[RP TownTalk] Redistricting

Thu Nov 1 18:32:25 UTC 2012

RE the accusations about those involved in charity gaming in the past pilfering funds; just a personal observation and certainly my own opinion, but does anyone out there honestly think that there won't be light-fingered souls with THEIR fingers in the profits, should the casinos be a reality?  I'm just comparing the powers that be "back then" to now; back then the politicians got all moral and holier-than-thou about the games and crime, "We can't have that in Prince Georges County!"; "We have to clean up this scourge!," but now that the State and County are involved, everything is going to be above-board and hunky-dory forever and always?  O-kay....    (no, I am NOT a pessimist, I am a realist)

From: Jeffrey Yorke <yorkedial at gmail.com>
To: Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com> 
Cc: Town Talk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org> 
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2012 2:22 PM
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Redistricting

Is it a question of gambling that we oppose in Prince George's or that we don't want casinos in the county? We have had two -- and until 20 years ago -- three racetracks offering para-mutual wagering on horses so  it can't be gambling that's a concern. The Maryland Lottery has been in every corner pub and mini-market since about 1976, and Kino joined the Lottery line-up more than a decade ago. And, as Sue Collins points out, until the last decade every other grandmother was in a church hall or firehouse hall playing bingo twice a week while the elders pilfered the take. Crime wave? No, but illegally bothersome enough to finally pull the plug and send firefighters into the median strips, boot in hand. (I object to firemen HAVING to do that and then DOING it. Especially since they come under the alleged heading of "public safety.") 

Prince George's County, like so many others, is a gambling county, plain and simple.  

Not sure I understand the 50% cut to the government either. Is it from total revenue of the gaming operation or from "profits" from the slots and table games? (And, if from profit, what prevents the "Hollywood accounting" method to kick in? (Hollywood: Where investors of Hollywood movies NEVER see a share of the proceeds because the film NEVER makes a profit despite its box office record.) Are there assurances that the County will see real contributions to the tax base? 

Not sure I embrace the notion that all gambling proceeds should go to education system. Why hold education hostage to gambling? Shouldn't it be well funded regardless? 

On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 10:38 AM, Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com> wrote:

The argument is that Maryland voters already accepted gambling - it's
>just a question of whether we are now going to allow it in Prince
>George's County. There are already 6 casinos in our state, but none in
>our county.
>
>-Sarah
>
>
>
>On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Andrew Farrington
><skilletfries at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I don't see why we should prevent table games while allowing slots, nor why
>> we shouldn't profit here in PG County.  But, like the Cafritz thing, we've
>> got one chance to get the best deal we can -- once we accept (if we do)
>> we're unlikely to change it for the better -- and I don't think this is it.
>> We get 50% of the Lottery's take; why should we get less (half as much) for
>> new gambling?  I am for making them come back with a better offer.
>>
>> Andrew
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com>
>> To: Lou King <lking at knob.com>
>> Cc: Town Talk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 9:49 PM
>>
>> Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Redistricting
>>
>> Another point of view, that I just read on the HOPE list:
>>
>> "Redistricting - Yes, it is gerrymandering, no doubt about it.  Until they
>> outlaw the practice for every single state, then why shouldn't Maryland play
>> the game as well?"
>>
>> I view this in much the same way I view the question of gambling.
>>
>> The argument for allowing another casino in Maryland is that if we don't,
>> the money will just go elsewhere, and why shouldn't it stay in our county?
>>
>> The argument for allowing gerrymandering is that the other states are doing
>> it to stack Congress with Republicans, so we should do it here in Maryland
>> to increase the number of Democrats.
>>
>> I guess it's a question of pragmatics vs. principles. I see arguments on
>> both sides.
>>
>> -Sarah
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 2:54 PM, Lou King <lking at knob.com> wrote:
>>
>> And this is surly an example, reminiscent of the namesake!
>>
>> Lou
>> O< ascii ribbon campaign - stop HTML mail - http://www.asciiribbon.org/
>>
>> Sarah Wayland wrote, On 10/31/2012 2:29 PM:
>>
>> My personal opinion? Gerrymandering should be discouraged.
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Sarah Wayland
>> sarah.wayland at gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
>
>--
>Sarah Wayland
>sarah.wayland at gmail.com
>_______________________________________________
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-- 
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Property Management, Inc.
Yorke Partners
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com
301-502-1243

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