04-13-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 13, 2015 Those wishing to speak in opposition of this bill: Barbara Jewel, 1821 Gartner Ave., South Bend – I am against the Casino not the Potawatomi Tribe. We will not have taxes coming in to the community as they don’t pay taxes. The money will stay there. There will be a loss of revenue. Most jobs will be Indian jobs. I think this supports a vice that doesn’t need to be supported as is. There are two other Casino’s close by so it will be oversaturation in one area. Keith Bujorzack, 205 N. Hill St. South Bend – This particular item was rushed before this body. It will reduce tourism and money towards our community, and decrease public safety in that community. I don’t have anything negative towards this group and all for moving walls between ethnic groups. I think we need to review both the pros and the cons before we have a gambling Casino. Jake Kachka, 19489 Green Acre, South Bend – With all due respect to Councilmember Davis, I don’t think those that are opposed to the Casino are opposed to the Potawatomi Band. I too, would like to leave the light on and welcome them. In terms of a Casino, I think it will have a negative impact on our community. It will create jobs, but I also think there will be job loss. In Atlantic City there was a total job loss of 142 after a few years. A Casino is a one-stop shop with no incentive for them to visit our downtown areas, as all entertainment would be at the Casino. This all seems rushed and we need to have a broader conversation, as it will impact surrounding communities as well. This is an industry that we don’t want in our community, we need to review the facts before moving forward. Joseph Michal Jr., 3010 S Locust Road – I don’t have a problem with the tribe, I have a problem with the Casino. The city tore up our roads and never fixed them, and didn’t finish the sidewalks they started. My pond is now gone, the street is now crooked, and they messed up the underground. The city has tried to raise my taxes. I don’t want a Casino as this will be in my front yard. I almost got hit walking my son to the bus due to no traffic lights. I want you to knock on the doors of those on South Locust Road and see what they have to say. Judith Overmyer, 3447 S. Locus Road – I have lived there 40 years or more. In terms of crime, there are very few crimes in our area. The jobs that will be brought will be at poverty level and will not get free daycare that the natives will supply. The amount of money that will be taken out of the community from our own citizens stays with them, as they do not pay taxes. Some of the other Casino’s area will take away from the other Casinos of $1.4 billion. The Casino lights will be in my backyard. It will decrease the value of my property. Rebuttal: Councilmember Oliver Davis – I appreciate those who spoke in favor and those against. We live in a community that are benefited by our Universities that don’t pay taxes in the city of South Bend, they help the city greatly and benefit from them as they are one of our key employers. The argument that they don’t pay taxes is void when we have Universities here that don’t pay taxes. Many of those institutions donate to our city, of course we want them to do more. We can look at crime rates, but we have to be a city that is welcome to all types of businesses. I recognize that there are challenges, and we can work along with helping them. The Prairie Apartments was rumored to cause additional crime, but it has not. With the move of Potawatomi Band, it will help with our structure and infrastructure on State Road 23. Let’s welcome them and leave the lights on for them. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic – I just want to clarify that the city Council is not approving or denying anything. This is simply a positive welcome to the Potawatomi Band. We appreciate all 17