Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Casino In My Backyard

I am 31 years old, single with no children. I go out. I enjoy going out. So obviously having the very impressive Starters Riverport, sports bar extraordinaire, within a three minute walk is a very good thing. Finally we have a nice semi-classy place to go where Lehigh Students and us "townies" can mingle and feel comfortable. The place is so big that you have options as to what you choose to do there (even more options in the summer when the courtyard is not freezing). The thought of an entire district of this type of nightlife and cultural options within a mile of my apartment excites me.

The thought also has me very concerned.

My major concern is what is the Casino going to do for us. We are allowing them to come in to our city, and most likely change the fabric of our small society, so they can make millions. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR US?

Yes I know that they must give the city 10 million dollars per year, which is awesome, but it does put that money in the hands of politicians and bureaucracy. I believe that the Sands must invest in it workforce base, Latinos. We all know what ethnic group is going to be the majority of employees, and the Sands must pay a living wage, otherwise it stands at risk to contribute heavily to the demise of some sections of the South Side, thus hurting it's own business. Pay that janitor $12-$15 dollars per hour, you can afford it, don't be greedy, it will only benefit you Mr. Casino owner. Pay a man, any man, a respectable wage and most will work very hard for you and be extremely loyal.

Mr. and Mrs. West Bethlehm Resident should also be a little worried.

In college my roommate was from Absecon, a suburb of Atlantic City. We would go down there often and his friends would come visit more often. These were upper middle to upper class kids, but were some of the most damaged people I have ever been around. Growing up, their lives revolved around the casino's. Every prom, many weddings and other family events were held at the casino's. These kids learned the possibility, and thrill of quick cash at an early age and this urge dominated their lives.

So for the record, I am pro-gambling in Bethlehem. I just want to see the casino take care of, rather than exploit it's workforce, and I hope that we do not become Absecon, producing gamblers, con artists and instant gratification junkies.

17 comments:

LVDem said...

Interesting perspective. I've never had a real position on the slots in Bethlehem. I can see pro's and con's. My biggest concern is that Callahan is running around telling everybody and his/her moth that when the casino comes in, it'll take care of the problems. $10 million goes quickly if you talk to him.

By the way, the design looks great.

Michael Drabenstott said...

As a business owner in downtown Bethlehem, I think the proposed casino has more pros than cons. It will act as a catalyst for development on the South Side and stimulate incremental investment significantly more quickly than piece meal development would. It will make unproductive and unsightly land useful once again. And it will provide a helpful shot in the arm to the city's budget.

What we need to do, as citizens and taxpayers, is ensure the city does its job to minimize the cons. South Side development needs to be inclusive, not exclusive. Architecture and design of new development must be consistent with the character of the area. Overall, we need to make sure this is not just another suburban development that happens to reside in the city limits. Any potential increase in crime -- though overstated by many critics -- needs to be dealt with firmly and quickly.

We need to vigilantly and critically monitor the actions of the casino and city and make sure our voices are heard over the ringing bells of slot machines. Blogs like yours will be critical in keeping people informed and -- when necessary -- motivating them to action. Good luck with your continued blogging.

LV Latino said...

Welcome Michael...I totally agree with everything you said, especially the last paragraph, we do need to be vigilant as concerned citizens. This point is a huge reason why I think we need a Latino, or someone who will represent the Latino community, on city council. Currently, there is no voice in City Hall speaking for those who will be most affected by the casino.

spankee said...

Retiring and investing in the South Side
Greetings. I'll be retiring in another year and a half. I'm A 41 year old hispanic man who's happily married and with 3 children. I currently live in NYC but would like to move as soon as I retire. I have visited the South Side of Bethlehem as I have relatives who live there already. I fell in love with the area. I would like to invest some money in the South Side. First I would like to buy some real estate properties and maybe open up a small business. My wife really wants to move to Bethlehem, and so do I! I'm not too familiar with the area but with the help of my relatives and people in this blog, I can get a better perspective. I'm looking forward to some feedback. Thanks.

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