4/24/02 - Hursh
4/24/02 - Van Galder
4/24/02 - Pittenger
4/12/02 - Fitch
02/13/02 - Timmons
02/13/02 - Hursh
01/31/02 - Letter to Governor Kitzhaber from City of Florence
01/19/02 - Swenson
01/19/02 - Kent
01/14/02 - Krzycki

Compliments to Governor Kitzhaber.  His decision to appeal the federal government's decision regarding Indian gambling in the Florence area is correct.  (Call it what it is; it's gambling not gaming.)  I only hope that the courts recognize the state's right to control their own destiny.

I implore the city councilors and Mayor Burns to take a stance on this matter - both collectively and individually.  You are either for Indian casino gambling or against Indian casino gambling.  Let the citizens of Florence hear your position!  There has been enough rhetoric from both sides of the issue over the past several years that there is no middle ground.

Robert Hursh, Florence

We have found that the following two "lines of thought" about the tribal casino issue are shared by a preponderance of Florence residents.

1.    The presence of a casino will only reallocate a finite amount of financial resources, not promote a healthy economy in our community.  We lived in a town with a tribal casino and have friends who live in small towns with casinos.  Pawn shops sprout up where family businesses were previously.  Unlike the "Fred Meyer debate," people leave casinos with empty pockets rather than a product or service.  In our former community, many promises of a flourishing economy were made by the tribe and their marketing staff.  Unfortunately, this is a common illusion.  A year after the casino opened, only a handful of local (non-tribe) residents had full time, family wage jobs.

Gambling addiction is a known problem in our state.  The tribe acknowledges this, saying they will pay the cost of gambling addiction services if the casino is approved.  Does this make sense?  Do we really want another source to feed gambling addiction problems?  We think not.

What about the traffic from here to Eugene on 126?  It's a nightmare to think of it!  Remember ... the tribe says they'll do most of their marketing in the Eugene/Springfield area.  With all the resulting traffic, 126 could become known as "death alley."

2.    The DOI stepped "out-of-bounds" of their legal authority when granting gaming rights on land purchased by the Confederated Tribes in 1998.  This land was purchased 10 years after the 1988 date allowed by the Gaming Regulatory Act.  The Gaming Act is very clear and does not include exclusionary provisions or exceptions (i.e., tribal cemetery, historical tribal village, etc.).

We understand and are sensitive to the fact that the Confederated Tribes are the only such tribe without a casino.  Nevertheless, the Hatch Tract is not the place for a casino.  Maybe the community can help the tribe come up with another option which will bring financial viability to the tribe while encouraging economic stability in our small town.

Our plea is for the Florence City Council to proceed with approval for the city of Florence to file a Friend of the Court action in support of the state lawsuit on the basis of the DOI's illegal December 2001 decision.  We believe that the time is also "ripe" for us to take a stand and work together in the best interest of our residents.

Dick and Nancy VanGalder, Florence

Based on the extremely objective newspaper reporting and letters to the editor regarding the casino, pro and con, it is not apparent to me that a community consensus has formed against the proposed casino.  While some individuals are opposed to a casino, others seem open to exploring possibilities.  Mayor Burns staTes, "We have not yet taken the time to talk to the tribes yet."

As far as I can tell, neither governmental body has taken the time to listen to their constituents, either.

Jim Pittenger, Florence

We have recently heard that Governor Kitzhaber is appealing the decision allowing a casino in Florence.  I applaud this decision and believe a casino will be harmful to our community for these reasons:  Unlike other business and industry, gambling creates no new wealth, it only redistributes wealth on an inequitable basis.  Gambling does not manufacture any product, raise any crops or contribute to national or international trade.  A casino will drain money from the marketplace of western Lane County.  Historically, casinos have been shown to be parasitic, primarily feeding off those who can least afford it.  A casino will create more gambling addicts, resulting in severe financial problems, hungry children, broken marriages, and increased costs to social service agencies.  A casino will bring far more than just "harmless entertainment" to our community.

