Mayors tell of gaming’s good side

Wednesday, May 20, 1998 | 9:53 a.m.

CHICAGO --- Pro and anti-gaming forces fired opening rounds against each other today, as the National Gambling Impact Study Commission continued its year-long tour of the country.

A small group of clergy and followers, carrying signs that read "gambling hurts," conducted a prayer meeting outside the downtown James R. Thompson Center before the nine-member gambling commission began its hearing.

One minister prayed for help in protesting the "wickedness that has come into our city."

Inside the main lobby of the Thompson Center, representatives from surrounding cities with riverboat casinos set up booths touting the positive economic impact of gambling.

At the hearing, mayors from the cities of Bettendorf, Iowa; Gary, Ind.; Elgin and Alton, Ill. and the city manager of Riverside, Mo., all testified how gambling has revitalized their communities.

Other mayors were to join a news conference later today organized by the Coalition of Midwestern Riverboat Towns to sing the praises of gambling.

"Nearly a decade after casino gaming came to the Midwest, it is clear that the industry has contributed greatly to the revitalization of river towns," said Mayor Gordon Bush of East St. Louis, Ill.

Mayor Tom Hanafan of Council Bluffs, Iowa, said "tremendous benefits have occurred across the board" in his city.

None of the "dire predictions" by gaming's opponents, such as a rise in crime in casino communities, have come true, the mayors insisted.

"Every analysis of crime statistics shows that gaming has had no overall impact on crime rates," Aurora Mayor David Stover said. "In fact, the tax dollars generated in our city have allowed us to make significant investments in law enforcement that are helping reduce crime."

A darker story of riverboat gambling, however, was to be told later today, as the likes of the Rev. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling testified.

Grey, one of gaming's leading critics, participated in this morning's prayer meeting, which was sponsored by a coalition of religious leaders opposed to gambling.

Bill Seitz, chairman of the Religious Task Force to Oppose Increased Legalized Gambling, urged the federal commission to "listen to the concerns of people who see gambling as an issue that hurts the fabric of our country."

Last week, Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the Washington-based American Gaming Association, expressed concern that the commission's riverboat agenda appeared stacked against the industry.

Several economists known for being critical of gambling are scheduled to testify.

A special panel of pro-family groups affiliated with Commissioner James Dobson, an anti-gaming advocate, also were invited to speak on Thursday, as the commission winds up its in-depth look at the social and economic impact of riverboats.

Today, in her opening remarks, Chairwoman Kay James insisted the agenda was balanced.

"Much has been written about the strong and often contradictory opinions that surround our visit," said James, a player in the Christian right, which has been pushing an anti-gaming agenda.

James encouraged a "spirited debate" on gambling this week, saying it was the "hallmark of our heritage and democratic process."

But she added: "My responsibility as chairwoman is to ensure that the process for this discussion is fair, balanced and objective, and to that end, I believe we have developed an informative agenda."

James also urged the audience and those testifying to be "respectful, civil and fair to others" of differing opinions.

After it concludes its look at riverboat gambling Thursday afternoon, the commission will examine the growing controversy over Internet gambling.