that I had family connections to we so went backstage afterwards and hung out, but the point is the room was 1/2 full at best - maybe 50 - 75 people.
I haven't done it in a while, but the Dufur Bus trips I used to take to AC never stopped along the way and we brought our own food and drink. Although drinking for free all day while at a table will be nice for downtown NA.
I also had a friend who used to spend their entire paycheck on lottery tickets, I just don't think balancing the city's budget on the backs of losing gamblers is a good idea.
It should be easy enough to examine the financial health of states that have cashed in on the windfalls of casino gambling, like NJ and CT. Big Surpluses, excellent bond ratings, and low taxes? Has Atlantic City been revitalized and returned to the glory days? What percent of gamblers live within 25 or 50 miles, and what percent are actual tourists from outside the area?
Hell no. North Adams should not get a casino. Adams should get the casino! We could use the jobs too! And when the "gamers" have finished losing their money and hocked their cars, they can bike home to Pittsfield on the Ashuwillticook.
This whole topic is so polorizing for a community. You have the "Never in a million years" crowd, but this group is against any and all types of social endevors - drinking, smoking, gambling, hunting, fishing, racing, snowmobiles, ATV's, and the list goes on. Then there are the middle of the roaders. they see most issues from a personal side. If it effects them personally, then they get involved and become interested, other wise they don't give a hoot. Then there are the rest of us, sane level thinking people. We try to be unbias, sorting through the PR and the second hand stories looking for an honest factual account of the pros and cons. I think most of us fall in this group.
If managed properly and with the right regulations I don't see a problem with casinos. Actually I can't see why slot machines arn't allowed in taverns. That is where most of your gambling takes place in North Adams anyway, other than the high stakes card game in someones cellor.
The proibitionist tried to regulate our social behavior once, we saw what happened there! It is going to happen reguardless so why not cash in on the profets?
Good words.
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