Gray’s plan isn’t for Linn County

By Frank King

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On Tuesday, Linn County voters have an important decision to make. This special election really isn't just about whether to approve gambling in Linn County, it's about whether we want to grant Steve Gray and his development group the right to own and manage the casino and the non-profit as long as the next 50 years.

Before we rush into an agreement, there are some things to consider.

Is this development group and its investors really interested in simply benefiting Linn County?

It wouldn't seem so, given that they refused to do more than the legally required minimum for the community non-profits and charities, while nearby casinos give back nearly twice as much to support local charities, schools, etc.

Have casino investors been straightforward and honest about their plans?

Again, it doesn't appear so. They signed the agreement to give us the bare minimum back in October but kept details locked up until just a few weeks ago.

They wouldn't tell us where exactly they would build the facility until two weeks before the vote. They won't tell us what they're going to pay to buy city-owned land at the site.

They still won't tell us who is going to be brought into operate the casino - although Gray has said “would it really matter if I said Donald Trump was going to manage it?” We think it would matter.

Until this week, they didn't admit publicly that taxpayer dollars could be used to build roads, improve water and sewer lines and other infrastructure surrounding the project.

We're all supportive of jobs for Linn County, but what do we know about the jobs that this casino plan will create? Not much. Gray won't say what the median salary will be or whether permanent employees will be unionized.

We do know that Gray thinks this is an important opportunity to hire workers “from outside of the county, potentially outside of the state.” (KGAN interview)

There's also the inescapable reality that a casino in downtown Cedar Rapids will take customers away from existing bars and restaurants. You don't have to be an economist to know that when a casino is taking in

$62 million a year from the gaming losses of Linn County residents, that this will mean less disposable income to be spent at the existing bars and restaurants.

Unlike other casinos, this one won't be a destination that will bring people to Cedar Rapids. Casino investors aren't building any family-friendly amenities, a hotel or conference facilities. This group of investors will profit on the losses from people right here in Linn County.

That also means that the problems associated with gambling will be ours to deal with. Even those who support gambling cannot deny that there are problem and pathological gamblers - we've seen that right here in Cedar Rapids recently when attorney Susan Hense admitted spending $800,000 of client funds on gambling. This is a side of casinos that cannot be ignored.

Whatever your reasons are for voting no, whether you're against gambling on moral or religious grounds, if you think Iowa already has enough casinos or you don't appreciate being kept in the dark about this proposal, it's important that you vote Tuesday.

This is going to be a close election and there's so much at stake for the future of Linn County. I know we can do better than Gray and his development group's casino deal.

Frank King of Cedar Rapids is chairman of Just Say No Casino. Comments: info@justsaynocasino.com