Monday, December 22, 2008

Kevin, Say It Isn't So!

Since St. Tammany Parish went to the parish council form of government, we have had only one parish president. Kevin Davis has served as a strong leader as our parish president. He has provided stability of our parish through many difficult challenges.

However, I was surprised to learn that President Davis advocates the establishment of an “entertainment district” in Slidell that would be anchored by a casino boat. My response: "Say it isn't so!"

No doubt Davis believes that such a district will provide a boost to the economy. The Times-Picayune news story (12/20/2008) indicated that he believes that this boost would mean $8 million to $11 million from gaming. In addition, Davis believes that there would be substantial dollars raised through the hotels, restaurants, shops, and the venue for entertainers to perform.

At first glance, this sounds exciting since it would provide a huge income stream for the parish, plus it would provide our citizens and others with employment opportunities as well as entertainment choices. With so many “virtues” to such a proposal, one might ask, “What possible reasons could be offered to keep reasonable people from approving it?” I would like to highlight several arguments against turning to gaming or gambling as an economic development tool.

1. Gambling contributes to crime. Though proponents may offer counter-arguments, it is hard to deny the correlation between the introduction of casino gambling and an increase of crime. Cities where casinos operate experience an increase in all kinds of criminal acts including assault, rape, burglary, and murder. So rather than providing a safe family environment we enjoy in St. Tammany, introducing casino gaming will likely have a significant adverse effect on our quality of life.

2. Gambling contributes to corruption. Many careful studies on gambling point out frequent incidents of corruption related to gambling. Police are the most immediate targets for corrupting influences. While I have the utmost respect for our law enforcement personnel, they would be viewed by casino interests as targets seeking to make payoffs and bribes. But gambling corruption has bigger targets. Elected officials as well as individuals in the gambling business are also subject to the corrupting influence of gambling.

3. Gambling disrupts the economy. Rather than help us financially, gambling negatively affects the economy. Accessibility and availability create a perfect storm for gambling addiction. Research indicates that when a casino is located within 10 miles of home, there will be a significant increase of those individuals who become pathological or problem gamblers. This will correspond with all kinds of bad economic issues ranging from higher worker absenteeism and greater incidents of unpaid bills to an increase in personal bankruptcy rates. In fact, a recent study of counties that had casino gambling showed bankruptcy rates were 100 percent greater than those counties without casinos. Granted, it takes three to five years for the full impact of gambling-induced bankruptcies to be realized, but I hardly think it is worth it.

4. Gambling destroys families. Studies show that each problem gambler negatively affects marriages and families. Divorce rates for problem gamblers are two to three times the rates of non-gamblers. Gambling creates financial problems and special tensions in the home. It is difficult to determine whether the gambler or his or her spouse is more physically, mentally, and emotionally damaged by the ravages of a gambling binge. A woman whose partner is a problem gambler is more than 10 times more likely to be a victim of domestic violence than if the partner had no gambling problem. Add alcohol to the mix (a likely scenario in an “entertainment district”), and the odds for abuse increase to more than 50 times!

The children of gamblers suffer when a gambling parent loses the money for such necessities as food, rent, clothing, and medicine. They suffer when a gambling parent abandons them in cars, with neighbors, or in gambling daycare centers while they satisfy their gambling addiction. Communities are hurt by the presence of gambling as increasing numbers of people become addicted to gambling and prey on their communities to support their gambling addictions.

5. Gambling destroys lives. The something-for-nothing craving which gambling stimulates undermines character. The hope of winning a fortune causes some to embezzle and steal for a gambling stake. Gambling appeals to the weakness of a person’s character and develops recklessness, callousness, and covetousness. Some gamblers become psychologically addicted to gambling so that they cannot stop gambling and find themselves in a headlong plunge into personal catastrophe. Depression and hopelessness may plague addicted gamblers and their families to the point of ultimate depression – suicide.

I have urged President Davis in a letter dated December 22, 2008, to abandon the idea of an offshore casino boat in St. Tammany. While I know that gaming interests and others will argue that many people enjoy spending money in settings like the one you are proposing, the costs to individuals, families, the economy, and to our community is too high to justify it.

Please join me in telling President Davis to abandon the casino boat idea for St. Tammany Parish.

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