Want a Casino in your backyard?

So last week I learned that a casino is being built just a few miles from my house.  They broke ground over the holiday break and no one seemed to know anything about it until then.  This casino site is directly across the street from our local community college and nearby lots of neighborhoods and schools.  In fact, the school district just got the go-ahead to build a new elementary school and Pre-K center 1/2 mile down the street from this casino - although it sounds like that can't really happen now.


Here is a bit of background/timeline.

• At the end of September 2011, the Kialegee Tribe presented a draft to the City Council, in preparation for construction, to connect to city utilities.  Apparently, the council knew they had no jurisdiction over site and felt there was nothing they could do.  But this proposal was not made known to the public.

• Over the Christmas holiday, dirt started moving at the proposed site and citizens discovered just what would be built there.  The tribe hopes to have temporary buildings in place and open the casino in March.  Concerned residents deluged city hall and the city manager researched in preparation for a January 3rd council meeting.  The mayor is quoted as saying there is nothing they can do.  

• At the meeting though, all members of the council (except the mayor) unequivocally stated they are opposed to the casino and they unanimously voted to request a cease and desist, which they actually have no power to enforce.  It appears that the city can slow the process a little though, by requiring the casino meet particular requirements (such as inspections) prior to granting utilities access.  

• January 4th, construction continues.  No response or comments from the tribe, investors, or parcel owners.

• January 5th the State Attorney General announced he has requested all pertinent information so he can determine if this is lawful.

Just to be clear, I'm not opposing the right of Indian Nations to construct casinos.  But I am most emphatically against building a casino anywhere near a school or neighborhood.

I'd like to list several reasons why I think having a casino in this location is a bad idea.

• I just don't think schools and casinos should mix!  We have a number of  teenagers who attend the community college for specialized studies in cooperation with the high schools.  It seems really shabby to target such an inexperienced and young audience for the social ills of gambling.  Also, it will require a serious increase in security at all the nearby school campuses - and we all know that the education budget is cramped as it is.  As our local Chamber of Commerce President stated: "We value our young citizens and students and want them to have the best possible education, free from distraction and in the safest environment possible." 

• Studies show that there is a marked increase in crime around casinos after a five year study period, even accounting for other trends. (A study by two economists from Baylor University, David B Mustard and Earl L Grinols)  Crimes like aggravated assault and robbery and other actions we'd hardly like to encourage, especially around our schools.  Last year our city was included in the list of the top 25 safest cities and best places to retire.  We can kiss that goodbye, if the casino opens.

•  As a result of the crime increase, we can be pretty sure property values will drop and home insurance rates will increase.  I'm sure current residents will be delighted to know that if they desire to more to a more savory neighborhood, they will probably have to sell their house for a loss.

• I can't think of anything the casino will give back to the community, except social problems.  Because it is tribal land (which is actually a point of disagreement), the casino will not pay any taxes to the community it is sucking from.  It's possible that it may bring jobs (although they typically hire from within the tribe), but I hope we haven't sunk so low as to think this is the only industry our city can attract.

• When people spend their money on gambling, there is less to spend at other local businesses.  I think this will weaken support for local businesses.

• It appears that the majority of people are NOT in favor.  The Kialegee Tribe is not from this area, nor are the investors who support the casino.  Here are just a few who have publicly spoken against the casino - the City Council; the City Chamber of Commerce; the community college; the Public School Superintendent; multiple churches and over a thousand residents.  Other State Representatives, including Mike Ritze and David Brumbaugh have spoken against the casino construction as well.   That's just the people I know about.

Here's the clincher, though.  It's probably not even legal to build on this location.  Worse, building a casino at this location will set a precedent that would allow any historical land owned by a Native American to be used for gaming, if they wished it.  Previously, all Indian gaming has been constructed on tribal lands held in trust by the US government on behalf of a tribe.  The parcel under construction now, is a personal allotment, owned by two ladies of the Creek Nation, who have attempted to lease the land to the Kialegee Tribal Town (subsidized by other source).  A personal allotment has never been used in this way before and a lease was not approved by the district court.

Those facts don't seem to daunt the perpetrators much.  And I guess, if no one protested, they could be right.