I’m not happy I have to devote time and energy to the casino issue being promoted by our parish president. Kevin Davis is determined to alter forever the family lifestyle we enjoy in St. Tammany by attempting to bring gaming (Louisiana’s word for gambling, since gambling is illegal) to Slidell’s lakefront.
About three weeks ago, I met with Kevin, along with some other pastors in our parish, to ask him respectfully to stop his pursuit of a casino. We believe it would ultimately be something which destroys families. Contrary to our suggestions, he has chosen to continue promoting the idea. We urged Kevin, who has provided strong and courageous leadership up until now for our parish, not to let this be his legacy. As we concluded our meeting, we gathered around to pray for him, asking the Lord to bless him and guide him as he leads our parish.
Because Kevin continues to promote the casino idea, we have no other alternative but to ensure every elected official who has a voice in this matter hears from us. We must stand against addictive behaviors which are anti-family and bring depression, despair, and desperation to people who engage in such behavior. In a letter I sent to our church membership, I included the names and contact information for every parish councilman, state representative, and state senator in our area. I have personally called every one of them, and I implore you to do the same. These representatives want to hear from their constituents. They will be weighing what we say against others who have a differing opinion. Each caller's opinion will be tallied, so we must outnumber their voices. (If you would like to have a list of the names, please call our office at 985-626-3217 or email me at ken@fbcmandeville.org.) I ask you to contact them soon.
What should you say when you contact them? I’m glad you asked!
1. Tell them to vote NO at the council meeting on any resolution that Mr. Davis brings before them. Don’t let this issue leave this parish.
2. Ask them to decline Davis’s invitation to go to the Lake Charles casino to see what a similar entertainment area might be in Slidell. (Remind them that the trip will not highlight the negative effects of gambling on the people there.)
3. Remind them that this has never been in the vision of St. Tammany of which we spent over four years developing our Vision 2025 plan.
4. Should the councilman tell you that he believes that the citizens deserve the chance to decide for themselves, remind them that legislative government cannot run effectively if decisions are made in this fashion. This is “civics 101.” If a councilman believes that gambling is wrong, he should vote his convictions. That’s leadership.
Please act soon. Don’t delay. Let their phones ring now. Fill up their email boxes and their mail boxes.
Several St. Tammany Parish pastors are adamantly in agreement on this issue. We are meeting every Monday at 2:00pm for prayer and discussion of how we can stop this particular behavior which destroys families from ever entering our fabulous Northshore life. Stand with us to stop this before it ever gets to Baton Rouge.
Because of Jesus,
Ken Schroeder
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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