Sorry, I couldn’t resist that headline. But thanks to ex-mayor Charlie Luken, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, more than $32 million spent by casino investors and 53 percent of voters, Cincinnati will get the craps — plus the black jack, roulette wheels, slots and other gambling in a casino on Broadway Commons.
I am not a fanatical opponent. I just think it’s a loser’s bet to expect economic development or better state government from slot machines. I’m willing to make a bet right now: in five years, we will not hear anyone say, “Look how the Casinos have reduced our taxes and improved state government.”
But let’s take a look at the other good news and bad news from yesterday’s election results.
GOOD NEWS: President Obama got spanked in Virginia and New Jersey. Republican victories in those races for governor repudiate his left-wing policies and make a mockery of all the alligator tears from liberals last year, when they held a funeral for the Republican Party. The results could even save us from a lethal injection of Obamacare, by tying a tin-can to the tails of Blue Dog Democrats and weak candidates in swing districts — such as Cincinnati’s new Democratic Rep. Steve Driehaus. The message is plain: the political stock market is in for a major correction; the Obama bubble is popped.
BAD NEWS: I was sorry to see that Cininnati voters failed to apply the brakes on streetcars. But there’s actually good news in that because:
GOOD NEWS: Mayor Mallory lost his “Gang of Five” majority and will not be able to push streetcars and other issues by running over the four-vote minority. I count four, maybe five votes for streetcars on the new council, but only four votes for Mallory’s team. Charlie Winburn could be the deal-maker and deal-breaker. And the re-election of Jeff Berding could give Democrats a migraine. They evicted him from their party because he would not march in lockstep with Mallory’s team. But now he’s re-elected anyway — and payback is a bummer, especially at City Hall.
BAD NEWS: Teacher control of the Cincinnati Public Schools is at the tipping point. And once the union controls the board of directors, the district is headed for General Motors and Chrysler territory. Putting teachers on a school board is like putting state employees in charge of the state budget: What’s another tax increase as long as we get our raise? It’s antithetical to the purpose of school boards, which is to give taxpayers control and supervision of public schools.
GOOD NEWS: Brad Wenstrup had a good showing against Mallory in the mayor’s race, losing 54/45. That’s another voter curb on the strong-armed Mallory majority. Mallory has done a good job; he’s a good man and a good mayor. But Wenstrup ran a classy, clean campaign that called attention to Mallory’s weaknesses. One more item of good news: Mallory gave a gracious victory speech, complimenting Wenstrup. I agree. I like Mallory, but I volunteered to help Wenstrup because I think there should be a place in Cincinnati’s political future for a dedicated, smart and courageous Iraq war veteran who has already done so much to serve his country.
Finally: I don’t hate anyone. I don’t wish misfortunte on anyone. But I was not even slightly disappointed to see that Jason Haap finished almost dead last in the race for school board. The Enquirer’s editorial that complimented Haap was one of the most irresponsible, clueless things I have seen in that paper and I have seen a lot. Everyone in the blogging community knows Haap is has delusions of media grandeur. In this campaign, he apparently tried to take credit for another candidate’s proposals. Typical. And if this unendorsement sounds too harsh, it is just a hair on the back of Haap’s vicious attack-dog blogs and hateful personal attacks.
I wish him a happier life and an atttitude adjustment. But anyone who thinks he belongs in an elected office is smoking the drapes.
I was saddened to see the Casino amendment pass.
It’s a bad deal socially and fiscally.
From the social standpoint gambling brings a lot of ills. It also will cannibalize the local tourist dollar. It won’t bring in much out of state money because face it if your going to travel and gamble you are going to a destination like Atlantic City or Vegas. At best it will take discretionary income of locals from the Reds, Zoo, Kings Island. Jobs gained here and jobs lost there, no net gain.
If your going to do casinos your only real shot at making money is the licensing fees and this deal had the lowest in the country. The State will end up with $200 million instead of a billion.
Who smokes drapes anymore…I mean REALLY!
Let me know when you wanna head down to the Casinos and double down so Johnny can get a new algebra book at school!
I was sad about the casinos passing too… i love that a few years ago, a baseball stadium on Broadway Commons was a bad idea but today, a casino there is a good thing. No matter that most of the skilled jobs will be going to out-of-staters who are already trained to run the place.
I don’t know which way I stand on streetcars, but I voted “Nein” on 9 because I don’t want to have to vote every time the city needs a new advancement. This city is great, but we don’t want to be like Calofornia, where they need to hold an election every time The Governator wants to water the houseplants.
Ok, I can’t believe I spelled California wrong. Where’s a decent proofreader when you need one?! And Print Guy, I will gladly play some roulette with you and PB if it means our next generation of leaders gets pencils and desks.
Good points by Kilroy. Gambling as economic development is a loser’s bet. The house always wins, and the owner is not even in Ohio.
Printguy: Hey, I just gave up smokin the drapes a week ago. Switched to low-tar rugs. See you at the blackjack table.
I was actually leaning towards voting for the casinos (economic reasons) until I attended a two-day business meeting at Greektown Casino in Detroit this past summer. What I found was a building full of hookers, drunks, drug dealers, and gambling addicts – it made me sick to see. I also found in talking to the remaining local business owners that the casino has actually caused the demise of most of the small businesses surrounding it. Believe it or not the casinos in Detroit have caused that city to go from horrible (morally and economically) to worse than horrible. I’m expecting to see similar results in our city in five years.
I thought “Calofornia” was Arnold-speak. Sounds just like him. And what’s up with a guy who has been here longer than Heineken and wooden shoes still talking like Col. Klink in Stalag 17? Enough with the accent, already.
For Pete’s sake, Bronson — I’m wondering if you can provide links to all these “personal attacks” of which you accuse me so viciously!
And those posts where The Beacon busted you publishing a doctored photograph and then attacking liberals because you thought it was real don’t count…
Surely you don’t expect Peter to give your blog free publicity with links do you? If people want that kind of drivel they always have MSNBC.
Fine, Kilroy — He can just copy and paste the titles, with no links, and I can find them that way.
Lizzie B….did you really bag on California?? Ouch…you know that hurts me inside right? As for the baseball stadium vs. a casino on Broadway Commons…I rather like the decision. I don’t think Broadway Commons was a good spot for a baseball stadium, but it’s a GREAT spot for a casino! Kind of run down area that has no chance of revival…so why not keep the crime there with the Casino?? A baseball stadium for a sub par team wouldn’t have turned that area around…trust me.
I don’t know that any of these do a lot for economic development. I live in the country and I drive in for Reds ball games but eat and shop at Eastgate on the way out. It seems to me a lot of people leave the park, go to the parking garage and head out of town.
The casino as I said earlier will only cut into other people’s discretionary income or take money from those who can least afford it ddreaming of hitting it big.
Never mind the Haap-less comments. The guy has perfected the blog jujitsu of demanding that someone do his homework and prove what everyone already knows. You don’t get a rank reputation like his without working for it.