Showing posts with label gambling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gambling. Show all posts
Saturday, November 8, 2008
No taxation by exploitation
"Using predatory slot machines to take hundreds of millions of dollars from the elderly, the desperate and those with addictive disorders as the preferred way to fund government completely contradicts the message of both candidates [for president]," wrote Les Bernal, executive director of StopPredatoryGambling.org. "We are a nation of strong families and communities…not a collection of selfish individuals who prey on the weaknesses of our neighbors for profit."Here's more from Bernal:"Why don’t the owners and promoters of slots, including public officials, often use slots? Because they know it is a near total waste of their money. They know the odds of winning are truly near impossible and they also know the way a person advances in America is by working hard, saving money and investing over the long-term."The truth is slots are government’s version of sub prime lending, best described as predatory gambling. AIG and Lehman Brothers executives were all part of what’s been called casino capitalism – using predatory practices and financial gimmicks to promote an illusion of free money, all at the expense of unsuspecting Americans."Among many well-intentioned people who presently advocate for slots, there is a complete lack of understanding about the design, technology and marketing behind the machines. If they did understand how predatory the machines are, there is no question that most would strongly oppose them. "Every feature of the machine -- the mathematical structure, visual graphics, sound dynamics, seating and screen ergonomics -- is geared, in the language of the predatory gambling trade, to get gamblers to 'play to extinction,' which means until their money is gone. "MIT Professor Natasha Schull has called the machines a 'high-tech version of loaded dice.' For those unfamiliar with the term, using loaded dice is cheating."One of America’s most sacred founding principles was: 'No taxation without representation.' It’s time the principle of 'No taxation by exploitation' was added right beneath it."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Texas GOP: Firm Stand Against VLTs
from: http://www.texasgop.org/site/PageServer?pagename=library_gambling
THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY’S ULTIMATE CON GAME
The Gambling Industry desires to expand gambling in Texas by introducing video slot machines (also referred to as “VLTs”) as well as casino gambling, and some of our legislators’ have said that they want to turn Texas into the “next Las Vegas.” Below are a few facts about the consequences of such a con game and why the Republican Party of Texas’ Platform states its opposition to the expansion of gambling in our State.
DESTROYS LIVES
Addictive
Video slot machines are the “crack cocaine” of gambling because of their addictive nature. People become addicted more quickly, lose more money more quickly, while buying into false promises of winning.
In 2002, the Rhode Island Gambling Treatment Program identified video slots as “the most addictive form of gambling in history.”
Addiction cycle is much shorter – about 1 year to become addicted.
30-50% of revenue from VLTs is generated from compulsive gamblers.
80% of casino revenue is from addictive slot machines.
In 1994, South Dakota closed all video slot machines for 3 months – the number of gamblers treated per month dropped by 93.5%.
Deceptive – Con Game
Game makers intentionally design games to be addictive with their speed of play and the games’ hypnotizing effect. Advertising is false and misleading in giving the perception that skill is somehow involved.
Game designers intentionally use psychological behavioral techniques to stimulate increased gambling.
U.S. Patent for computerized slot machines states, “It is important to make a machine that is perceived to present greater chances of payoff than it actually has.”
Combination of deceptive disclosure of odds of winning and games designed for players to have many near misses entices people to gamble more.
Illusion of success encourages even lucid player to behave compulsively – marked loss of control in even ordinary players.
3 of every 5 players interviewed in a recent study had a significant degree of impaired control when playing video slot machines
Ravages Families
Gambling ravages families, and children pay the price.
Results in increased divorce, separation, domestic violence, child neglect, and child abuse.
Incidents of child abuse, domestic violence and neglect increase by as much as 50 % among pathological gamblers.
Divorce rates among pathological gamblers (most often addicted by VLTs) are almost 3 times as high as those of non-gamblers. Millions of adults cite a spouse’s gambling problem as a significant factor in their divorces.
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported: “Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling.” VLT addicted parents are more likely to have children who are pathological gamblers.
Increased Suicides - Suicide rates among addicted gamblers are 30 % higher than in the general population.
Increased Illness - As gambling increases, so does illness including cardiovascular problems, anxiety, depression, cognitive disorders, chronic or severe headaches, and stress-related sickness.
Targets Victims
Slot machines are being designed to prey upon the young, women, seniors, and minorities.
Gambling is fastest growing addiction among U.S. teens, women, and senior citizens.
Pathological gambling for youth and young adults is growing at twice the rate for adults.
Poorest and least educated participants spend largest percentage of their income on gambling.
Texas experts estimate that video slot machines will cost poor Texans as much as a $1000 a year on top of the $1,000 they are already losing on the lottery.
One researcher noted that it is hard to lose thousands of dollars in one night in the lottery but not uncommon if playing video slot machines.
WRECKS THE ECONOMY
Gambling venues devastate the economy for both gamblers and non-gamblers:
Studies show that VLTs cost states $3 in social costs for every $1 of revenue generated.
Without including costs related to suicides and abused dollars, estimates of costs to taxpayers range from $13,000 - $52,000 a year per addicted gambler.
Compulsive gamblers cost the U.S. economy about $80 billion annually - $10 billion more than that spent to combat drug abuse.
The poor provide 90% of gambling revenue.
Gambling is a regressive, invisible tax paid directly by the poor and vulnerable, but indirectly by all taxpayers who must shoulder the burden for the subsequent social costs.
Skyrocketing Crime
Sept. 2004 research showed casinos hiked violent crime 13%.
Everywhere video slot machines have been legalized, crime rates have skyrocketed, including aggravated assault, rape, robbery, larceny, burglary, auto theft, embezzlement, and fraud.
1st 3 years of gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey went from 50th in nation in per capita crime to 1st in the nation.
This results in:
Increased Need for Enforcement – police, fire, EMS, lighting, and other crime prevention costs.
Increased Overload of Court System.
Increased Overload of Prison System.
Increased Bankruptcies
Costs include lawsuits and legal costs as well as bill collection costs.
Bankruptcy rates in counties with state sponsored gambling are 18 % higher than in counties that have no gambling.
Increased Business & Employment Losses
Businesses suffer lost productivity, lost work time, unemployment related employer costs from employees who become addicted.
Cannibalizes other industries – restaurants, clothing stores, theaters, and other retail shops suffer in direct proportion to the gambling industry’s success. Thus, it changes the economic base and character of local communities.
Fully half of the small businesses in Atlantic City closed in the first years of legalized gambling there.
Riverboat gambling in Natchez, MS gutted the local business community.
Increased Government Social Services
Need to create or increase government social services such as gambling addiction treatment/therapy costs.
Resulting increase in unemployment, welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and other social services drain local resources as well as state and federal taxpayer programs.
Increased Government Regulatory Expenses
Requires expansion of regulatory agencies, infrastructure, and government salaries.
Increased Dollars Abused
Diverts resources acquired from family, friends, employers under false pretenses away from family needs.
UNDERMINES AMERICAN VALUES
Unprincipled
It discourages hard work and saving.
State sponsored gambling – specifically video slot machines – promote a government sponsored message to citizens that getting ahead in life is a result of blind luck not education, hard work and initiative.
Building our government budgets on games of chance bolstered by deceptive state sponsored advertising campaigns sends a negative anti-work message to citizens and undermines the goals of personal achievement and individual contributions to our communities.
Breeds Corruption
Convenient front for organized crime to launder money from other activities such as drugs and prostitution.
Political corruption is rampant in states receiving revenue from casinos.
