Economy incentive in Ohio casino vote
After nearly two decades of saying no to casino gambling, Ohio voters have decided to roll the dice. They're going to bring casinos to four cities to get the economy going. Dan Moulthrop looks at what caused the turnaround.
A croupier deals cards on a Black Jack table (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Kai Ryssdal: Analysts are still digesting the results of yesterday's off-off year elections. They've got a couple of governorships, some seats in the House of Representatives and a bunch of statewide ballot measures to chew over. In Ohio, after nearly two decades of saying no to casino gambling, voters have decided to roll the dice. They're going to bring casinos to four cities -- Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo -- to get the economy going. From Cleveland Public Radio, Dan Moulthrop has our story.
DAN MOULTHROP: Voters here have said no four times since 1990. This time, it all came down to money. Well, money and jobs.
AD CLIP: Four casinos will create 34,000 jobs. Keep a billion dollars in Ohio. And construction will begin immediately providing an instant jumpstart to the economy.
Which all sounded pretty good to 53 percent of yesterday's voters in the financially strapped Buckeye State.
One of those voters was Pentecostal Pastor John Coates who had lined up against previous gambling proposals.
JOHN COATES: With there being 11 percent unemployment in our state there is no way that I could look past the 34,000 jobs that this effort would bring to our state.
The jobs were one thing, but casino backers also said Ohioans were taking a billion dollars a year out of the state.
One of those backers is Dan Gilbert, the guy who created Quicken Loans. He also happens to own the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. And so, last night, celebrating the casino issue's victory on the Cav's home court, he reminded supporters why he believes Ohioans supported this proposal.
DAN GILBERT: They wanted casinos in urban cores that would spark development, they wanted jobs, they wanted new construction, they wanted the taxes to stay local, and we're going to make sure it happens here.
After spending $30 million on the campaign, Gilbert and other developers have promised to spend another billion to construct the four casinos. They may still face some hurdles, however. Opposition groups are pushing for one more ballot measure that could force the casinos to face a local referendum in each of the four cities.
In Cleveland, I'm Dan Moulthrop for Marketplace.
Comments
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From Framingham, MA, 11/05/2009
When a state turns to gambling as a source of revenue, it's a sign that it's run out of ideas for productive investment in its residents. So people like Dan Gilbert, who stands to make millions off his investment in propaganda to support this initiative, will prosper handsomely, and some Ohioans hurting from the recession will get jobs which amount to eating one's own flesh to survive, as dollars go from one hand to another other without any productive benefit in between. Just another tax on the poor.
From Mount Vernon, OH, 11/05/2009
Your report failed to point out that if 34000 jobs really are created then the jobless rate in Ohio would only drop by about a quarter of a percent. Furthermore, that figure is an optimistic estimate provided by the supporters of this ballot measure. Finally, at least one city (Columbus) overwhelmingly rejected this initiative and yet may be forced to house a casino.
I believe the voters of my state were duped into believing that this would result in a net benefit to our workers when in reality it will result in a net loss. The money spent at casinos will line the pockets of the rich businesspeople like Dan Gilbert who backed this initiative. That money will largely come out of the pockets of working class Ohioans. The net effect on the population of Ohio will be negative.
11/05/2009
I rejoice in the fact that the same tired lines about the so-called negative effects of gambling fell on deaf ears this time around! Opponents represent a bygone era and it is time to progress. Ohio has moved past you. Get out of the way and let us move forward with jobs and much needed revenue for this state.
11/04/2009
I couldn't believe it when my home state passed the gambling measure...or when I heard Rev Coats response. When a pastor should lead the charge on what is right – but doesn’t—and a man who knows the downside of gambling gives in and fails to persevere, what ends up being lost is hope. I fear that the new jobs coming into the state will also include medical personnel and grief counselors as Ohioans begin to suffer the documented consequences of legalized gambling.
11/04/2009
A sad mistake that will suck finite money and resources from productive uses. Part of the attitude of I'm going to get mine, tough for you. Better to insist to neighboring states that they shouldn't have gambling. Promotes the unhealthy attitude that getting rich without productive contribution to society is OK.
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