A A A A Search :
Toledo Talk   (musing about Lake Erie West and beyond)
From SDGonzo's workspace   

Voice of the people???

From Toledoblade.com:

"Councilman Lindsay Webb yesterday said the city-owned building is not the right place for a children's science museum. "I just wish Governor Strickland would make gambling legal in Ohio and we could put a casino where COSI is," Ms. Webb said."

WOW - What irresponsible and ignorant comments by Ms. Webb!

First of all, the Governor can't "make gambling legal" without ignoring the voice of the people of Ohio who have voted against it - how many times now?

The only people who really want gambling in Ohio is the CASINO OWNERS who are hoping to plunder our economy as they have everywhere else. I hope no one is seriously ignorant enough to be fooled by their BS ads...let's see, casinos have been SUCH a boon to Detroit's economy. Don't believe any of the headlines about the city's unemployment, corruption, turmoil and poverty. Why, it's a downright Rennaissance in the Motor City dagnabbit.

That's all that Toledo's missing - gambling. Who wants some namby-pamby EDUCATIONAL stuff like a children's science museum? We'd be far better off with a casino there. Of course, we'll need to grant them an exception to the smoking ban.....

I hope someone takes Ms. Webb to task for these comments - she seriously needs to get a clue!!!!

created by SDGonzo on Jun 24, 2008 at 09:04:13 am     Comments: 8

print      source      versions

Comments ... #

If by take her to task, you mean agree and concur with her 100%, then yes, by all means, take her to task.

Fact of the matter is, COSI failed. With the budget problems this city and county has, the last thing it needs is yet another financial albatross hanging around it's neck.

No, the gov can't make gambling legal by the stroke of a pen. Yes, the people of the state of Ohio have repeatedly turned down gambling. This, in my opinion, is an absolutely ignorant move on the behalf of the people, as those who want to gamble are in fact gambling, and they're taking it to Detroit and/or Canada.

Is Detroit an Overnight Utopia? Hell no. That has nothing to do with the Casinos (the area around them are actually quite nice) and everything to do with incompetence at every level of government, no thanks to a populous that absolutely refuses to see the writing on the wall and vote the bastards out.

posted by TheTalentedMrC on Jun 24, 2008 at 10:12:48 am     #



First of all, the Governor can't "make gambling legal" without ignoring the voice of the people of Ohio who have voted against it - how many times now?

It would appear that's JUST what she's advocating. Of course there are others on the other side of the fence advocationg ignoring the voice of the people in re COSI as well, so either way, our votes are pretty much irrelevant to a lot of people.

posted by billy on Jun 24, 2008 at 10:50:37 am     #



SDGonzo, I don't recall any issue on the ballot that legalized gambling in Ohio. I DO recall there was an issue that authorized the creation of a GAMBLING CARTEL, and quite sensibly I voted NO on that since the state has no business creating cartels.

Put an issue on the ballot that says simply "gambling of all kinds is legal in the State of Ohio", and you'll find me voting YES.

posted by GuestZero on Jun 24, 2008 at 06:00:01 pm     #



Ohio already has gambling. It's called the state lottery, which supports education. So gamble and gamble often for the benefit of our kids' future.

The Ohio Lottery Commission was created in May 1973 by a voter-approved constitutional amendment. Since 1974, the Lottery has provided more than $15 billion to public education. Annually, we provide about 4.5 percent of the funding needed for public education -- an effort shared by local, state and federal governments. Today, the Ohio Lottery Commission offers customers a wide variety of instant games and on-line games to play at about 8,500 licensed retailer locations across the state.

Gamblers addicted to the lottery? No problem. Help is available.

With increasing popularity comes a concern of increased gambling addiction. Speed of play factors into gambling addiction, and instant tickets, like slot machines, offer a quick play. Gambling awareness groups have worked with lotteries to raise awareness. The Ohio Lottery Web site links to counseling services.

Whyte also identified underage gambling as a developing concern. According to a 1999 Harvard Medical School survey, 30 percent of teens under 18 reported playing the lottery in the past year. Whyte agrees with the Ohio Lottery Web site statement that the earlier someone begins gambling, the more likely a problem develops. Whyte called it “utterly irresponsible” for instant tickets to be provided through unsupervised vending machines, which could occur in Ohio stores. Unlike the disappearance of cigarette vending machines, lottery ticket machines persist.

Past gambling-related Toledo Talk threads :

posted by jr on Jun 24, 2008 at 06:39:48 pm     #



To be honest, I'd be happy to see a casino in the area.

I know a lot of people (myself included) who do actually support casino gambling in Ohio but voted against the last measure. (For essentially the same reasons GuestZero stated.)

Of course, I'd be happy to see a successful children's science museum in the area too.

posted by mom2 on Jun 24, 2008 at 07:02:12 pm     #



What irresponsible and ignorant comments by SDGonzo. Most people I know are in favor of gambling. In the last week, I've bet on NASCAR, PGA Golf, my own golfing, euchre and on-line poker. If Gonzo opts not to wager, I'm cool with that too.

Like GuestZero, I voted NO on the proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed 7 casinos in Ohio. IF that amendment would have legalized gambling for everyone, I would have voted in favor of it. I'd probably open a casino / poker room if it was legal to do so.

Portside would make a great casino. Parking, hotels, acceptable expressway access; all in place. The people have spoken all right - they said NO to Cosi.

On the gambling topic, only a year ago Ohio saloons had skill games that paid-out 92%. On average, every $100 put into them returned $92 to the player. The other $8 went towards jackpots and profit for the game owners and tavern owners. Strickland banned these games because the state wasn't getting it's cut.

Now the state lotto system has designed a KENO game to be played in clubs and taverns. I haven't seen the Ohio payout schedule yet, but I imagine it will be similar to Michigans, which is a mere 54%. What a crappy payout! The state keeps $46 of every $100 bet, but it's legal because it's state sponsored. I think that sucks.

I've played Keno in a tavern in Michigan and it was fun, but the payout was low. This didn't stop people from playing though.

SDGonzo, how do you feel about KENO in Ohio taverns?

And Gonzo, please don't get me going on the smoking ban. The public should never have been given the option of voting it's preferences on such matters.

posted by jimavolt on Jun 24, 2008 at 08:56:30 pm     #



Gonzo sounds like the typical holier than thou type who knows better than you how YOU should live.

It's been said before but bears repeating. People are going to gamble, if they can't do it here they'll go where they can.

posted by JeepMaker on Jun 24, 2008 at 09:24:43 pm     #



We have legal gambling in the form of leveraged real estate bubbles... Property taxes went up, even in the face of declining values.

You can also gamble on boring sports and casino games online. Or you can attempt to enjoy bingo or various "festival" gambling locally.

You should live like Jesus, who didn't gamble except with his life and didn't use computers to preach.

posted by charlatan on Jun 25, 2008 at 11:33:08 pm     #