Does not stem illegal gambling, but rather creates a shadow industry.
State sanctioned advertising forces taxpayers to prop up this corruption.
LESSONS LEARNED
Poor Tax Policy
Not neutral.
Regressive.
Invisible – not transparent.
Allows legislators to shuffle money around that would have been used for education.
Promises are always larger than the actual return.
States Gambled and Lost
Governor of Nevada said “the lesson from the last 20 years is clear; our revenue system is broken because it has relied on regressive and unstable [gambling] taxes.”
Even the Mayor of Las Vegas wants VLTs removed from neighborhoods outside the strip to prevent the creation of more gambling addicts.
Even the casino-industry in Nevada only provides the state with a third of its revenue, much less than promised.
Every state that uses gambling as a revenue source has a budget deficit – most notably Nevada and New Jersey.
In 1999 Louisiana voted to unplug almost 5,000 VLTs.
Louisiana leaders say that most of the revenue from gambling in the state is immediately taken out of the state and sent to franchise owners in New Jersey.
South Dakota, the first state to house video slot machines in 1989 still had an estimated $54 million budget deficit for 2004 and an estimated $17 million deficit projected for 2005 (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities).
Former South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow called VLTs “the biggest mistake the state ever made.”
Former Nebraska Governor and current United States Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns reported that he would be, “hard-pressed to think that gambling benefits outweigh the detriments.”
In South Carolina, lawmakers abandoned plans to institute VLTs when “the huge social costs in the form of addiction and financial hardship” failed to produce any real economic benefit.
New York reports that it has earned only half of what it was projected to earn from VLTs at its race tracks.
Historical odds predict that areas that embrace VLTs make a relatively quick slide to full-blown casino gambling.
Texas
Gambling Industry promised $99.2 million ($98 revenue + $1.2 million for Commission) in 1987 when legislation to allow race tracks first passed. The first track opened in 1990. Revenues peaked at $5 million and have been declining since that time.
The Gambling Industry has repeatedly asked the Texas Legislature for changes characterized as vital to the survival of the industry only to insist that more is needed.
Public debt – After claiming that Texas would make millions, the industry asked the State to forgive $10.5 million in public debt in 1993, only 3 years after the first track opened.
Now the declining racing industry wants taxpayers to bail them out again.
VLTs provide 80 % of the revenues at race tracks and casinos. VLTs are propping up a declining gaming industry. Texans should not subsidize a failing industry.
State sponsored gambling may be a tax on the ignorant – but it is a tax that the state encourages through massive gambling advertising. The cost of that advertising is not reflected in the public balance sheet on gambling.
A Risky Bet but a Sure Fall
In 1999, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission Called for a Moratorium on Gambling Expansion.
The experience of states that have legalized slots and casinos reveals that the much hyped revenue is a mirage that never fully materializes.
Relying on the pathological behavior of VLT consumers to keep state revenue steady is a gamble in itself. Texas cannot wager the education and future of our children by counting on revenue that is predictably undeniable.
We are the Party of strong families and personal responsibility. We believe in government that is accountable to the people. Governments should protect and serve not abuse and enslave.
THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY’S ULTIMATE CON GAME
The Gambling Industry desires to expand gambling in Texas by introducing video slot machines (also referred to as “VLTs”) as well as casino gambling, and some of our legislators’ have said that they want to turn Texas into the “next Las Vegas.” Below are a few facts about the consequences of such a con game and why the Republican Party of Texas’ Platform states its opposition to the expansion of gambling in our State.
DESTROYS LIVES
Addictive
Video slot machines are the “crack cocaine” of gambling because of their addictive nature. People become addicted more quickly, lose more money more quickly, while buying into false promises of winning.
In 2002, the Rhode Island Gambling Treatment Program identified video slots as “the most addictive form of gambling in history.”
Addiction cycle is much shorter – about 1 year to become addicted.
30-50% of revenue from VLTs is generated from compulsive gamblers.
80% of casino revenue is from addictive slot machines.
In 1994, South Dakota closed all video slot machines for 3 months – the number of gamblers treated per month dropped by 93.5%.
Deceptive – Con Game
Game makers intentionally design games to be addictive with their speed of play and the games’ hypnotizing effect. Advertising is false and misleading in giving the perception that skill is somehow involved.
Game designers intentionally use psychological behavioral techniques to stimulate increased gambling.
U.S. Patent for computerized slot machines states, “It is important to make a machine that is perceived to present greater chances of payoff than it actually has.”
Combination of deceptive disclosure of odds of winning and games designed for players to have many near misses entices people to gamble more.
Illusion of success encourages even lucid player to behave compulsively – marked loss of control in even ordinary players.
3 of every 5 players interviewed in a recent study had a significant degree of impaired control when playing video slot machines
Ravages Families
Gambling ravages families, and children pay the price.
Results in increased divorce, separation, domestic violence, child neglect, and child abuse.
Incidents of child abuse, domestic violence and neglect increase by as much as 50 % among pathological gamblers.
Divorce rates among pathological gamblers (most often addicted by VLTs) are almost 3 times as high as those of non-gamblers. Millions of adults cite a spouse’s gambling problem as a significant factor in their divorces.
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported: “Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling.” VLT addicted parents are more likely to have children who are pathological gamblers.
Increased Suicides - Suicide rates among addicted gamblers are 30 % higher than in the general population.
Increased Illness - As gambling increases, so does illness including cardiovascular problems, anxiety, depression, cognitive disorders, chronic or severe headaches, and stress-related sickness.
Targets Victims
Slot machines are being designed to prey upon the young, women, seniors, and minorities.
Gambling is fastest growing addiction among U.S. teens, women, and senior citizens.
Pathological gambling for youth and young adults is growing at twice the rate for adults.
Poorest and least educated participants spend largest percentage of their income on gambling.
Texas experts estimate that video slot machines will cost poor Texans as much as a $1000 a year on top of the $1,000 they are already losing on the lottery.
One researcher noted that it is hard to lose thousands of dollars in one night in the lottery but not uncommon if playing video slot machines.
WRECKS THE ECONOMY
Gambling venues devastate the economy for both gamblers and non-gamblers:
Studies show that VLTs cost states $3 in social costs for every $1 of revenue generated.
Without including costs related to suicides and abused dollars, estimates of costs to taxpayers range from $13,000 - $52,000 a year per addicted gambler.
Compulsive gamblers cost the U.S. economy about $80 billion annually - $10 billion more than that spent to combat drug abuse.
The poor provide 90% of gambling revenue.
Gambling is a regressive, invisible tax paid directly by the poor and vulnerable, but indirectly by all taxpayers who must shoulder the burden for the subsequent social costs.
Skyrocketing Crime
Sept. 2004 research showed casinos hiked violent crime 13%.
Everywhere video slot machines have been legalized, crime rates have skyrocketed, including aggravated assault, rape, robbery, larceny, burglary, auto theft, embezzlement, and fraud.
1st 3 years of gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey went from 50th in nation in per capita crime to 1st in the nation.
This results in:
Increased Need for Enforcement – police, fire, EMS, lighting, and other crime prevention costs.
Increased Overload of Court System.
Increased Overload of Prison System.
Increased Bankruptcies
Costs include lawsuits and legal costs as well as bill collection costs.
Bankruptcy rates in counties with state sponsored gambling are 18 % higher than in counties that have no gambling.
Increased Business & Employment Losses
Businesses suffer lost productivity, lost work time, unemployment related employer costs from employees who become addicted.
