Sunday, October 29, 2006

Two days after the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling Regional
Conference occurred here, I saw Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder, Mayor
Byron Brown and Seneca Gaming Corp. officials on public access TV replaying
the Fulton Street sale approval announcement and predicting "development,
waterfront connectedness, millions of tourists" and other such misleading
sound bites. This offensive and private press staging did not present any
opposing views or facts. No public input was offered or allowed. There was
no citizen representation. This came as a result of surreptitious,
behind-closed-door sham "negotiations" over the last two months that
overlooked fact, economic research and obvious outcome in other communities.
By contrast, the educational, open NCALG conference provided solid economic
analysis by experts and research founded on realities. It has been clearly
shown that urban casinos cause harm far in excess of any help to the city.
Again, look at Detroit, Niagara Falls, New York, Louisiana, Turning Stone or
the big casinos in Connecticut - all true losers for these communities.
Please understand that there is real human tragedy for individuals and
families being created in these "entertainment" palaces. Adult gamblers are
modeling the risk of future misery for their children. Buffalo Creek (which
will hopefully never open) in legal documents wrote its stated intention is
to bring in the local population, but now claims "in writing" that it cares
about promoting itself to the region. The Senecas and Brown have no data, no
facts and no proof to support the future benefit to Buffalo. The first
year's $125 million will go to the building trades - Brown's allies - and
yearly thereafter $150 million or more will leave the economy and bring in a
zero-development Niagara-Falls type scene, good only for the Senecas and
gambling industry supporters.

For every dollar generated, $3 will be lost and $12 million to $16 million
in taxes will belong to the sovereign nation, not the city. Five million
dollars for the city from the slot cut is 50 percent less than revenue from
parking enforcement as projected in the 2006-07 budget.

Is anyone in City Hall doing the math or checking the facts? Not one city
official came to the gambling conference. The National Gambling Impact Study
Commission stated that as the money is lost faster, the socioeconomic
negatives increase dramatically. Its final report confirmed that the
gambling industry had created new addicted gamblers, new bankruptcies and
new crime and corruption. The 1999 U.S. Gambling Commission unanimously
called for a moratorium on the expansion of U.S. gambling. Sadly, however,
it has grown into a monster.

Anyone with sense can see the harm coming to Buffalo. Jobs will be lost,
restaurants closed, families devastated, bankruptcies and crime increased.
The casino is a strategy for injustice, not economic development.