04-11-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING APRIL 11, 2015 partners and done their due diligence wherever they go. This will provide a lot of jobs for a demographic that doesn't have many options for good paying jobs and that's the undereducated workers. Those workers can earn economic incentives. This is a twenty -one (21) and over facility and people are adults and can choose to go there. We can see the benefits that these casinos have brought cities like New Buffalo. South Bend is turning around a lot of negative years in this city and we are starting to improve everywhere and this is an opportunity to give people a chance to see how much South Bend has changed and grown over the years. The redevelopment money gives many great possibilities, maybe even with the zoo, to do some great things. Jesse Davis, P.O. Box 10205 South Bend IN, stated Mr. Banicki Cricthlow covered the positives of this deal pretty well. People are adults and they are going to gamble wherever the casino is so it's not smart to try to fight it. The amount of jobs this project would create and the amount of money the City is receiving is something that is defiantly a positive for the area. Thomas Clempe, 1122 N. Ironwood South Bend IN, stated he thinks this is a good idea. The Pokagon Tribe are going to build this regardless so we might as well work with them but he did express disappointment that city officials have disregarded local bars by banning smoking for those bars and push those smokers to the casino to boost city revenue but he is in favor of this agreement. Those wishing to speak against the bill: Jake Tesca, 19489 Green Acre St. South Bend IN, represents a group called Citizens for a Better Michiana. He stated the idea that this casino is going to come no matter what so the City should get a cut of the pie is a foolish argument. It would be like saying there are heroin users all over the City and they are going to do it no matter what so we should try to get a cut of that money too. Studies have shown living within ten (10) miles of a casino doubles a person's chances of becoming a gambling addict and up to fifty percent (50 %) of gambling revenue for casinos comes from gambling addicts. The pledge of $25,000 by the Tribe for gambling services is not enough and absurd. Crime does increase in areas with a casino and the University of Illinois showed areas with casinos draw less business and lower property values. Its absurd to think that the passage of this agreement would have no influence over whether there is federal approval of the casino because it would show our community wants this agreement. This is profiteering off of the backs of residents and children of residents who have addiction problems. This is profiting off of people who will lose everything that they have. To say this is something we should welcome and pay no mind to the negative effects of casinos is ridiculous. This entire deal was done back room and announced as if it was a done deal. Never once did anyone from the City come and ask what are the concerns of the people who oppose this casino. Patrick Mangun, 1919 S. Michigan St., spoke as the president of the group Citizens for Community Values, he stated we have had discussions over the last twenty (20) of years on quality of life issues and the better part of fifteen (15) years shedding the horrible image that South Bend was the porn capital of Michiana. We have instituted many policies to get rid of that image. It is ridiculous to say that we need our vices and totally irresponsible. Our vices nearly destroyed our city and it took a longtime for South Bend to become known as a great place to live for families and great universities and colleges. To come to this point and have South Bend become associated with another adult business that has a negative impact will be harmful. It is wrong for us to turn away from being family friendly, we should not try to be a mini version of Chicago. He stated looking at the gambling model, the reality is that people don't stop at the corner gas station or convenience store when going to the casino. The people come in and come out. The businesses in the immediate facility have an increased amount of traffic which is inconvenient for their current cliental. Most of those local businesses near that area will go out of business. He stated he would rather see this casino built somewhere else and not just go along with our vices. Rhonda Richards, 1020 Clover St. South Bend, stated after reading through the resolution she has a couple of concerns and questions. First, the Mayor who has shown that he wants to support South Bend and is a veteran and patriot, why he is making an agreement with a sovereign nation 15