Cannibalizes other industries – restaurants, clothing stores, theaters, and other retail shops suffer in direct proportion to the gambling industry’s success. Thus, it changes the economic base and character of local communities.
Fully half of the small businesses in Atlantic City closed in the first years of legalized gambling there.
Riverboat gambling in Natchez, MS gutted the local business community.
Increased Government Social Services
Need to create or increase government social services such as gambling addiction treatment/therapy costs.
Resulting increase in unemployment, welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and other social services drain local resources as well as state and federal taxpayer programs.
Increased Government Regulatory Expenses
Requires expansion of regulatory agencies, infrastructure, and government salaries.
Increased Dollars Abused
Diverts resources acquired from family, friends, employers under false pretenses away from family needs.
UNDERMINES AMERICAN VALUES
Unprincipled
It discourages hard work and saving.
State sponsored gambling – specifically video slot machines – promote a government sponsored message to citizens that getting ahead in life is a result of blind luck not education, hard work and initiative.
Building our government budgets on games of chance bolstered by deceptive state sponsored advertising campaigns sends a negative anti-work message to citizens and undermines the goals of personal achievement and individual contributions to our communities.
Breeds Corruption
Convenient front for organized crime to launder money from other activities such as drugs and prostitution.
Political corruption is rampant in states receiving revenue from casinos.
Does not stem illegal gambling, but rather creates a shadow industry.
State sanctioned advertising forces taxpayers to prop up this corruption.
LESSONS LEARNED
Poor Tax Policy
Not neutral.
Regressive.
Invisible – not transparent.
Allows legislators to shuffle money around that would have been used for education.
Promises are always larger than the actual return.
States Gambled and Lost
Governor of Nevada said “the lesson from the last 20 years is clear; our revenue system is broken because it has relied on regressive and unstable [gambling] taxes.”
Even the Mayor of Las Vegas wants VLTs removed from neighborhoods outside the strip to prevent the creation of more gambling addicts.
Even the casino-industry in Nevada only provides the state with a third of its revenue, much less than promised.
Every state that uses gambling as a revenue source has a budget deficit – most notably Nevada and New Jersey.
In 1999 Louisiana voted to unplug almost 5,000 VLTs.
Louisiana leaders say that most of the revenue from gambling in the state is immediately taken out of the state and sent to franchise owners in New Jersey.
South Dakota, the first state to house video slot machines in 1989 still had an estimated $54 million budget deficit for 2004 and an estimated $17 million deficit projected for 2005 (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities).
Former South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow called VLTs “the biggest mistake the state ever made.”
Former Nebraska Governor and current United States Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns reported that he would be, “hard-pressed to think that gambling benefits outweigh the detriments.”
In South Carolina, lawmakers abandoned plans to institute VLTs when “the huge social costs in the form of addiction and financial hardship” failed to produce any real economic benefit.
New York reports that it has earned only half of what it was projected to earn from VLTs at its race tracks.
Historical odds predict that areas that embrace VLTs make a relatively quick slide to full-blown casino gambling.
Texas
Gambling Industry promised $99.2 million ($98 revenue + $1.2 million for Commission) in 1987 when legislation to allow race tracks first passed. The first track opened in 1990. Revenues peaked at $5 million and have been declining since that time.
The Gambling Industry has repeatedly asked the Texas Legislature for changes characterized as vital to the survival of the industry only to insist that more is needed.
Public debt – After claiming that Texas would make millions, the industry asked the State to forgive $10.5 million in public debt in 1993, only 3 years after the first track opened.
Now the declining racing industry wants taxpayers to bail them out again.
VLTs provide 80 % of the revenues at race tracks and casinos. VLTs are propping up a declining gaming industry. Texans should not subsidize a failing industry.
State sponsored gambling may be a tax on the ignorant – but it is a tax that the state encourages through massive gambling advertising. The cost of that advertising is not reflected in the public balance sheet on gambling.
A Risky Bet but a Sure Fall
In 1999, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission Called for a Moratorium on Gambling Expansion.
The experience of states that have legalized slots and casinos reveals that the much hyped revenue is a mirage that never fully materializes.
Relying on the pathological behavior of VLT consumers to keep state revenue steady is a gamble in itself. Texas cannot wager the education and future of our children by counting on revenue that is predictably undeniable.
We are the Party of strong families and personal responsibility. We believe in government that is accountable to the people. Governments should protect and serve not abuse and enslave.
Ministers Against VLTs
"The church has a responsibility to help bring morals to the area and help bring people out of certain lifestyles," said Bishop James M. Briscoe, pastor of Free Gospel Church of Bryans Road in Indian Head. "Gambling is something we don't need in the community." Proponents say that legalizing slots would help produce badly needed revenue for education and other programs in a state facing serious budget problems. Ministers have been an important part of the anti-slots effort, said Bridgett Frey, a spokeswoman for Marylanders United Against Slots. The group provides brochures describing arguments against slots to ministers and other community leaders, and the material "flies out the door," she said. Marylanders United lists more than 30 religious leaders among its roughly 150-member steering committee, including Briscoe, treasurer of the Charles ministers alliance. "People are so jaded by Annapolis at this point that politicians are a difficult group to trust," Frey said. "But when your pastor looks at you and says this is the wrong decision for the state, we think that's a very powerful message." Members of the ministers alliance said that moral and religious beliefs prompted them to oppose the legalization of slot machines. Many cite Scriptural prohibitions against gambling, including a passage from Proverbs that says, "An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed." Pastor Willie R. Hunt, who leads New Community Church of God in Christ in Waldorf, said he has seen the harm that gambling can cause families. He said he has counseled people who have lost their homes and watched personal relationships deteriorate. Briscoe, a lifelong Maryland resident and longtime pastor in Prince George's and Charles counties, said he remembers watching people put money into slot machines for hours during the 1950s, when they were legal. The machines prey on lower-income people hoping to get rich quickly, he said, and they contribute to the moral degradation of the community.
Maryland Voters urging No Vote to VLTs
The Maryland General Assembly did not write any new funding for education into the proposal last year—since the politicans and gambling industry lobbyists were eager to pressure various groups into supporting the Referendum. "Promising" money to State-funded organizations if they supported the Referendum without any written guarantee was a way to push organizations of teachers and others to support this Amendment to the Maryland Constituton.The money which is supposed to come, in a few years, from slot machines to the State Treasury has been informally, conversationally, "ear-marked" numerous times over.Anybody who has even casually listened to advertisements and politicans knows that the money which is supposed to come, in a few years, from slot machines to the State Treasury has been informally, conversationally, "ear-marked" numerous times over. The gambling establishments could never bring in the exaggerated, many-times-over, claimed, advertised, and rumored benefits for the horse racing industry, for senior citizens, for police and fire protection, for public schools, for the Maryland Teachers Pension Fund, to underwrite health care for needy residents, and everything else.Where's the owner of the big company that Maryland plans to let run gambling establishments here? Canada. This means one-third of the proceeds will go out of the country.Meantime, we know that one-third of the money will go to the owners of the gambling corporations—those people who contend they will be performing such a public service for the State. And, where's the owner of the big company that Maryland plans to let run gambling establishments here? Canada. That's what these proponents of Question 2 call "bringing money into Maryland." That is what these endorsers of the Amendment to our State Constitution call "keeping the money in Maryland."
