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Health & Fitness

SHOULD THERE BE CASINO GAMBLING IN LONG BEACH?

The recent approval of a ballot proposal to expand gambling in New York State makes legalized gambling more possible in Long Beach one day. While the approved proposal this past November 5 Election Day does not have an immediate impact on Long Beach, or a widespread impact for Long Island, it certainly is a first step towards a more extensive allowance of legalized gambling.

Should there be legalized gambling in Long Beach? The sea-shore community of Long Beach is often mentioned as a possible casino site if legalized casino gambling was widely legalized by the state legislature. The City has studied the prospect in the past, but the legislature has never passed provisions that allowed for widespread, unencumbered legalized gambling in the area. The question may be upon us sooner than later. 

Some complain that the November 2013 proposal passed because of manipulated, sculpted language that inferred a preference that the proposal passes.  The gambling proposal was originally drafted to neutrally and simply ask voters if they would approve allowing the State to “authorize and regulate up to seven casinos.” The proposal appeared to have been rewritten "behind closed doors" before hitting the ballot.  The proposal was rewritten with a clear slant: “to allow the legislature to authorize up to seven casinos for the legislative purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property values through revenues generated.”  How much did this changed wording, which made the ballot seem like a campaign stump speech, help the measure get passed last November?  Casino gambling may not be as popular as the proposal’s passage suggested.

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I’m opposed to casino gambling in Long Beach and am generally opposed to it in the State of New York. Casino gambling would quickly unravel the residential flavor of the community.  It would bring in its wake potential social ills and make a bad environmental impact. I believe gambling is a quick-fix revenue solution, like the Lottery.  (It’s too bad that the Lottery is so big a part of State revenue calculations.  I consider the Lottery practically a voluntary tax on the poor.  It seems to me that ‘Hey, you ever know’ is not exactly the best foundation of responsible financial planning.”)

With legalized gambling gaining momentum in New York State, residents and City officials should anticipate what will be our approach.  Is gambling worth the gamble?  Before you answer, just imagine what a Long Beach Gambling Authority would look like.

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