"Those two words have been used to immobilize countless communities across the country," said Tom Grey, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Gambling.  Grey, who is working closely with PACT, was in Florence three years ago and knows the situation here.  He has successfully fought casinos across the nation.  He went on to say,

"It's never a done deal unless you surrender your community."

Traffic
Wishful thinking:  The tribes and/or the state would take care of the expenses to fix traffic problems associated with the casino.

Reality:

• The Regional ODOT Manager said, "Hwy. 126 will not be widened in your or my lifetime." (2/03)
• A conservative estimate of traffic increase on Hwy. 126 due to the casino would be 200-300%.  The tribe says they'll do most of their marketing in the Eugene/Springfield area.  With the resulting traffic, 126 could become known as "death alley."
• Siuslaw High School is in the Sky-Em Athletic League.  Teams on buses and their accompanying families and fans will have to travel Hwy. 126.  The safety of these trips will be jeopardized by casino travelers, many of whom may have been drinking.
  

• The great majority of jobs that would be recruited locally are low-paying, starting at approximately $6.90-$7.50/hr.
• Priority for employment is given first to tribal members and second to other Native Americans.
• Most of the higher paying positions such as dealers are recruited out of the area. (Information provided by personnel department, The Mill Casino and Chinook Winds Casino 2/03)
  

• Gambling cannibalizes local businesses.
• A hundred dollars spent in a casino is a hundred dollars not spent in a local restaurant, theater, or retail store.
• $1 worth of casino profits costs taxpayers at least $1.90 in cost creating activities such as crime, suicide, bankruptcy and other expensive social problems. (Earl L. Grinois and David B. Mustard, "Business Profitability versus Social Profitability")
  
• A year ago, the tribes said they would not build a hotel in the first phase of the project, so as not to compete with local hotels.  The tribal representative said that they now have plans for a 100 room hotel and 1000 seat theater. (Comments by Frances Somday March 13, 2003 City Council Work Session.)
• Plans for the casino: "50,000 sq.ft. facility will include a 13,000 sq.ft. Las Vegas style casino, themed restaurants, retail outlets, as well as multi-purpose bingo-entertainment/meeting space."  (Tribal website - www.ctclusi.org/legislative.asp)
• In 1998, Americans spent more money on gambling (approx. $50 billion) than on recorded music, theme parks, video games, spectator sports, and movie tickets combined ($39;9 billion).  (National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report).
• The first new business to go in after Spirit Mountain Casino came to Grand Ronde was a grocery store that converted to a pawn shop.  Next time you go to a casino town, see how many pawn shops you can count.

• The Community has plans for a hotel across the street from the FEC.  The city council believes that this development must occur for the center to succeed.  The city council asked the tribes to not develop a hotel because of this.  Now that there are plans for a casino hotel, the FEC's survival is greatly jeopardized.

• Crime rates in casino communities are 84% higher than the national average. (U.S. News and World Report Jan. 15, 1996, pp. 58, 60)
• 99% of compulsive gamblers commit crimes (bad checks, forgery, fraud, embezzlement from job, theft, bank robbery, selling drugs, street crime, prostitution, etc. ) (Valerie C. Lorenz, Ph.D.., CCMHC, CPC Executive Director, Compulsive Gambling Center, Inc.)

• 13% of gamblers are problem or pathological gamblers.  18% are at-risk for developing a gambling addiction. (National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report)
• Each new addict incurs annual costs to society of between $13,600 - $52,000. (Ronald A. Reno "You Bet Your Life" Focus on the Family Citizen Link website)
• 20% of compulsive gamblers attempt suicide. (National Council on Problem Gambling)
  
• 100% of compulsive gamblers become physically abusive, especially towards children. (Valerie C. Lorenz, Ph.D.., CCMHC, CPC Executive Director, Compulsive Gambling Center, Inc.)
• Teens are three times as likely as adults to become addicted to gambling, once exposed.  (Durand Jacobs, Loma Linda University Medical School)
  
• The tribe is acknowledging that they are blighting our community by introducing a source of addiction.  

• The benefit fund will start at 2% of their profit and it will be split between five counties: Coos, Curry, Lane, Douglas, and Lincoln Counties. (Tribal Compact)
  
• 6% of what?  "Thanks to the industry's biggest regulatory loopholes, there is no single independent body to audit Indian casino finances.  Nor are there tribal casinos required to disclose financial information, either to the public or to their members." (Playing the Political Slots, Time Magazine, Dec. 23, 2002)
• Because the tribes are a sovereign nation, they do not pay the 25%-45% of state or federal taxes that most businesses would pay, much of which would return to the community.
  

• When sued for a $163,715 attorney bill in February 2003, the tribes argued that they were immune from lawsuits in courts other than tribal courts.  ("Oregonian" 4/3/03)
  
• It has been reported by tribal leader Ron Brainard that consulting and management services for the proposed $24 million casino will be provided by R.O.I. Gaming, Inc., a Las Vegas, Nevada based company.  In an attempt to locate the address and telephone number of this company, the following sources were checked:  Telephone information, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Nevada Secretary of State, Confederated Tribes office, National Indian Gaming Commission in Washington D.C., the internet, and four hours of library research.  Despite this exhaustive search, to date no listing has been found anywhere in the U.S. for R.O.I. Gaming, Inc. 
• Because the tribes are considered a sovereign nation, the entire casino development will not be subject to any type of taxes.
  
• By utilizing consulting agreements rather than contracts, tribal casinos are able to avoid scrutiny of any agency or governmental body.  Again, they do not need to reveal any information, financial or otherwise, to anyone at any time.  (See Special Report on Indian Casinos by Time Magazine)
  

• Thank Gov. Ted Kulongoski for upholding the state's lawsuit challenging the legality of building a casino on the Hatch Tract at N. Fork Road and Hwy. 126.  
  Govornor Kulongoski:  Fax: 503-378-6827; Phone 503-378-4582; e-mail: representative.citizen@state.or.us
• Insist that the Florence City Council not sign an agreement between the city and tribes.  
• Attend council meetings when casino or urban growth boundary issues are on the agenda.  
  Next Meeting: Florence Planning Commission on April 22.  Contact Florence City Hall for time and place - 997-8237.
• Read Special Report on Indian Casinos by Time Magazine
• Make contributions to PACT for newspaper advertisements, mailings and newsletters such as this.  Mail checks to: PACT, P.O. Box 978, Florence, Oregon 97439.
• Subscribe to PACT Announcements - an e-mail newsletter - by sending a request to be put on the list at: PACT-Subscribe or pact-announce-subscribe@mlm.teloflex.com.  When you receive your first e-mail from the list, confirm the subscription by hitting REPLY, and sending the first e-mail back.  If that doesn't work, send your name and e-mail address to: PACT-Contact or pactlist@teleoflex.com and you will be put on the list.