Ohio Pols Against VLTs
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and Ohio Racing Commissioner Jerry Chabler yesterday urged people to vote against a constitutional amendment for a single gambling casino in the Cincinnati area.Issue 6 on the statewide ballot asks voters to amend the Ohio Constitution to allow a casino resort off I-71 in Clinton County.The mayor said the issue does nothing for northwest Ohio; Mr. Chabler said it would threaten existing jobs at Ohio's racetracks.MyOhioNow.com, the group sponsoring the casino initiative, claims the proposal will yield 5,000 new jobs and generate a 30 percent gross-receipts tax that would be distributed to all Ohio counties.While the amendment would subject the casino to a tax of up to 30 percent on its gross receipts, if another casino is built in Ohio, the Clinton County casino's maximum tax rate of 30 percent would be reduced to 25 percent, or to the taxation level of the future casino if that rate is lower.It is unclear whether a Native American casino would be considered not taxable - meaning that the Clinton County's casino tax rate would remain at 30 percent - or if its tax rate would be considered zero, a recent analysis found.U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland also oppose Issue 6.
Hidden Costs of Gambling (PA)
In the last year, the number of calls to the Pennsylvania Council on Compulsive Gambling has jumped 39 percent to 1,250 a month. Those numbers will likely continue to climb as more slots parlors open and more people get hooked. The New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling estimates that 20 percent of the customers in Atlantic City are problem gamblers. One study found that each compulsive gambler costs the economy between $14,000 and $22,000, which comes to $280 to $440 for every citizen.Nevada - where Las Vegas is the casino capital - often ranks at or near the top among states in suicide rates, crime, divorce, individual bankruptcies, gambling addiction and high school dropouts. Look for many of these same problems to increase in Pennsylvania as slots gambling spreads.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Gambling Confirmed as a Drug
A new study at the University of Alabama has found that gambling triggers a chemical reaction similar to cocaine, according to high-tech imaging that looks inside the brain. Don Ross, a philosophy and economics professor and a pioneer in neuroeconomics, says it can produce a strong drive to keep betting.
American Psychiatric Association estimates that pathological gamblers range from 0.5 percent to 3.4 percent in adults, with higher rates among adolescents and college students.
"By any measure, the problems far outweigh the benefits. "
Source: http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/09/editorial/editorial01.html
American Psychiatric Association estimates that pathological gamblers range from 0.5 percent to 3.4 percent in adults, with higher rates among adolescents and college students.
"By any measure, the problems far outweigh the benefits. "
Source: http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/09/editorial/editorial01.html
Saturday, May 3, 2008
LI School District Warns About Gambling
The Three Village School District in Suffolk County, had sent out a notice to parents warning about gambling. Article can be viewed here: http://www.threevillages.com/Articles-i-2008-05-01-71471.113114_School_warns_parents_on_dangers_of_teen_gambling.html
The mailing produced by Three Village listed several common types of gambling, including lottery tickets and raffles, but also noted newer gambling outlets, including Internet gambling sites and gambling machines at restaurants. "It is important for parents to be aware of the different types of gambling available in today's society, reasons teens give for gambling, and the warning signs that your child might be addicted to gambling, a problem sometimes referred to as the 'hidden illness,'" the publication noted.
Study found that in the Three Village District, 70% of children from ages 10 to 17 had gambled. With a national rate of 4 to 7% of gamblers becoming problem gamblers, the issue is staggering.
It only will get worse, if more gambling opportunities become available. We must be proactive in this issue, before children lives and communities get destroyed.
The mailing produced by Three Village listed several common types of gambling, including lottery tickets and raffles, but also noted newer gambling outlets, including Internet gambling sites and gambling machines at restaurants. "It is important for parents to be aware of the different types of gambling available in today's society, reasons teens give for gambling, and the warning signs that your child might be addicted to gambling, a problem sometimes referred to as the 'hidden illness,'" the publication noted.
Study found that in the Three Village District, 70% of children from ages 10 to 17 had gambled. With a national rate of 4 to 7% of gamblers becoming problem gamblers, the issue is staggering.
It only will get worse, if more gambling opportunities become available. We must be proactive in this issue, before children lives and communities get destroyed.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Voicing Out Choice
The issue of VLTs, is something that must trigger debate as it should question ones values and ethics. What everyone agrees upon is that compulsive gambling is dangerous.
VLTs offer the most addictive form of gambling, and thus which creates the largest number of compulsive gamblers.
Visiting http://cagnyinf.org/ or http://www.ncalg.org/, you could see statistics, documents, reports that all state the obvious, expansion of gambling hurts communities.
Visiting http://www.nhptv.org/productions/theater.asp?streamdata=http://media.nhptv.org:8080/ramgen/outlook/nho04202008a.rm
offers an excellent documentary as to why states should oppose VLTs.
"Gambling is a very poor source of economic development. There is no evidence whatsoever that those states that have large sources of gambling revenues are better financially, or any better off in terms of what services they are offering and delivering. "
- Rhode Island Governor Donald Cariceri [R]
Elmont isn't a community in the middle of a dessert, or with a waterfront, or with a mountain landscape in the middle, it is surrounded by middle class, single family residential homes.
There is a difference that is obvious to see.
Fortunately, we have a choice. We do not need to have VLTs at Belmont. That is what many are not aware about. Belmont Park, is a world class racetrack, that offers the opportunity for many to invest in its development, and most importantly its recovery to becoming the finest race course in the world. Many are willing, however our voices need to be heard.
A museum and a cultural center that offer enriching concerts overseeing beautiful Belmont Park, a highlight to one of America's oldest sport, and a collection of history and triumph, at the Championship Course, that is Belmont.
We encourage everyone to voice out for choice, and sign our online petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/novlts/petition.html
VLTs offer the most addictive form of gambling, and thus which creates the largest number of compulsive gamblers.
Visiting http://cagnyinf.org/ or http://www.ncalg.org/, you could see statistics, documents, reports that all state the obvious, expansion of gambling hurts communities.
Visiting http://www.nhptv.org/productions/theater.asp?streamdata=http://media.nhptv.org:8080/ramgen/outlook/nho04202008a.rm
offers an excellent documentary as to why states should oppose VLTs.
"Gambling is a very poor source of economic development. There is no evidence whatsoever that those states that have large sources of gambling revenues are better financially, or any better off in terms of what services they are offering and delivering. "
- Rhode Island Governor Donald Cariceri [R]
Elmont isn't a community in the middle of a dessert, or with a waterfront, or with a mountain landscape in the middle, it is surrounded by middle class, single family residential homes.
There is a difference that is obvious to see.
Fortunately, we have a choice. We do not need to have VLTs at Belmont. That is what many are not aware about. Belmont Park, is a world class racetrack, that offers the opportunity for many to invest in its development, and most importantly its recovery to becoming the finest race course in the world. Many are willing, however our voices need to be heard.
A museum and a cultural center that offer enriching concerts overseeing beautiful Belmont Park, a highlight to one of America's oldest sport, and a collection of history and triumph, at the Championship Course, that is Belmont.
We encourage everyone to voice out for choice, and sign our online petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/novlts/petition.html
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Other States Saying No to Slots
In the last few years, several states (11 of them) had referendums voted no to the expansion of gambling in their states. The most prominent being California, and New Jersey.
The latest state to fight against gambling is Maryland.
An interesting article came out a couple day ago, and can be read here:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/04_17-21/GOV
Since 2001, New York State had legalized the expansion of gambling in the State with VLTs, despite the State Constitution clearly defining gambling as prohibited. However, the court system accepted it, since it was an artificial form of gambling through a virtual computer generated chance.
What many do not notice is, in that the same law that legalized VLTs in New York, strictly prohibits the addition of VLTs at Saratoga and Belmont Park.
