WICHITA people are so STUPID

[greenbriar]

voted down the casino and slots and now we are going to lose the dog track too


sumner county...congrats

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. You're KIDDING!!

Wow that is dumb. I am so sorry to hear this.

[pstokely]

2. Dog racing is abusive

At least people don't abuse dogs when they lose cash at a slot machine

[LonePirate]

3. Religious zealots won again

The right-wing misinformation campaign was in full swing during the past few months which propelled the No campaign to victory. They utilized every exaggeration, lie and fear tactic imaginable. I wonder where they learned those tricks?

As is the usual case with these wackos, they completely ignored the economic reality of the situation. A destination casino with 1000+ jobs will be built in Sumner County, most likely as close to the border with Sedgwick County and I-35 as possible. The area around the Mulvane exit would be my guess as to where it will be built. Why build it within a few miles of a small city of less than 20,000 when they can build it within a few miles of a city with 350,000 people and another 150,000 people outside of that city. The No campaign seemed to be ignorant of the fact that it makes no difference if the casino is built downtown or 5 or 6 miles from the southern city limits. Their doomsday scenarios are not altered one bit by that insignificant distance.

What is significant is the vast tax revenue the city and county could have reaped if the Yes campaign had prevailed. Most of the jobs will still be filled by Sedgwick County and Wichita residents and an overwhelming majority of the patrons will be from Sedgwick County.

It's bad enough that I wake up most mornings here in Wichita thinking that I live in a community that feels this is still 1807 and not 2007.

[greenbriar]

4. yea,

And Sumner county is gleeful today


the Dog Track is closing 90 days and 250 people are going to be without a job

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. It will definitely be an economic boost

The casinos here in KC have been windfalls to the cities where they are located. They have built new roads and there is a gorgeous park across from one of them. You guys will see this when the casinos open. Maybe then the voters will understand the huge mistake they made.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[greenbriar]

10. that is sooo true especially since we now get a religious supper club

the prarie rose was bad enough

now it is even worse

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Casinos aren't wonderful.

Besides the obvious problems of addictive gambling, they tend to bring in organized crime. I saw it happen on the Wisconsin casino scene. I'm no religious fanatic (well, OK, I'm a rabid Unitarian pagan/Buddhist), and my objections are purely practical and based on what I've seen.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. They have been a great economic boost in KC

I have never heard anything about organized crime, but the state watches them so closely I doubt the crime mob could get in the door.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. I hope it stays clean for you.

It doesn't always.

[Big Unit]

9. Wichitans

Before we blaspheme every Wichitan about this vote result, remember that 45% of the voters who turned out to speak their mind at the polling station voted FOR the slots and the casino.

As has been pointed out, the churches and the NIMBYs turned out in droves, but only about 38% of registered voters turned out. Those who did not turn out to vote YES may have felt like a casino next door in Wellington would suit their purposes quite well, as they like to gamble one in a while, but weren't that emotionally or financially involved in having a casino in Wichita.

I think the "story" here is (1) that the religious right once again was able to activate their people, and (2) the massive anti-casino publicity campaign accomplished its task. Voter sentiment within about 60 days went from 70% in favor to under 50% - at the same time as the media anti-campaign started. Negative TV campaigns work . . .

It may turn out that the vote will not mean that Sedgwick Cty has completely lost out on this economic opportunity. After all, a lot of the people who will go to work at the Sumner Cty. casino will probably live in Wichita, and conventions who are thinking of coming to Wichita will still have the attraction of a casino that is close to downtown Wichita to lure them in.