Any port in a storm would seem to be the resting point for the pro-casino argument in Miami: the economy is awful, we have to build something. If we are not building, what are we doing here? A new baseball stadium, a performing arts center and museums: where are the people going to come from to populate these structures? Casinos.
Frank Nero has it right. The Beacon Council, that he heads, normally bends whichever way the political winds blow. So it is refreshing, oh well, to read Nero arguing against casinos in Miami. I suspect he and other critics will quickly pipe down. There seems a theatrical flourish to a predetermined plot point: Republicans elected by Christian conservatives have already decided they will not do what Jesus would do: throwing the money changers from the temple.
It seems such an obvious point that the presence of casinos will inhibit economic growth and diversification. If you are opposed to political corruption-- as we are at EOM-- once casinos are rooted in Miami, fuggedaboudit.
8 comments:
Bringing casinos to Miami is like throwing gas on the fire! As if there is not enough corruption already here.
Can anyone imagine what casinos in Miami will do in this environment. There will never be enough regulations to stop the corruption what is bound to accompany it.
What are they thinking?
Maybe it's time for me to pack up and leave.
The only saving grace is that I understand the North does not want it and Disney is fighting it.
Maybe they can stop it.
Not sure Frank's logic holds. Does he really believe that new casinos in this county will increase prostitution and organized crime? That's a pretty tall order given how rampant both are already here.
Casinos will lead to more political corruption? Exactly how would you measure this increase above and beyond the corruption we already can show here?
I get your point on the speculation issue, but isn't this the kind of clean industry (absent the puritanical view of gambling) that fits in downtown Miami?
Gambling is already occurring in Florida. This new project merely expands what is going on already.
I am confronting severe cognitive dissonance - my thoughts are entirely in sync with two people (Frank and Allan) whose views are consistently at odds with my thinking. What are the odds of that happening in one lifetime? Help! I am losing my intellectual footing...
Gimenez says the Miami casinos won't be like those Vegas and Jersey casinos. He is going to hire knowledgeable casino advisors to make sure we do casinos right. Right.
From the priority list I gave the Miami Herald editorial board on October 4:
"6. Long-term vision, not short-term cash flow solutions – The City of Miami has historically looked to the next short-term cash cow to solve its financial insecurity. The last building boom gave the City large reserves as it was able to charge monumental permit and impact fees – and the monuments to that shortsighted financial solution abound in many of our neighborhoods, especially in District 2. Meanwhile, it did not pay into the pension plans, grossly increased salaries, added employees, and spent vast amounts of money on unnecessary consultants. As soon as the boom ended, the city was in another fiscal crisis. Today, the Genting project is seen as the next savior of Miami’s economy. Without a long term vision and the strength to make the Genting project a part of the solution, a “destination resort” or casino is likely by its own business model to become an island unto itself, turning its back on the surrounding neighborhood where billions of private and public dollars have been invested. I am not against good growth and investment, but connectivity to the surrounding community and its business and cultural institutions will be essential to the project creating synergy with its surroundings instead of a becoming a vacuum into itself that will suck the life out of them."
Check out my campaign and help me win this election! www.michelleformiami.com
Michelle Niemeyer
Love and can't wait for the casinos!
I am worn out. The voters have historically and consistently voted NO on casinos. Casinos are not sexy. Casinos do not produce high paying jobs.
Casino construction would lead to temporary jobs at best. Has anyone felt any economic boost from the stadium construction? Where are they going after completion of the stadium? Oh, I know, to the Casino....
Dealers are short term relatively low paying jobs.
Who grows up wanting to be a "pit boss"?
Don;t tell me its going to pay my taxes. Nevada is hurting right now. Lotto failed to deliver on the promise of enhanced school funding. Unless that is what keeps Florida out of the last place.
Racinos? Really? It wasn't even one year before they ran back to the legislature and begged off their promised partnership split with the State. Anyone's taxes being paid by Racinos? Has it improved the areas surrounding any one of them?
I personally like horse racing. The only horse racing going on is the race to get casinos out front before we all figure out the Racino fiasco.
I get it. Big money wants casinos. We can have Wall Street style protests in front of each one as a casino is like our economy: Promises to many, but the money goes to the top 1%. We, the little people, can pass out cards and drinks to the high rollers at low wages. We can valet their cars.
Don't full yourself. Casinos will not create new wealth. It will only shift your wealth to the politically connected casino cartels who hold all the cards and money with the legislature.
Ask yourself, would you go to Mississippi today because it has had gambling since the early 1990s? I BET not! Casinos may be an additional reason to come to Miami, but it would never be the main reason.
Just admit that big money wants the casinos and we are largely irrelevant. Quit making me those bold promises in my ear ...
Why not conventions, family-theme parks, historic tours, and the beaches to lure tourists?
Casinos = more crime for all types, including druges, prostitution, arms, organized crime, gangs, gambling addicts and after years = Atlantic City. We will need more police, more jails, more tax dollars to support the necessary infrastructure that's needed.
I do not know any destination with casinos where these venues help the average citizen who lives there. They haven't offered us any tax breaks or money in Miami-Dade. And when you have foreigners investing in these huge projects, the citizens who do live here will be poorer with each passing year.
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