The News Journal - Opening shots just fired in battle over Md. slots

But a new wrinkle just came up that is bound to fret Maryland's slot supporters and make the whole debate a lot more interesting for Delaware's taxpayers who are worried about losing revenue to our neighbor. It seems that the referendum legislation has a small caveat that gives local zoning authorities a say over the slots parlors.

BaltimoreSun.com - House approves slots referendum

Lawmakers debated this morning how much local control should be imposed on a slots program. Several legislators expressed concern that local zoning laws would be superseded by a constitutional amendment, if approved by voters. Frederick County commissioners, for example, voted three years ago to change its zoning to prohibit a slots parlor.

"If you truly believe in one Maryland, if you truly care about local courtesy, at least give the citizens of Cecil County and other counties the opportunity to say, 'No, we don't want this,'" said Del. Michael D. Smigiel Sr., a Republican whose district includes Cecil and parts of Kent, Queen Anne's and Caroline counties.

A really bad idea

I'd like to commend Commissioner Demmler’s principled stand against legalizing slot machines and establishing them in our County. Anyone who has visited the cheesy casinos of Dover Downs or Atlantic City knows that a similar establishment would be out of character with our community. I'm proud of our County, and would hate to see it sullied with neon palaces dedicated to separating suckers from their money as a matter of public policy.

The cheerleaders in our County government who support slots have given no specifics on how the slot revenue would benefit Cecil County. After the casino/slot parlor owners take their 33% profit, the balance of the revenues go to Annapolis, not to Cecil County. There is no Cecil County "cut" in the plans I have seen. So what are we to gain except the infrastructure costs of supporting a machine to pump money to Annapolis? Our County Councilmen are just like the gamblers they hope to lure here. Bad at math, confused by the bright neon lights of empty promises. Blind to the consequences of their actions.

Our government should not be pimping slots as a way to buy itself out of its fiscal problems. It shouldn't be preying on people’s weaknesses, and the gullible poor. The result will be increasing the negative social costs to our County. Not to mention the corrupting influence of big business “gaming” money that would forever distort the democratic process of our elected government. Is this what we want for our children? It’s too bad Commissioner Demmler is the only elected official who has a regard for the true cost of this really bad idea.


Kennard R. Wiggins, Jr.