Thrasher

I think that the proposed Poker Room at the Orange Park Kennel Club would greatly benefit the citizens of Clay County.

I have lived in Clay County for the past five years while pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of North Florida. In that time, I have seen a multitude of businesses open or expand. The more visible of these have been so –called “big box” retailers and “chain” restaurants. Employees of these businesses typically, with the exception of upper level management, make little more than minimum wage. Taking into consideration what current employees of the The Poker Room at St. John’s Greyhound Park earn, new employees of the proposed Poker Room at the Orange Park Kennel Club are projected to earn in excess of $50,000 annually. The per capita income for residents of Clay County, according to the last census, is $20,868. It is projected that over 130 of these professional positions will be created with the opening of the Poker Room at the Orange Park Kennel Club. The above average salaries will not just benefit the over 130 new employees of the Poker Room, but the entire county as well. Every dollar paid to these new employees will cycle through the economy five times creating even more jobs in the county and generating additional income for existing businesses.

I love a good practical joke as much as the next guy, especially when the next guy is Ashton Kutcher. But this morning’s My Clay Sun editorial on page nine was a journey only Lewis Carroll could love. I don’t think I have ever read an article I so completely disagreed with from start to finish.

From the beginning paragraph about John Thrasher’ resigning being disappointing (NOT) to Thrasher restoring stability and integrity to the commission (have you not followed the shenanigans with the in your face choice of Thrasher’s buddies for the job?) to the fact that on the same page were nine letters that exhibited NO kudos for this huckster. What is truly suspicious is that the “editorial staff” would not sign it in public. I don’t blame them. If the intent was to fire up this writer, they succeeded. But to install another of his ilk is uncalled for. We have way too many issues to deal with at this juncture to have another political hustler in our county.