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| Will people gamble their way into the red at this site? |
That
site has a large-scale strip mall that could grow into a shopping mall to its
north, and Interstate 80 to the east. It is large enough that local officials
say they’re saving it for the casino they want to develop.
THE
ONE THAT would be the “south suburban” casino in the grand scheme of things by
which Illinois state government ups the number of casinos operating in the
state from 10 to 15.
Much
of the attention on this issue has gone to the fact that one of the extra
casinos would be placed in Chicago, and over whether a Chicago-based casino
should be controlled by a city government agency (as in one whose director is
picked by Mayor Rahm Emanuel) rather than the Illinois Gaming Board that
oversees all other casinos in Illinois.
At
times, the idea of a south suburban casino seems like an afterthought.
Yet
when I think of the concept, I can’t help but notice the number of communities
that are basing their economic future on the idea of something that isn’t
currently permitted under state law!
IT
MAKES ME wonder how many legitimate development opportunities are being passed
on (or not even being contemplated) because everyone is banking their future on
the idea of getting a casino.
Made
worse by the fact that, at best, ONE community will get the dream. While some
half-dozen proposals (at least, more may develop as time passes) are being considered.
There
are going to be a lot of losers.
What
happens to those communities who, years from now, have nothing to show for
their casino dreams other than vacant land plots? Such as that one on Cicero
Avenue?
PERSONALLY,
I DON’T think much of the whole casino concept. I always thought of them as being
for communities that were incapable of getting anything else to locate within
their boundaries.
Which
makes me wonder if places like Country Club Hills or Homewood (my father and
step-mother, who enjoy the casino atmosphere and live just a few minutes from
the proposed sites on Cicero Avenue or Halsted Street), or others like Ford
Heights, Calumet City or Lynwood (which would like to put a casino right on the
Illinois/Indiana border) have any kind of back-up plan?
I
have heard from various municipal officials whose complaints about casinos
focus on state government for taking so ridiculously long (how many years has
it been now?) to make a decision.
Because
they feel it puts them on hold. They can’t possibly contemplate real economic
development – something that creates jobs better than being a coat-room clerk
or a valet parking attendant.
AS
FOR THOSE who want to argue the merits of being a black-jack dealer, I don’t
really want to hear it. There are higher aspirations in life than dealing
cards, and I always wonder about a community that is willing to settle for
less.
Because
that’s what the whole casino campaign amounts to – communities putting bets on
their future in hopes that they’ll strike it rich. When anybody with sense
knows that the “house” always wins! As in the casino itself.
Everybody
else ultimately comes out the loser. Sometimes, I think these suburban mayors
would be better off buying a Mega Millions lottery game ticket.
With
all the technicalities and legalese and complications in the process of the
state creating a casino, I wonder if the odds are better that they’ll win the
big jackpot – as opposed to someday getting a casino.
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