The residents of Maryland has a point. VLTs are just the beginning. As we already are seeing, revenues are by far not reaching expectations, and revenue that were going to fund education, are going back for advertisements, and further expansion of gambling. As already seen in other states, VLTs locations are working on becoming full fledged casinos, and what will happen after that?
Spread the word, and join the hundreds of people who have voiced against the expansion of gambling at Belmont Park. Together, we can work together to protect the integrity and morality of Elmont, as well as the State of New York.
The latest state to fight against gambling is Maryland.
An interesting article came out a couple day ago, and can be read here:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/04_17-21/GOV
Since 2001, New York State had legalized the expansion of gambling in the State with VLTs, despite the State Constitution clearly defining gambling as prohibited. However, the court system accepted it, since it was an artificial form of gambling through a virtual computer generated chance.
What many do not notice is, in that the same law that legalized VLTs in New York, strictly prohibits the addition of VLTs at Saratoga and Belmont Park.
The residents of Maryland has a point. VLTs are just the beginning. As we already are seeing, revenues are by far not reaching expectations, and revenue that were going to fund education, are going back for advertisements, and further expansion of gambling. As already seen in other states, VLTs locations are working on becoming full fledged casinos, and what will happen after that?
Spread the word, and join the hundreds of people who have voiced against the expansion of gambling at Belmont Park. Together, we can work together to protect the integrity and morality of Elmont, as well as the State of New York.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The "Real" Truth
With a recent rise of false comments being spread locally and in Albany, I believe it is imperative that certain things should be stated publicly in order to protect and preserve fact and truth and the future of the community that I lived in my entire life.
Once upon a time, a certain individual started to spread around a statement that everyone around Belmont Park is in favor of VLTs including officials from Floral Park. For some it might come as a surprise that Floral Park’s Major stated the following: "At the public hearing, I expressed deep reservations about state sponsored gambling in general and the proposed expansion of gambling at Belmont Park in particular. I do not see an Atlantic City environment as a blueprint for economic success of revitalization." He continued stating, "As for those who think that the expansion of gambling at Belmont is the shortest route to an economic renaissance in western Nassau, I think they will be sadly disillusioned." In fact, there is a large group, of multiple organizations who are in opposition and in that documents, videos and petitions were sent to Albany opposing the VLTs.
Nevertheless, there were articles printed in Newsday, and an editorial on News 12 that may depict a positive outlook on VLTs. It is an issue that merits debate, and not a one sided censorship approach. Paul Moran, Newsday’s thoroughbred racing writer and handicapper wrote that it is an “absolutely obscene idea of video lottery terminals at Belmont Park.” Readers of the New York Times would have read an editorial where it states "The state should not be expanding gambling at its racetracks ‑ the euphemistically named slot machines that are a gambler's version of crack cocaine."
Let us answer these simple questions. Can something good come from something that is morally wrong? If something is really going to bring positive change, why is there so much hesitation in debate? Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger stated the following, “there is a very conscious strategy” on part of the gambling industry “to take advantage of vulnerable states and to ally with state officials who don’t want to make tough decisions about taxes. But when there’s a full and fair public policy debate, it’s tough for the gambling forces to win. People realize there’s no quick and easy fix to these tough economic problems.”
Some would argue that VLTs could serve as a model for economic development and revitalization. An environment similar to Atlantic City would be disastrous to the residential single family homes that surround Belmont Park. In addition, the track record of racinos in New York State is horrendous. New York has 8 racino operations, and 6 of them are showing losses. In fact, state legislation was recently passed that moved $195 million of state lottery education money to operators of VLTs, as Senator Bruno put it, “for their survivability”. If you believe that is a lie, ask your state elected officials about it.
In addition, we are going to have VLTs at Aqueduct with shared revenue. The market is already competitive enough, that placement of VLTs at Belmont, would create a level of saturation where any benefits would be hurt, in addition to the survivability of the other locations such as Yonkers Raceway, who like Tioga, Vernon Downs and Monticello potentially could close. A June 2007, New York Times article states that the owners at Yonkers Raceway are losing over $12 million a year. This left Bennett Liebman of the Racing and Wagering Law Program at Albany Law School to say that Yonkers Raceway is "a major disappointment." How can entities that are losing millions bring in revitalization? Long term studies state the fact: they do not, and only bring increase expenses to local social programs. We only have to look to our neighboring country to the north that had VLTs longer to see the negative impact on a larger scale Perhaps the moral of this is that, we must take everything in moderation. VLTs is an unnecessary burden to Elmont, especially since we have other more viable solutions available.
Proponents for VLTs would say there is a lot of money available that could help stimulate a struggling economy. New York Times article in May 2003, reported that $68 billion were gambled in 2003 alone. It continues stating that “Americans now spend more on gambling than on movies, videos, DVD’s, music, and books combined; and with an annual growth rate of about 9 percent since 1991, gambling is growing substantially faster than the economy as a whole.” The Washington Post in 2002 warns, that the current expansion of gambling occurred similar as a result as to what happened in 1930. We must learn our mistakes from the past prior to creating false hopes and misconceptions on what revitalization should be.
A false statement is that a small group is out to destroy the works of Sustainable Long Island, and its’ Elmont Visioning Plan. In fact, this is completely the contrary, unless the writer is discussing about themselves. There is a large group of individuals that are looking at the broader and long term future of Elmont. Others sought for a quick short term fix with VLTs, which is typical of New York State politics. Let us don’t forget, they said the same thing about the lottery in the 1970s. The issue isn’t whether we want revitalization or not, but the issue is how.
Instead of working out an action plan similar to that of the Elmont Visioning Plan, setting up a framework of how Belmont could help Elmont. This small, yet very vocal group instead pushed VLTs at higher priority, with full disregard to the interests of the civic organizations (emphasis on the S) and residents around Belmont Park. Where did these same individuals sought to gain support for them? By visiting a local elementary school and having a press conference in front of children.
Let me ask you this. How would you feel if your state elected official visited the elementary school of your child, and talked to them how VLTs (in simpler terms gambling) will help their education? This sadly happened and in one word: tragic. Tragic in that, they can convince individuals that gambling money is the only way to help Elmont. Ultimately, this small vocal group hurt the work done by the Elmont Visioning Plan, to the extent that individuals living in Elmont, individuals who have worked in Elmont, and individuals who have vested interests in Elmont’s revitalization question the motives and intentions of individuals who take a one sided, and very stubborn approach. This laundry list of names is staggering. Mr. Patrick Nicolosi once stated in the Elmont Herald on August 17, 2007, “A small group being fueled by the Assemblyman’s office [are] working to destroy this community.” Makes you wonder, who the real small group is.
In 1999, a commission created by then President Bill Clinton recommended that “States should refuse to allow the introduction of casino style gambling including VLTs into pari-mutuel facilities.” Largely because of deceptive advertising practices, and how these facilities tend to target minority and poor communities.
Sheila Dixon, educator, first African American Council President, and first woman Mayor of Baltimore, MD City said it best in regard to VLTs, "I believe that our state legislators should be responsible and find another way to fund our schools. We can't destroy neighborhoods and people's lives and that's the piece people just don't get."
