Submitted by: Ms. Denise Alberts
Mr. Mayor,
I attended the monthly Illinois Gaming Board meeting yesterday (8-25-09). The agenda was heavy with issues on the newly passed law about video gaming. There was nothing on the agenda about the Des Plaines casino license. However, I learned from one of the committee members there that Mr. Bloom (Midwest Gaming) DID get the required paperwork in to move forward with approving investors, prior to the meeting. I am assuming that this issue will be discussed at the meeting next month, after the Board has reviewed it.
Video gaming is definitely a hot topic. The meeting opened with commentary from Chairman Aaron Jaffe who seemed annoyed with the entire situation. He stated that the Board at no time was consulted with before the law passed, yet the Board is being required to regulate the video gaming throughout the state. It "creates a new brand and new industry of gaming." No funding was established for staffing or equipment under this new law.
They need to MONITOR all of the machines (!!!) and he stated that it would be difficult to regulate all of it. Licenses need to be given to the manufacturer of the machines, the distributors, the terminal leasing companies, technicians, and terminal handlers. They would monitor all machines through a statewide computer system yet to be developed. The computer system could NOT monitor the age of a player or if they are on the state's "exclusion" list.
Four of the five speakers who addressed the board during "Public Commentary" spoke AGAINST video gaming and for strict regulations (the fifth speaker spoke about something other than video gaming). One of the speakers was Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th District Cook County Board of Commissioners) and another was Mr. John Pastuovic (Director of Media and Public Affairs - Chicago Crime Commission). Their statements were all very strong and full of information on how detrimental adding video gaming in bars/lounges/restaurants/truck stops would be to individual communities.
Mr. Pastuovic was especially strong in stating their their studies show a 1000% rise in crime when this type of gambling is added to a community, and that the long-term costs far outweigh the benefits.
One of the speakers asked how the machines would be monitored to ensure that highly intoxicated individuals in the bars would not be using the machines. Another stated that "video poker will be preying on those who cannot afford to spend the money." This "fund" that the state wants to establish will be fed with money primarily from Illinois citizens, not tourists or those from other states. So this would be taking money from the citizens for these machines?!
Below is an article from the Trib. The reporter is a "regular" at the meetings. This is a good summary of Jaffe's comments: Gambling regulators not ready for video poker
The PRU Crew thanks you for your report Ms. Alberts.
August 31, 2009
Guest Report
February 12, 2009
February 11, 2009
Don't Quote Him On Anything He Says!
As we mentioned yesterday, a Park Ridge Herald-Advocate online update reported that Mayor Howard will attend his first meeting of the Illinois Gaming Board today. The Illinois Gaming Board's open session begins at 1 p.m. "in the fifth floor auditorium at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle St. in Chicago."
Readers are told that Mayor Howard will "tell members of the Illinois Gaming Board that the proposed Des Plaines casino will have a negative impact on his city."
In our post from yesterday, we pointed out that what Mayor Howard is saying now sounds a lot different from Mayor Howard's original statement in the press --
But now the pro-business Mayor will tell the Illinois Gaming Board "the proposed casino site west of River Road and north of Devon Avenue will only aggravate traffic congestion in Park Ridge and could result in an increase in crime as well."
Jeez! Mayor Howard is sounding almost as if he's pro-resident! Almost.
But as we've all been told, don't quote Mayor Howard on anything he says...or doesn't say...or doesn't mean...
One PRU reader seems to envision Mayor Howard's address to the Illinois Gaming Board, set to begin a short two hours from now, may go something like this --
Submitted for our amusement by a talented PRU reader.
February 10, 2009
February Freewheeling!
From: visualparadox.com -- free wallpapers
1. -- A slice of COW pie!
As we reported yesterday, at last night's COW meeting the City Council intended to discuss hiring a consultant to assist them in hiring a consultant to assist them in consulting on building a new police station.
Our sources tell us, instead the City Council voted unanimously to defer any action on the issue of hiring a consultant and the police station until after the April election.
Today we've also received a press release from Alderman Dave detailing his request to have city staff look into the possibility of using the city-owned vacant house at 229 S. Courtland as a means of easing the crowded conditions in the current police station.
Stay tuned!
2. -- Place your bets!
PRU readers have posted comments directing us to an online update in the Herald-Advocate. It seems the Pioneer local may have decided to really take advantage of this new fangled thang called the internet!
In the update we read that Mayor Howard "said he plans to tell the board that the proposed casino site west of River Road and north of Devon Avenue will only aggravate traffic congestion in Park Ridge and could result in an increase in crime as well." Which sounds a lot different from Mayor Howard's original statement in the press -- "Frimark acknowledged the casino "will probably increase traffic flow through town," but added, "I don't see it having a real negative effect."
The article goes on to report, "This will be the first time a representative from Park Ridge will address the Gaming Board regarding the Des Plaines casino site."
