Casino conversation should stop

How many more months and years will we continue to listen to the appeals of local leaders who claim a casino will make our lives better? Can we come up with a plan for development that is truly smart and cease building imaginary veils of optimism and economic well-being?

Casino life has nothing positive to offer the community — only revenue for the developers. Read the statistics. Property values decline; money from casinos stays in the casinos and in the pockets of those least in need and the social ills related to casino life are undeniable. Learn what casinos actually do to individuals and communities — the economic distress and negative health and social effects are real.

Let’s put an end to this campaign of uninformed promises about economic growth and job creation. We should be able to do better that portray casinos as a community asset; our leadership should turn the page and let the other casino entities in nearby communities have their slot machines while we work toward developing smart, sustainable, healthy recreational family spaces.

Cathie Payvandi

Cedar Rapids