It is amazing what we can learn from individuals who live in other states. Many of us, can learn a thing or to. The “real” lie that is being spread is the notion that only VLTs could bring in revitalization. It is important for the future of Elmont, and the community where we live to explore every potential avenue before we make a harsh decision that we may regret down the road. We owe this to the children of our community
Once upon a time, a certain individual started to spread around a statement that everyone around Belmont Park is in favor of VLTs including officials from Floral Park. For some it might come as a surprise that Floral Park’s Major stated the following: "At the public hearing, I expressed deep reservations about state sponsored gambling in general and the proposed expansion of gambling at Belmont Park in particular. I do not see an Atlantic City environment as a blueprint for economic success of revitalization." He continued stating, "As for those who think that the expansion of gambling at Belmont is the shortest route to an economic renaissance in western Nassau, I think they will be sadly disillusioned." In fact, there is a large group, of multiple organizations who are in opposition and in that documents, videos and petitions were sent to Albany opposing the VLTs.
Nevertheless, there were articles printed in Newsday, and an editorial on News 12 that may depict a positive outlook on VLTs. It is an issue that merits debate, and not a one sided censorship approach. Paul Moran, Newsday’s thoroughbred racing writer and handicapper wrote that it is an “absolutely obscene idea of video lottery terminals at Belmont Park.” Readers of the New York Times would have read an editorial where it states "The state should not be expanding gambling at its racetracks ‑ the euphemistically named slot machines that are a gambler's version of crack cocaine."
Let us answer these simple questions. Can something good come from something that is morally wrong? If something is really going to bring positive change, why is there so much hesitation in debate? Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger stated the following, “there is a very conscious strategy” on part of the gambling industry “to take advantage of vulnerable states and to ally with state officials who don’t want to make tough decisions about taxes. But when there’s a full and fair public policy debate, it’s tough for the gambling forces to win. People realize there’s no quick and easy fix to these tough economic problems.”
Some would argue that VLTs could serve as a model for economic development and revitalization. An environment similar to Atlantic City would be disastrous to the residential single family homes that surround Belmont Park. In addition, the track record of racinos in New York State is horrendous. New York has 8 racino operations, and 6 of them are showing losses. In fact, state legislation was recently passed that moved $195 million of state lottery education money to operators of VLTs, as Senator Bruno put it, “for their survivability”. If you believe that is a lie, ask your state elected officials about it.
In addition, we are going to have VLTs at Aqueduct with shared revenue. The market is already competitive enough, that placement of VLTs at Belmont, would create a level of saturation where any benefits would be hurt, in addition to the survivability of the other locations such as Yonkers Raceway, who like Tioga, Vernon Downs and Monticello potentially could close. A June 2007, New York Times article states that the owners at Yonkers Raceway are losing over $12 million a year. This left Bennett Liebman of the Racing and Wagering Law Program at Albany Law School to say that Yonkers Raceway is "a major disappointment." How can entities that are losing millions bring in revitalization? Long term studies state the fact: they do not, and only bring increase expenses to local social programs. We only have to look to our neighboring country to the north that had VLTs longer to see the negative impact on a larger scale Perhaps the moral of this is that, we must take everything in moderation. VLTs is an unnecessary burden to Elmont, especially since we have other more viable solutions available.
Proponents for VLTs would say there is a lot of money available that could help stimulate a struggling economy. New York Times article in May 2003, reported that $68 billion were gambled in 2003 alone. It continues stating that “Americans now spend more on gambling than on movies, videos, DVD’s, music, and books combined; and with an annual growth rate of about 9 percent since 1991, gambling is growing substantially faster than the economy as a whole.” The Washington Post in 2002 warns, that the current expansion of gambling occurred similar as a result as to what happened in 1930. We must learn our mistakes from the past prior to creating false hopes and misconceptions on what revitalization should be.
A false statement is that a small group is out to destroy the works of Sustainable Long Island, and its’ Elmont Visioning Plan. In fact, this is completely the contrary, unless the writer is discussing about themselves. There is a large group of individuals that are looking at the broader and long term future of Elmont. Others sought for a quick short term fix with VLTs, which is typical of New York State politics. Let us don’t forget, they said the same thing about the lottery in the 1970s. The issue isn’t whether we want revitalization or not, but the issue is how.
Instead of working out an action plan similar to that of the Elmont Visioning Plan, setting up a framework of how Belmont could help Elmont. This small, yet very vocal group instead pushed VLTs at higher priority, with full disregard to the interests of the civic organizations (emphasis on the S) and residents around Belmont Park. Where did these same individuals sought to gain support for them? By visiting a local elementary school and having a press conference in front of children.
Let me ask you this. How would you feel if your state elected official visited the elementary school of your child, and talked to them how VLTs (in simpler terms gambling) will help their education? This sadly happened and in one word: tragic. Tragic in that, they can convince individuals that gambling money is the only way to help Elmont. Ultimately, this small vocal group hurt the work done by the Elmont Visioning Plan, to the extent that individuals living in Elmont, individuals who have worked in Elmont, and individuals who have vested interests in Elmont’s revitalization question the motives and intentions of individuals who take a one sided, and very stubborn approach. This laundry list of names is staggering. Mr. Patrick Nicolosi once stated in the Elmont Herald on August 17, 2007, “A small group being fueled by the Assemblyman’s office [are] working to destroy this community.” Makes you wonder, who the real small group is.
In 1999, a commission created by then President Bill Clinton recommended that “States should refuse to allow the introduction of casino style gambling including VLTs into pari-mutuel facilities.” Largely because of deceptive advertising practices, and how these facilities tend to target minority and poor communities.
Sheila Dixon, educator, first African American Council President, and first woman Mayor of Baltimore, MD City said it best in regard to VLTs, "I believe that our state legislators should be responsible and find another way to fund our schools. We can't destroy neighborhoods and people's lives and that's the piece people just don't get."
It is amazing what we can learn from individuals who live in other states. Many of us, can learn a thing or to. The “real” lie that is being spread is the notion that only VLTs could bring in revitalization. It is important for the future of Elmont, and the community where we live to explore every potential avenue before we make a harsh decision that we may regret down the road. We owe this to the children of our community
Thursday, January 3, 2008
VLTs Do Not Bring Sustainable Development
Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development
Goals
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Facilitate Community Revitalization by working with professional visioning, community development and architectural/engineering agencies/corporations to develop a safe, fun, and environmentally healthy place to live, work, and shop for all of our citizens.
-
Identify and re-develop dilapidated structures within the community.
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Identify and develop green spaces
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Improve Hempstead Turnpike by working with the DOT to improve the Turnpike, which is on the State Department of Transportation’s Calendar for major renovation in 2008?. This includes but is not limited to repaving, traffic lights, bulb-outs, medians, turning lanes and sidewalks.
Work with Town Council Representatives to introduce legislation that informs the DOT that our community has a Elmont Coalition for Community Revitalization and that we are developing a land use plan.
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Develop a Land Use Plan.
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Pursue the idea of burying or moving to the outer perimeters electric, cable and phone wires.
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Foster Economic Development and the future potential of the Elmont district as a business friendly community.
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Create a Business Improvement District (BID)
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Create a business incubator environment including the possibility of a specially designed WiFi network.
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Work collaboratively with the Town and County to market the advantages of the Empire Zone designation to attract businesses to Elmont.
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Create “downtown” areas along major corridors in Elmont. The location of these areas specific to Hempstead Turnpike will be determined by the results of the visioning process.
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Build a Process for the Development of the Youth of Our Community by addressing the specific needs of young children and teenagers, and by fostering partnerships with specific organizations throughout the district to help meet these needs.
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Create recreational opportunities for youth as determined by visioning plan.
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Encourage the creation of teen services offered by the schools, youth organization (GYO) and library working in partnership.
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Encourage local business to address the recreational and workforce development needs of youth.