Brian Fitch, Florence

As relatively new residents of Florence, it may seem presumptuous to say what is right and wrong for our community.  But it is because we are new to Florence that we see the obvious - Indian gambling is not a good fit for the Florence community.  My husband and I selected Florence as our home because it is unique, wonderful, full of friendly, caring people and just downright wholesome!  We have a fabulous new library and events center that supports our thriving arts and music community.  Our infrastructure is modern and the residents actively participate to ensure our small town atmosphere of warmth, charm, and caring.  Indian gambling simply does not fit the Florence of today and would be an abrupt and disastrous change of direction for Florence's future.  Change is inevitable, but let's have the right kind of change - that which furthers the family and cultural values that are the essence of Florence - the Florence that we fell in love with.

After attending the City Council meeting on Jan. 7, it is clear that a majority of the council agrees with us.  So do the residents that we've talked to.  So now our question is this:  If a strong majority opposition exists in the community, will the tribal leaders do the honorable thing and not put the casino near Florence?  If there is a chance for this, those of us that do feel strongly need to mobilize - now - not wait for the state to take action.  It is not a done deal!

In closing, we quote the noted anthropologist, Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Bob and Lily Hursh, Florence

Everyone has an opinion on the long-term effects of casino operations, but the facts have already been well established in communities where they now exist.  An article published by the Native American Press/Ojibwe News details the results of several studies of these effects across the nation and in particular Minnesota.  Results of this work demonstrate that in the long term society incurs over $1.90 in additional costs for every $1 casino profit.  Additionally, the report concludes that "casinos increase crime in their host counties and that crime spills over into neighboring counties to increase crime in border areas."

Information and final reports from these studies may be found at http://www.ngisc.gov and http://www.cba.uinc.edu/grinols/Scribblings/Casinos-Crime-15SEP00.pdf .

Our extended family has felt the devastating effects that compulsive gambling can have on the family involved and community at large.  We recommend that Florence and Mapleton leaders visit these web sites and prepare to meet the challenges ahead by increasing police and community awareness.

Larry Timmons, Bellevue, Washington

Your mayor and some council members are encouraging out-of-towners to steal Florence with a casino within one mile of downtown.

The city council permitted overloading the city council meeting with casino representatives then tells everyone, including the radio station "all at the meeting are in favor of the casino."  This is absolutely contrived.

They will bring other tribes to town for the jobs leaving none for the local citizens.  You will pay for more water, sewer, electricity, schools, roads, stop lights, emergency equipment and more police to cope with traffic jams, crime and drug elements that always follow casinos.  It will destroy our pristine little city.

Write immediately to Go. John Kitzhaber, State Capitol Building, Salem, OR 97310.  Plead with him to appeal this case and stop this possible illegal travesty.

Ken Swenson, Florence

Recent issues of the Siuslaw News have reported, with front page coverage, the potential problems indigenous to the proposed Indian casino.  I for one can understand the many concerns and issues which could develop due to the addition of such a business venture to the economy of Florence.  As well as the impact on a moral level.  However, I fail to see the difference between this potential development and the 17-acre parcel located at Highway 101 and Munsel Lake Road.

The city of Florence, in all its infinite wisdom, has seen fit to diminish the lifestyle and property investment of approximately 100 families by rezoning the adjacent 17-acre parcel from residential to commercial.  A property which is now owned by that infamous Eugene development company.  Guess who that may be?

I fail to see what the city of Florence will achieve by ruining the retirement lifestyle of Florentine's Senior Community.  (I capitalize that tile on purpose.)  I for one am extremely upset and disappointed in our city officials who, apparently, do not care about us and seem to be motivated by commercialism, rather than the quality of life here in our small city.  Oh! I forgot, none of them live next to the proposed "big box development."  None of them will have to experience the various forms of pollution that will be generated by the new commercial zone.

Kenneth Kent, Florence

Gov. John Kitzhaber
State Capitol Building
Salem, Oregon  97310

Dear Gov. Kitzhaber,

We have lived in Florence, Oregon for 25 years.  It is a growing but quiet, serene, friendly little town.

