Not Slots, Too!

Gambling and quality of life are two different issues.  I just happen to be for both.  Gambling in the County should be supported by all CC residents.  I know there are protracters, but the positive out weigh the negative.   This is a state issue that should be deceided by the State not BCC or OPTC. 

Steven P Munsey A+, MCP, IASO Orange Park | Green Cove Springs munsey13@comcast.net

I'm sure the over 100 CC citizens that got good paying jobs recently at the OPKC would agree with you. I know I do.

If the state keeps cutting school funding this may be the only revenue source for schools we have left.

Mike Heemer

"Over heated objections by the religous conservatives" this from the link onemann provided, do what?  What leg do religous conservatives have to stand, according to www.gotquestions.org and the bible which i went to for this topic, it says nothing in regards to gambling and does not speak directly against it.  Now i'm am most certainly not sack religous, but i think the religous conservatives are going a bit too far as to what gambling could or could not eventually cause in a persons life or a community.  I don't hear religous conservatives speaking out against strip clubs being built all over.  Now off with the "soap box".

This is no different than the lottery, the lottery provides money for educational purposes and people gamble on the lottery everyday, i think b/c of the feeling that there may be a chance of winning along with suspense and excitement in some regards, just like that of slots and poker. 

On jurisdiction, deputies have jurisdiction throughout the entire county and the county should have jurisdiction on issues that affect more than just op residents directly.  However, if the state says it's allowed, then who cares what the county or op has to say.  As to the residents who are not in support of these slot machines and poker at the opkc, i'm not so sure they realize the potential income to the state, the state will get the money they think they need some way, and personally i think it to be better that it comes from gambling people rather than non-gambling tax payers who are probably on the religous boat and in denial about the possible income potential, not to say that gamblers don't pay taxes.  However, through all of this, watch out, if you're deep into religion, the bible definently talks against the love of money but i don't where.

My problem is not so much adding more gambling as it is the back door politics that go on in Tallahassee that takes control away from the citizens.

Next we may be looking at some "new law" that we never hear about until it's passed that will set up the draining of the St Johns and take the peoples right for a voice out of it altogether. 

I wonder how many individuals on the OPTC knew about this when the poker room thing was in the headlines and said nothing. 

Resident upon resident in the Town of OP begged the town council to just say NO to expanded gambling at the dog track (I love that they call it the kennel club--so much more pleasant) One of the fears that was repeated many times was if they added poker, what was next? Well, I guess they were justifiably concerned.

Mike, The "Tallahasse Tango" (love it) was probably orchestrated by the usual suspects from right here in the county.  One of your opponents is on the record taking money from the dog track owner and facilitating it for his fellow council members.  He voted YES, it made the town folk pretty mad.  Curious, none of the 36K now in his treasury comes from the dog track owner. I would guess he is hoping the voters have a bad memory. And I would think you are hoping that voters have a good memory?

CV;

One of the fears that was repeated many times was if they added poker, what was next? Well, I guess they were justifiably concerned.

Kind of mixing metaphors here aren't you? What did the OPTC have to do with the slots? Which haven't been approved yet BTW. It they are approved they would be approved whether there was a Poker Room there or not.

Over the heated objections of religious conservatives,  This is my objection to the whole objection thing. Stop yanking everybody about how God is going to get them for allowing gambling. Get someone to give some real reasons and leave the religion out of it. There are probably some real good reasons for saying 'NO' but they get drowned out by the fodder.

Nobody seems to be whining about the bingo parlors as long as they have some non-profit 'sponsoring' them. Does God give some special dispensation for bingo? I figure he/she must. There are more Churches that hold bingo than any other outfit including casinos.

I think there are too many people that forget that much of the local population is no longer the 'religious conservatives' of old. Like it or not, there are a lot of heathen Yankees and other outsiders that live here now. Most of them are not the old time Sunday go to meeting types.

Whether that is good or bad is not my point. I am just stating a fact that many people are going to have to get used to.

Mike Heemer

You know I often wonder what is wrong with our elected officials.

In other States where they allow these type activities it is contained in a certain area of that State. In Florida they thinks its a Walmart and we need one on every corner.

I guess we will be hearing the slogan soon. "What happens in Orange Park stays in Orange Park".

I hope the residents never forget what was shoved on them at election time and who voted to put it in there.

Oh, they'll forget and all those against the slots probaly don't even vote, did you see the last elections turnout, it was like 500 people max.

ClayVoter and any one else that cares 

Don't think for a minute that "The Dog Track Crowd" hasn't funded large amounts of money to  Cummins and Bradley,

The dots are easy to connect

JonBoy

Jon boy, It figures that a great deal of Cummings and Bradley's quite large campaign "war chests" came from people related to the gambling issue.

Mike H, just for the record--I am a (transplanted)  heathen yankee.    Very few of the way, way religious right spoke at the "hearings" before the poker room vote.  However, there were a great deal of neighbors who had quality of life concerns. I was there both days for the hours and hours of public comment.  You make a good point with the slots issue, the Town Council did not have any imput.  However, the same usual suspects are involved in both.  I just felt sorry that so many folks that lived within "spittin' distance" of the track were ignored.  Almost all the people that spoke for the poker room were not from the town, many not even from clay county.  So much for your voice being heeard by your local representative.  And since money many times can win an election, the folks in the county should stand by.......