Develop a Range of Housing Options and look for places to build affordable housing particularly to support younger workers.
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Identify funding options for the implementation of community development projects.
Opposition Voices of VLTs Rising.
The voices of those who oppose the VLTs at Belmont Park are rising.
January 2, 2007, Floral Park mayor Phil Guarnieri in his monthly message found at: http://www.fpvillage.org/ clearly shares the same sentiments of the "western" Elmont civic association.
Here are some quotes to highlight:
"Saratoga Racetrack, however, would be conspicuously exempt from VLT's and racinos because, as one observer put it, Saratoga is a gem that needs no polishing."
Unlike how our "Eastern" Elmont civic member noticed, Saratoga racetrack held by NYRA will not have VLTs thanks to Senatorial leadership.
"At the public hearing, I expressed deep reservations about state sponsored gambling in general and the proposed expansion of gambling at Belmont Park in particular. I do not see an Atlantic City environment as a blueprint for economic success of revitalization."
VLTs goes against everything we're working hard for improving. It goes against the basic objectives of the Sustainable Long Island Project. VLTs will become a disaster for revitalization of the community.
"As for those who think that the expansion of gambling at Belmont is the shortest route to an economic renaissance in western Nassau, I think they will be sadly disillusioned."
We agree.
As the forces in support of VLTs may seem inevitable, even the strongest forces will fall to the will and for the good of the people.
January 2, 2007, Floral Park mayor Phil Guarnieri in his monthly message found at: http://www.fpvillage.org/ clearly shares the same sentiments of the "western" Elmont civic association.
Here are some quotes to highlight:
"Saratoga Racetrack, however, would be conspicuously exempt from VLT's and racinos because, as one observer put it, Saratoga is a gem that needs no polishing."
Unlike how our "Eastern" Elmont civic member noticed, Saratoga racetrack held by NYRA will not have VLTs thanks to Senatorial leadership.
"At the public hearing, I expressed deep reservations about state sponsored gambling in general and the proposed expansion of gambling at Belmont Park in particular. I do not see an Atlantic City environment as a blueprint for economic success of revitalization."
VLTs goes against everything we're working hard for improving. It goes against the basic objectives of the Sustainable Long Island Project. VLTs will become a disaster for revitalization of the community.
"As for those who think that the expansion of gambling at Belmont is the shortest route to an economic renaissance in western Nassau, I think they will be sadly disillusioned."
We agree.
As the forces in support of VLTs may seem inevitable, even the strongest forces will fall to the will and for the good of the people.
Friday, December 28, 2007
NYRA Gets Extension: Thoughts
NYRA been a bad neighbor. NYRA hasn't helped the surrounding stores and businesses. NYRA doesn't care about Elmont. These are the words of our locally elected representatives in Albany.
What can we say about their oversight on NYRA?
Probably the same things.
Truth is, NYRA isn't the typical bad neighbor; but one that got lazy because no one bothered to watch them. Their hands got caught in the cookie jar, and they vouch for change; and perhaps it is for the better. They've been there for over 50 years. In the early 1900s, that plot of land was up for sale. The mostly rural setting was worried, that another large plot of land (600 acres at the time), would be sold to add another cemetery in the community.
Fortunately, the likes of Belmont and Morgan, bought the land, back then known as the Oatlands. There was a Tudor-Gothic Mansion surrounded by "ancient trees" and where the Turf and Field Club remained till 1956.
1903, in part to immigrants (from Italy, Poland and Ireland) helped to build Belmont Park. Many of these immigrants later stayed and helped formed the first suburbia, and Elmont. So from its commencement in 1905 to 1965, it was the Westchester Racing Association that owned the property, led by Belmont II.
It was in 1965, that New York State, decided in order to provide a competitive and controlled (and the best) racing in America, a single entity should control the four major racing tracks in New York. Thus the Greater Racing Association of New York was formed. They purchased the shares and deeds of the 4 tracks. One year later, they become known as its current name, New York Racing Association (NYRA).
By 1966, NYRA was in full flight, and "modernizing" the tracks at Belmont and Aqueduct. The historic mansion was demolished, and big giant "ancient trees" were cleared to make way. However, the "old tree" remained, giving us a glimmer as to what this land was once before.
Thanks to NYRA, we were able to witness, the glorious racing of Secretariat, the tragic end of Ruffian, Seabiscuit cross the country in train to race, the record of the largest attendance at a sporting event, and the honor of hosting the first sporting event in the US, after the tragedy of 9-11.
With its history, lore and glamor, from the place where US Air Mail first took flight, where the Wright Brothers held their International Air Flight Competition, to where the French King sought asylum from political persecution. It is a place, where others would be jealous of what it means.
The 600 acres once known as the Oatlands, and now Belmont Park, is no longer 600 acres. Its Southwest corner, converted to a city park, its northwest corner, converted to an Elementary School, its Southeastern corner, converted to a small police hub, and its western corner having the Cross Island Expressway, and a train station. Nevertheless, it remains being 430 acres, give or take.
Belmont history and lore has been forgotten. Forgotten by even the politicians who swore to seek out what is best for our community. When approached with the idea of adding a museum, to attract visitors, restore and reunite the community; we got the rude response, "when are we going to be done speaking." Needless to say, this came from the same individual who said, "Who's going to pay for the traffic light," in regard to a dangerous place on Hempstead Turnpike where numerous accidents and fatalities had occurred.
However, VLTs took a higher priority. Where did these same individuals sought to gain support for them? By visiting a local elementary school. Let me ask you this. How would feel if your state elected official visited the elementary school of your child, and talked to them how VLTs (in simpler terms gambling) will help their education. This is extremely sad, and in one word: tragic.
Tragic in that, they can convince individuals that gambling money is the only way to help Elmont. It is tragic to see, the hard work of Italian, Irish and Polish workers to build the best Racing Track in America, be shortchanged and demoralized into a VLT parlor.
Todays residents of our great community, will suffer tremendously. Let's don't forget that less than 6% of the money spent on VLTs actually go to education. Simply think, of all the potential lives that are risk, the individuals and families who are ruined. I am concerned for the welfare of the children of the community. I am aware of what VLTs had done to that poor baby who died in her mothers car in South Carolina, because she had to go and gamble on VLTs. I am aware of likes of what happen in Kentucky, West Virginia, New Brunswick, Rhode Island, Quebec, Alberta, and others (just naming a few from news reports and studies) where children are affected, unable to get supplies for school, become addicted themselves and are unable to live a normal life cause of what VLTs had done to their families and community. These are the harsh reality, and the deep cutting price and long lasting affect VLTs have.
Let us bring back what Belmont Park was. Bring back the Turf and Field Mansion. Make into a museum, a community center. Have a place to hold concerts, community events and make it friendly, and family oriented place. The community wants an improvement at Belmont. not its destruction. We only hope that the media will not remain one sided by only listening to individuals who live across town, or in farther away communities, but take into account the opinions and sentiments of people that actually live around Belmont Park.
What can we say about their oversight on NYRA?
Probably the same things.
Truth is, NYRA isn't the typical bad neighbor; but one that got lazy because no one bothered to watch them. Their hands got caught in the cookie jar, and they vouch for change; and perhaps it is for the better. They've been there for over 50 years. In the early 1900s, that plot of land was up for sale. The mostly rural setting was worried, that another large plot of land (600 acres at the time), would be sold to add another cemetery in the community.
Fortunately, the likes of Belmont and Morgan, bought the land, back then known as the Oatlands. There was a Tudor-Gothic Mansion surrounded by "ancient trees" and where the Turf and Field Club remained till 1956.