The Indian tribes here have announced the planned intrusion of a gaming casino on the beautiful outlet of the North Fork Siuslaw.  We are strongly opposed to this casino being built in Florence for the following reasons:
 

Across the country, the evidence shows a negative impact on communities that allow casinos to be erected, as evidenced by the following information:

Crime

When Florida was considering allowing casinos they studied the effects of casinos on Atlantic City (at that time, outside of Nevada, the only city in the United States to allow casinos).  A report from the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida (Casinos in Florida: Analysis of the Economic & Social Impacts) reported that Atlantic City's crime rate had exceeded the New Jersey state crime rate ever since casinos were authorized in 1978.  Between 1978 and 1981 the crime rate tripled.  In just three years following the opening of its first casino, Atlantic City went from 50th in the nation per capita crime to first!  Even though Atlantic City is a large resort area studies show that smaller towns are equally adversely affected by casino operations (The Economic Impacts of Legalized Gambling Activities, by Dr. John Warren Kindt).

George G. Payne, Chief of Police in Gulfport, Mississippi released a report comparing the first six months of 1993 (when casinos were just coming on line) with the first six months of 1994.  Results show:

1.  There were 22 robberies in Gulfport during the first six months of 1993.  During the first six months of 1994 there were 70 robberies - a 218% increase.

2.  The number of rapes tripled.

3.  Vehicle theft was up 166% from 53 stolen cars during the first half of 1993 to 141 thefts in the first half of 1994.

4.  Arson cases increased 150%.

5.  Burglaries doubled.

6.  Assaults were up 66%.

7.  Vehicle accidents were up 62%.

8.  In total, excluding vehicle accidents, there were 1,597 crimes reported in the first six months of 1993 compared to 3,248 crimes reported in the first six months of 1994.  This represents a total increase of crime of just over 100%.

James Moody, Chief of the Organized Crime Section, FBI is quoted in a video tape transcript from the 60 Minutes TV program of December 13, 1992 as saying:  "Gambling itself ... is probably the biggest producer of money for the American LaCosa Nostra there is."

Steven P. Perskie of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, in his 1992 report (A Report on Casino Gambling in Atlantic City) states:  "... the Atlantic City police department states that since the advent of casino gambling they are having increased problems with the traveling criminals, youth gangs and street-level narcotics dealing."

Compulsive gamblers are attracted to casinos.  Grinols & Omorov in a 1995 report stated:  "Pathological gamblers impose costs on the rest of society in the form of crime-related apprehension, adjudication, incarceration costs and social service costs for themselves and their families.  Lost productivity is the source of other costs."  Some of compulsive gambling's social costs "are surprising, such as increased suicide, increased car accidents, increased incidence of child abuse, and so on."  The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. found that three out of four compulsive gamblers commit felonies because of gambling.

Economic Impact

Dr. John Warren Kindt has stated:  "For every one job created by casinos the surrounding community will lose from one to two jobs.  The jobs just shift to the casinos as local restaurants, theaters, car dealers lose sales."  He states further "... the business-economic environment caused by Colorado casinos forced so many of the pre-existing local businesses to close that by 1992 residents of Central City and Black Hawk, Colorado had to drive 40 miles for a quart of milk."

Professor Grant Stitt, University of Nevada at Reno has stated: "Experience has shown that the casino industry will have a direct impact on legislative initiatives.  Casino management will be able to exert a powerful lobbying effort to directly influence laws that will either benefit them or block laws that would negatively affect their industry."

A further negative impact of a gambling casino on the outlet of the North Fork Siuslaw is its probable effect on traffic flow on highway 126, the transportation corridor between populated Oregon and the coast.  This highway is already noted for its dangerous high traffic flow and the additional traffic impact of a gambling casino would undoubtedly require major, costly improvements to this road.

In conclusion, we feel that it is irresponsible to deliberately encourage gambling when we know its negative side effects of significant crime escalation, child abuse and costs to the city, county and State.  Governor Kitzhaber, we urge you to do all you can to prevent Florence from acquiring this cancer.

Respectfully,

Katheryn Davis Krzycki, Florence

Casinos, Crime and Community Costs
No-Casino - A Hood River Community Group
Gaming Studies Research Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
eJournal of Gambling Issues
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report
Gemini Research - Gaming Reports
Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming
The Wager: Weekly Addiction Gambling Education Report, Harvard Medical School
National Council on Problem Gambling
Indian Gaming News
National Coalition Against Gambling
Keep Hudson Casino Free
Citizen Link - Focus on the Family - gambling research
Connecticut Citizens Against Casinos
Tribal Nation - Casino Impact on Communities
Probglem Gambling Research Group