Casino Stalker | Opinion

Editorial: Community supports Little River off-reservation casino

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

"If Friday’s display of support for a proposed tribal casino in Muskegon County can’t move the project forward, nothing can.

An amendment to the Little River Band’s casino compact, which would allow the tribe to construct a casino at the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack site, has been tied up in politics since the resolution was introduced April 15 by Rep. Doug Bennett, D-Muskegon Twp.

While many expected this proposal, allowing the tribe to open a second casino “off reservation,” to sail through the Legislature, it has stirred up some interesting opposition with some powerful backers.

Even though the governor already has signed off on the compact, Democratic leaders in the House — including a candidate for governor — decided to hold a series of hearings on the issue. Last Friday’s was the third.

More than 150 people attended the morning meeting that had been scheduled, canceled and then rescheduled. Of the 41 people addressing Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, chairman of the House Regulatory Reform Committee, only five were opposed to a casino.

While the concerns the opponents raised about the cost of a casino to a community in terms of gambling addiction and increased traffic and crime, are valid and need to be addressed, the real issue is jobs."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Muskegon wants a casino (The Muskegon Chronicle 7/14)