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Youngstown was trimmed from proposed casino sites
CLEVELAND — Though he can’t do anything about it now, Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers who’s leading the charge in support of the legalized casino gambling issue on the Nov. 3 ballot, said the proposal should have included a casino in the Youngstown area.
“If we had to go back and do it again, we would have reconsidered” Youngstown, Gilbert told The Vindicator after a Monday debate on Issue 3 at Cleveland’s City Club.
Youngstown was “absolutely considered” for one of the four Las Vegas-style casino locations, Gilbert said.
But those supporting the issue chose Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo as the proposed Las Vegas-style casino locations because of their populations and locations, Gilbert said. Gilbert would control the Cleveland and Cincinnati casinos. Penn National Gambling, a Pennsylvania company with 19 casinos and six horse racetracks, would control the casinos in Columbus and Toledo.
“Youngstown’s a great city,” Gilbert said. “But you can’t go back and change it.”
Discussions with about 3,000 Ohioans before getting the casino issue on the ballot led organizers to limit the casino locations to four, he said.
Gilbert and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams debated Monday the merits of the Issue 3 gambling initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Williams opposes the issue because it changes the state constitution to give significant power over gambling in Ohio to a small group of people. Also, Williams said he doesn’t believe the casino supporters’ revenue and employment figures — about $651 million annually in casino taxes and 34,000 jobs created — among other issues.
“You’ll hear many promises about jobs and money that sound too good to be true because they are,” Williams said.
Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com
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Comments
Once again, a monopoly is a monopoly either way you put it. It is evident from Gilbert's remarks that he know Issue 3 is lacking support in our area.... good!
Hey if I win the mega millions for 200+mil I'll consider giving it all away. I won't do it but I'll consider it. These people say they considered whatever it takes to try and get this to pass
Why wouldn't anyone consider Youngstown, Look at all the things we have to offer:
No local leadership
Second highest tax rate is the state
Worst school system in the state
Highest crime rate in the state
Sounds like a great place to make a multi-million dollar investment.
Right, yeah, good. Let's vote down any chance to bring any money or jobs into the state just because Y-town won't get a casino. Typical Ohio and valley loser mentality. Everybody wants cushy high paying union jobs. Well, it ain't going to happen folks. We better move on and take what we can get.
Dub Im sure there are lines of people in ohio qualified to work at a casino. Actually there isnt. We dont have a casino so the jobs will go to the "new" Ohio residents who are qualified and have passed the required tests. Do you really think they are going to hire anyone from Ohio to do anything but empty the trash ? Look at the "jobs" they say they are bringing, all casino related jobs. They looked at the last election and seen what they needed to pass the issue. It Cincy, Cleve, Cols, and Toledo. They could care less about the valley except to blow some smoke to make us beleive how "good" this is for us and we were considered. well the check in the mail and a few other sayings I cant put online. If they want to legalize gambling then legalize it. don't say Ok Ohio we want legal gambling but only in four places. Let anyone who can meet the requirements open what they want where they want. Maybe the politicians don't want to much greedy competition.
You are right Dub. Until this area gets some leadership with creativity and VISION all were are going to get are minimum wage jobs.
Let's be realistic. We can get to a casino in Pittsburgh from here in an hour. We can get to a casino in Erie in an hour. We can get to a casino across the river from East Liverpool in an hour. We can get to a casino in Washington, PA in less than two hours. Soon there may be a casino near New Castle only a half hour away, there is already OTB there. To expect that people from this part of Ohio will drive four hours to the other side of Columbus or over 5 hours to Cincinnati just to keep their money in the state is foolhardy. The folks running the media blitz that tells us about all the Ohio money that will now stay in Ohio must think the voters of this area are stupid. Let's face it, most people are inclined to go to the easiest casino to get to regardless of what state its in. As for the FOP endorsement, who do you think will represent and staff the security forces in the casinos? And the 34,000 jobs being touted and the money being touted is based on FOUR casinos operating and is the result of a single study done by a group in Cincinnati. Listen carefully to the fast talk and read the small print. Two of the casinos are still in the dreams-on-paper stage, only two will be built immediately in Columbus and Cincinnati. And about half of those "34,000 jobs" are temporary jobs, and some of the others are part-time and minimum wage. Try to get a proponent of Issue 3 to tell you how many PERMANENT jobs will be created by the two casions that will be open on the forseeable future. Ths number is substantially less. Local people who want even a chance at these jobs will have to leave this area unless they want to commute to Columbus or Cincinnati. Vote as you will but don't be snowed by the "facts" spouted by both sides on radio and TV. Like they say: READ THE ISSUE then vote as your common sense tells you, one way or the other. And face the fact that there will probably never be a legal casino in the Youngstown area, we are already surrounded by casinos. The decision is yours. Please just think first.
What is the negative to voting yes. So what its not in our area, what is it costing us? If anything it can only be positive. Tax money will go to the state, some people will get jobs (great or just enough to get by) better than nothing, any problems that come with the casinos we don't have to deal with, if it fails it won't be another eye sore in our back yard, some of the building materials will be locally sourced (in Ohio), and the only thing it will cost you is to say its OK if someone else gets something you don't have....... Grow up and give it a chance. I would like to see one reason that its bad for Youngstown that is not grounded in jealousy or greed.
Give it a chance? Its an amendment to the Ohio constitution not a trial version
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 3!!!
http://www.rateitall.com/i-2683277-david...