Good old Mayor Howard! Always fashionably late to the party -- or make that, just late to the party in his usual fashion.
3. -- Doo da! Doo da!
Another Herald-Advocate online update mentioned in a comment from a PRU reader lets us know that at least one Park Ridge Park Board hopeful, Walter Mizialko, may have his hat caved in and a pocket full of tin! Doo da! Doo da!
The report says, "Walter Mizialko, 62, turned himself in at the Park Ridge Police Station on Feb. 3 after a Lake County warrant was issued for his arrest. Park Ridge police did not release that Mizialko had been arrested until today, and details of the charge were not immediately available from Park Ridge or the Lake County State's Attorney's Office."
"Mizialko, who is running for the Park Ridge Park Board on a four-member slate backed by the Service Employees International Union, said he will continue his campaign."
As we told one of our friendly correspondents, "Putting this guy in a position to manage other people's money is one of the worst ideas we've ever heard!"
Mr. Mizialko, unless you are running to be first in line for the glue factory, we think you may want to give serious consideration to putting your campaign out to pasture.
February 2, 2009
Monday PRU Pot Luck!
1. -- City Council meeting tonight.
As predicted in guest reporter Naomi de Plume's council recap, tonight's city council meeting agenda is full of consent agenda items. The only scheduled opportunity for an elected official to speak has been reserved for Mayor Howard -- got to love the privileges of incumbency and warming the big chair while being able to set the city council agenda! Mayor Howard will probably have City Cluck, Betty Henneman, read a resolution in recognition of Volunteer Month while he poses for a photo-op.
Business as usual at City Hall.
2. -- Owed an apology?
In a Journal and Topics article we read --
Apparently sometimes things move forward too fast for Mayor Howard and his Alderlapdogs to keep up with. Perhaps the Illinois Gaming Board owes an apology to Mayor Howard and his Alderlapdogs for not moving forward more slowly so that Mayor Howard could keep up? Maybe the Illinois Gaming Board should have sent an engraved invitation to City Hall to ask Mayor Howard to attend the meetings and public hearings?"Bach also questioned the amount of time between the proposals and the license award. "We found out in October that Rosemont or Des Plaines were one of seven places for this casino to land," he said. The board then held meetings and public hearings before awarding the license on Dec. 22. "Doesn't that seem a little bit short?" Bach asked." (emphasis added)
"Michael Fries, chief counsel for the Illinois Gaming Board...spoke of the meetings and receiving correspondence from many area residents. "We did not receive one correspondence, pro or con, from anyone in Park Ridge," he said. (emphasis added)
He added that there was a lot of media coverage of the process. "This was at least 115 newspaper articles: the Chicago Tribune, the Journal. It was on every single TV station." (sic -- emphasis added)
The PRU Crew had a hearty laugh while considering this tidbit of idiocy. If they found out in October that Des Plaines was one of the possible locations for the tenth casino license, what the hell were they waiting for before showing up to the meetings and public hearings to express concerns about any potential effects on Park Ridge? What the hell were they waiting for before approaching Des Plaines to discuss mitigating those effects or seeking an agreement for revenue sharing?
Business as usual at City Hall.
3. -- Now you see them, now you don't!
Cyber gremlins have been having a good time clicking the "report abuse" option for comments under the Herald-Advocate article Frimark kicks debate to the 'CURRB', causing the comments to be auto-removed, and requiring the web wizards at pioneer local to have to restore them.
The original H-A posting for this story was on January 23, 2009. Since that time the unflattering comments made under the story have shown up and disappeared, by our count, no less than twice.
To the Herald-Advocate's credit, or maybe they just get pissy about some things, they have consistently restored the comments and kept moving the article up the news posting chain; thereby keeping it high and dry for readers who click into their main news page -- the latest posting being January 30, 2009.
PRUdos to the Herald-Advocate.
4. -- Interesting story.
A PRU reader submitted this story to us this morning. From theINDYchannel.com comes the story of 'Church Faces Eviction Because Of Members It Serves -- Congregation Makes Rent, But Zoning Is New Challenge'
It seems what the PRU Crew calls a matchbook reverend with a storefront church opened a homeless shelter without notifying the landlord of his plans for use of the property.
The landlord appears to be caught in a catch-22 since "Columbus city officials would have to alter zoning regulations to allow the church/homeless shelter to stay where it is.", which is exactly what our elected officials did -- but PADS took a powder on regulation and licensing anyway. But since it doesn't appear Columbus officials have undertaken a zoning change, the landlord appears to be abiding by the local zoning laws and demanding that the church vacate the premises.
Maybe Bandito Brett McCleneghan can give this property owner some legal advice like, "ignore the city and open the shelter."
5. -- Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers!
And thanks to the Arizona Cardinals -- one hell of an exciting fourth quarter!
