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On Monday, local business owner John F. Popp presented three letters to the State Gaming Study Committee.<\/p>\n
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In no particular order, the letters were from the Allen County Commissioners<\/a>, Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards<\/a> and the third from many business and civic leaders in the community.<\/p>\n Date: August 24, 2009 As Chairman of the Coalition for a Better Fort Wayne, I have contacted a number of concerned business and community leaders that are opposed to bringing a casino to Fort Wayne. \u00c2\u00a0This group strongly urges you to \u00c2\u00a0vote against recommending a referendum that would allow that to happen. \u00c2\u00a0These community leaders, along with the members of our committee, represent a diverse group; Democrats and Republicans, and various religious and ethnic groups and we all share a common love for Fort Wayne because it is a great place to live and raise a family. \u00c2\u00a0We are convinced that a casino would harm Fort Wayne.<\/p>\n Casinos are a poor economic investment. \u00c2\u00a0The negative effects on local business are well documented and far outweigh casino revenue. \u00c2\u00a0Professor Earl Grinols, a highly respected authority on the effects of gambling, has calculated that for every $1.00 of revenue received from gambling, there is a cost of $3.10 incurred. \u00c2\u00a0The costs include lost revenue to businesses such as local restaurants and retail businesses, crime costs (apprehension, adjudication, incarceration), business and employment costs, social services, welfare and other costs. \u00c2\u00a0In addition Robert Ady of Ady and Associates (the premier business locator in the United States) was quoted recently as saying “A casino is an eliminator” in regards to its effect on a city’s ability to attract new business. \u00c2\u00a0And lastly, our greatest concern is the increased social distress to the community: increased crime, suicides, and bankruptcies. \u00c2\u00a0It has been shown that non gamblers will pay an estimated $10,330 for every pathological gambler. \u00c2\u00a075% of pathological gamblers admit to committing a felony to feed their habit.<\/p>\n We love Fort Wayne and think its citizens dserve better than being saddled with the bad economic investment represented by gambling interest. \u00c2\u00a0With these facts in mind, we respectfully request that you will vote against recommending a referendum that would enable a casino or additional slot machines to be transferred to the Fort Wayne area.<\/p>\n We think conducting a referendum is de facto approval of a casino…In contrast to a political election where both sides generally have similar resources, the casino interests have vast sums of money to conduct a media campaign that dwarfs the other side and simply can overwhelm the opposition…it’s the Golden Rule – “He who has the gold; rules.” \u00c2\u00a0We urge you to recommend against a referendum.<\/p>\n Sincerely, Names of business and community leaders opposed to a casino and a referendum:<\/p>\n Dr. Michael Mastrangelo, Community Leader & Chairman Board of Directors, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra Bibliography:<\/p>\n Earl Grinols. \u00c2\u00a0Gambling in America, Costs & Benefits. \u00c2\u00a0Page 131.
\nTo: Members of the Gaming Study Committee
\nRe: Casino Referendum for Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana<\/p>\n
\nJohn F. Popp
\nCEO of Aunt Millie’s Bakeries
\nChairman, The Coalition for a Better Fort Wayne<\/p>\n
\nMr. Keith Busse, President, Steel Dynamics
\nMayor Terry McDonald – Mayor, New Haven, Allen County, Indiana
\nMr. Jonathan Ray, President of Fort Wayne Urban League
\nPastor Steve Terry, President, East Allen County School Board
\nReverend Bill McGill, Senior Pastor, Imani Baptist Temple
\nMr. John Blum, V.P., J.P. Morgan Chase Bank & President of Southwest Allen County School Board
\nMs. Sherry L. Chapman, Secretary, Southwest Allen County School Board
\nMr. Donald Duff, President Northwest Allen County School Board
\nMr. Robert N. Taylor, CEO, Do It Best Corporation
\nMr. Don McArdle, Owner, McArdle Realty & Consulting
\nMr. John Tippmann, CEO, Tippmann Group
\nMr. Don Wood, President & Founder of 80\/20 Company
\nMr. Mark Robison, Chairman & President, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company
\nMr. Fernando Zapari, Publisher, El Mexicano
\nMr. Robert Ellis, Jr., President, Ellison Bakeries
\nMr. Todd Wallen, V.P. General Manager, Ellison Bakeries
\nMr. & Mrs. Ed Dahm, Mike’s Car Wash
\nMr. Al Zacher, Former President, The Zacher Company
\nMr. David Quilhot, President, Quilhot Construction Company
\nMr. Zohrab Tazian, P.E. President, Tazian Enterprises
\nMr. Mark Deister, President, Deister Machine Company
\nMr. Don Willis, Chairman, Fourth Wave
\nMr. Matt Sackett, President Leisure Sports Specialist
\nMr. John Meyer, Principle, Monarch Capital Management Inc.
\nMr. Mark Witmer, Esquire
\nMr. Michael Votaw, V.P., Votaw Electric, Inc.
\nMs. Cathy Beere, President, DeBrand Chocolate
\nMrs. Kari Romey, Owner, Expresso Gallery Coffee Roasters
\nMrs. Shirley Woods, Founder, Euell Wilson Center
\nMr. Carl Moellering, President, Moellering Management
\nMr. Alex Azar, Founder & Senior Chairman of Azars Inc., Food & Lodging
\nMr. Willis S. Clark, Retired executive of Central Soya, Past Chairman of United Way & Urban League Boards
\nChristoff & Christoff Law Firm
\nMr. Tim Hall, General Manager, Hall’s Guest House & Hall’s Family Restaurtants
\nMr. Tom Irmscher, President & Owner of Irmscher, Inc. Construction Company<\/p>\n
\nIbid, p. 74-75.
\nArnold Wexler. “Statistical Information on Compulsive Gamblers,” Council of Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.
\nRobert Ady Speech before Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Inventor Meeting. 2\/26\/2009
\nEarl Grinols, Gambling in America, Costs & Benefits. \u00c2\u00a0Page 141.
\nIbid, p. 140.
\nNational Gambling Impact Study Commission. \u00c2\u00a0Chapter 4, P. 4.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nRelated Images:<\/h3>