1903, in part to immigrants (from Italy, Poland and Ireland) helped to build Belmont Park. Many of these immigrants later stayed and helped formed the first suburbia, and Elmont. So from its commencement in 1905 to 1965, it was the Westchester Racing Association that owned the property, led by Belmont II.
It was in 1965, that New York State, decided in order to provide a competitive and controlled (and the best) racing in America, a single entity should control the four major racing tracks in New York. Thus the Greater Racing Association of New York was formed. They purchased the shares and deeds of the 4 tracks. One year later, they become known as its current name, New York Racing Association (NYRA).
By 1966, NYRA was in full flight, and "modernizing" the tracks at Belmont and Aqueduct. The historic mansion was demolished, and big giant "ancient trees" were cleared to make way. However, the "old tree" remained, giving us a glimmer as to what this land was once before.
Thanks to NYRA, we were able to witness, the glorious racing of Secretariat, the tragic end of Ruffian, Seabiscuit cross the country in train to race, the record of the largest attendance at a sporting event, and the honor of hosting the first sporting event in the US, after the tragedy of 9-11.
With its history, lore and glamor, from the place where US Air Mail first took flight, where the Wright Brothers held their International Air Flight Competition, to where the French King sought asylum from political persecution. It is a place, where others would be jealous of what it means.
The 600 acres once known as the Oatlands, and now Belmont Park, is no longer 600 acres. Its Southwest corner, converted to a city park, its northwest corner, converted to an Elementary School, its Southeastern corner, converted to a small police hub, and its western corner having the Cross Island Expressway, and a train station. Nevertheless, it remains being 430 acres, give or take.
Belmont history and lore has been forgotten. Forgotten by even the politicians who swore to seek out what is best for our community. When approached with the idea of adding a museum, to attract visitors, restore and reunite the community; we got the rude response, "when are we going to be done speaking." Needless to say, this came from the same individual who said, "Who's going to pay for the traffic light," in regard to a dangerous place on Hempstead Turnpike where numerous accidents and fatalities had occurred.
However, VLTs took a higher priority. Where did these same individuals sought to gain support for them? By visiting a local elementary school. Let me ask you this. How would feel if your state elected official visited the elementary school of your child, and talked to them how VLTs (in simpler terms gambling) will help their education. This is extremely sad, and in one word: tragic.
Tragic in that, they can convince individuals that gambling money is the only way to help Elmont. It is tragic to see, the hard work of Italian, Irish and Polish workers to build the best Racing Track in America, be shortchanged and demoralized into a VLT parlor.
Todays residents of our great community, will suffer tremendously. Let's don't forget that less than 6% of the money spent on VLTs actually go to education. Simply think, of all the potential lives that are risk, the individuals and families who are ruined. I am concerned for the welfare of the children of the community. I am aware of what VLTs had done to that poor baby who died in her mothers car in South Carolina, because she had to go and gamble on VLTs. I am aware of likes of what happen in Kentucky, West Virginia, New Brunswick, Rhode Island, Quebec, Alberta, and others (just naming a few from news reports and studies) where children are affected, unable to get supplies for school, become addicted themselves and are unable to live a normal life cause of what VLTs had done to their families and community. These are the harsh reality, and the deep cutting price and long lasting affect VLTs have.
Let us bring back what Belmont Park was. Bring back the Turf and Field Mansion. Make into a museum, a community center. Have a place to hold concerts, community events and make it friendly, and family oriented place. The community wants an improvement at Belmont. not its destruction. We only hope that the media will not remain one sided by only listening to individuals who live across town, or in farther away communities, but take into account the opinions and sentiments of people that actually live around Belmont Park.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
States and its Lotteries and Gambling
Some interesting facts and statements:
In 2000, New York State kept 38 percent of its lottery revenue for education. That share has dropped to 32 percent, but the dollar amount rose from $1.3 billion in 2000 to $2.2 billion last year.
But Jerry McPeak, a Democratic state representative in Oklahoma, said states that have committed to a percentage should not later lower that number.
“I think if you pass a lottery and tell people that a certain proportion of those dollars are going to something like education, then you ought to keep your word,” Mr. McPeak said.
Source: For Schools, Lottery Payoffs Fall Short of Promises, New York Times. October 17, 2007.
They say the games take particular advantage of the most vulnerable members of society, including the poor and members of minority groups.
“Scratch-off tickets are to the lottery what crack is to cocaine,” said State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, a Democrat who represents El Paso.
Source: The $50 Ticket: A Lottery Boon Raises Concern, The New York Times, December 27, 2007
But make no mistake, gambling is a tax - the worst kind. As Money magazine reported, it is inefficient since most of it goes to prizes and administration. And it mostly taxes the poor because, as the Illinois Lottery billboards in poor neighbourhoods used to say, "This could be your ticket out".
For those of us who buy and don't win, it is a 100% tax. (If all it takes for us to accept a 100% tax rate is to have a chance - ever so slight - to win big, then why not have an Income Tax Roulette game: when we send in our income tax returns, a certain percentage of us win back the amount we would have had to pay.)
Aren't VLTs just the poor man's stock market? Aren't we surrounded by breathless billboards about the next big jackpot, media glorifying the newest millionaires, hospitals organizing casino nights and dream lotteries?
Source: New Brunswick Telegraph Journal April 2001
New York Racing Association Chairman Barry Schwartz said NYRA's two main concerns with the installation of the VLTs are the "continuance of our existing relationship" and the negative impact "we feel the VLTs will have on the 36-day Thoroughbred meet.
Source: Thoroughbred Times. January 29, 2002.
In 2000, New York State kept 38 percent of its lottery revenue for education. That share has dropped to 32 percent, but the dollar amount rose from $1.3 billion in 2000 to $2.2 billion last year.
But Jerry McPeak, a Democratic state representative in Oklahoma, said states that have committed to a percentage should not later lower that number.
“I think if you pass a lottery and tell people that a certain proportion of those dollars are going to something like education, then you ought to keep your word,” Mr. McPeak said.
Source: For Schools, Lottery Payoffs Fall Short of Promises, New York Times. October 17, 2007.
They say the games take particular advantage of the most vulnerable members of society, including the poor and members of minority groups.
“Scratch-off tickets are to the lottery what crack is to cocaine,” said State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, a Democrat who represents El Paso.
Source: The $50 Ticket: A Lottery Boon Raises Concern, The New York Times, December 27, 2007
But make no mistake, gambling is a tax - the worst kind. As Money magazine reported, it is inefficient since most of it goes to prizes and administration. And it mostly taxes the poor because, as the Illinois Lottery billboards in poor neighbourhoods used to say, "This could be your ticket out".
For those of us who buy and don't win, it is a 100% tax. (If all it takes for us to accept a 100% tax rate is to have a chance - ever so slight - to win big, then why not have an Income Tax Roulette game: when we send in our income tax returns, a certain percentage of us win back the amount we would have had to pay.)
Aren't VLTs just the poor man's stock market? Aren't we surrounded by breathless billboards about the next big jackpot, media glorifying the newest millionaires, hospitals organizing casino nights and dream lotteries?
Source: New Brunswick Telegraph Journal April 2001
New York Racing Association Chairman Barry Schwartz said NYRA's two main concerns with the installation of the VLTs are the "continuance of our existing relationship" and the negative impact "we feel the VLTs will have on the 36-day Thoroughbred meet.
Source: Thoroughbred Times. January 29, 2002.
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