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DEL.ICIO.USGambling good for tourists, Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If some conventioneers are complaining they are bored due to a paucity of nightlife in Atlanta, it might be that we are just not doing a good enough job marketing what we have. Even in Buckhead where we went through an intentional cleansing of a dangerously disorderly district, we still have much to do after dark. Just in the five-block West Village (bounded by Roswell, Andrews and Paces Ferry roads) we have 24 establishments with alcoholic licenses!
What do you think after reading the debate between former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell and AJC columnist Jay Bookman on a proposed casino to revive Underground. Massell makes the “pro” argument; Bookman takes the “con” position.
Of course, centrally located Underground Atlanta — most convenient to the Georgia World Congress Center and convention hotels — was created and designed for nightlife. It offers a lot for visitors and local revelers alike, and warrants our universal support. In its early days, there wasn’t an airline magazine or any other travel periodical that didn’t have an article or ad inviting the world to sample its mystique.
As residents, we would all do well to help promote — to visit and support — this downtown party place, if for no other than a selfish effort to reduce its deficit, which annually costs every taxpayer in our city. The bonds issued by Atlanta have to be paid off by Underground’s income — which isn’t enough at present.
One indisputable way to make it a success and entertain tourists would be to add casino gambling, as proposed by Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts and others. This could also close the gap in the city’s budget and other governmental entities, such as MARTA.
Realistically, however, it might still be some years before the majority of state legislators reach the conclusion that their constituents would favor this income source over ever-increasing property taxation. I believe firmly, however, the support is already there for slot machines.
Travel the state roads throughout Georgia and one doesn’t have to look very hard to find pubs, gas stations, general stores and other mom and pop businesses that now have such machines operating daily. Illegal? Yes, and that’s the reason the state doesn’t benefit from the income. The lack of law enforcement is because the public wants the slots, period.
When the people — particularly women who are historically the major patrons of slot machines — tell their representatives they want them legalized, Underground and places throughout the state can prosper. So this is where we should start, to please the conventioneers and financially benefit every local government that wants to participate.
Not so incidentally, I understand our Georgia lottery law is written in a way that would allow the Georgia Lottery Corp. to go into the slot machine business now, selling video lottery games. It would help boost the HOPE scholarship program, but it would also be very helpful to generate income for other purposes.
Yes, we need to better market what we already have, we need to foster improvements, and we need to maintain balance with an orderly nightlife atmosphere. This is a formula that can benefit us all.
• Sam Massell is president of the Buckhead Coalition and a former mayor of Atlanta.
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Comments
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By Patrick Malone
January 22, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this
Mr. Massell makes many excellent points. Video gaming machines are already here and thriving, although illegal. Clearly this would enhance Atlanta as a convention and tourist destination. Locating it in Underground would spur the viability of the entire complex and that would enable those bonds to be retired quicker.
The only sticking point for me occurs when Mr. Masell suggests using some of the revenue for other purposes. If we are going to use the Georgia Lottery Corporation as the entity to make this a reality then all the net proceeds must be delivered to the Hope and other educational program currently supported by lottery proceeds.
The long term solution to keeping Atlanta and the State of Georgia vibrant and successful is improving the educational performance of our coming generations.
Bring the casino on but restrict the proceeds for education.
By david wayne osedach, san diego/ U.S.A.
January 22, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this
Gambling will come to Atlanta sooner or later. It may not bring in the big tax revenue dreamed of but it will be there for the tourists. Money that would have otherwise be spent out of state will be spent here.
By Geezer
January 22, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
Gambling in Downtown ATL sounds good on the surface, but the reality is much different. Revenue will be generated, but at what cost.
Allow me to share a real life tale of a city that adopted gambling as an economic and tax revenue stimulus. I’m from Denver CO. Several years ago the residents of a small, historic community in the Rocky Mountains, called Central City, petitioned the state to allow limited casino gambling. Business owners in Central City made money from tourists during the warm summer months, but practically starved during the cold winter months when tourism was down. The City believed that allowing casino gambling would provide tourism dollars year round. The referendum passed a statewide vote.
Virtually overnight, Central City was transformed into a miniature Las Vegas. The business owners in the city quickly sold their historic buildings to casino operators at a huge profit. Most of the buildings were gutted, and turned into glittering, bell ringing bastions of gambling and drinking. Additional casinos were built on practically all remaining open land. Tour busses and cars choked the highway to Central City from nearby Denver. Many residents of the city sold their homes and fled the onslaught of drunken debauchery. The sleepy, historic mining town of Central City was no more.
The same thing will happen to historic Underground Atlanta. Although there are significant differences in size between Atlanta and Central City, the consequences will be similar. The quality of life for people living and working close to Underground will change. Let’s not forget that Georgia State University is located literally on top Underground Atlanta. Our students deserve better.
By Huh?
January 22, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
Casino gambling? In a state where you can’t even buy a six pack of beer on Sunday? Of course even the bible thumpers slip a little during a recession.
Whatever happened to the days of real economies, real jobs, and substantive solutions. Everything today is just another smoke and mirrors gimmick that eventually crashes and burns victimizing an ever greater number of people. Pretty soon they’ll be playing their ace in the hole. Legalized prostitution.
By Rhett Butler
January 22, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this
Geezer,
You need to find an example of a major CITY that has suffered from ONE casino. Look at all the larger CITIES that have a casino in place near convention centers like New Orleans, Miami, and Tampa. Has the overall culture of the towns changed because of their casinos? Has everyone moved out from those cities do to casinos?
You do prove a point though. We should not allow casinos to be built in smaller towns and poorer counties. No one is asking for that to happen.
Quality of life at the Underground? Have you been to the Underground lately? There is no quality of life there. Students aren’t known to hang out there now anyway. How much space in and around the Underground (say a block or two) is dedicated to residential? Probably not much, if any.
Hate to tell you this but CHANGE happens. Everything can’t remain the same as it’s always been. I know old people are scared of change. I understand that, but go away if it bothers. Move into a retirement home where every day is the same. Let the young live our lives in the present and future, not the past.
By Obediah Barber
January 22, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this
Go ahead and build that casino at Underground. Then we can get some slots at the Okefenokee Swamp Park.
By Geezer
January 22, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this
Hi Rhett
Actually I live very close to Underground Atlanta; believe it or not, many people live around this area. You are correct, there is no quality of life AT Underground. But the area AROUND underground has plenty of quality, which would be heavily impacted buy tens of thousands of people; think of the New Years Eve peach drop 7 days a week. And yes, this would defiantly impact GSU.
People have moved away from the casinos in large cities. Most people would rather not live right next to it, including me. I don’t want this in my back yard.
Now, if you will excuse me, the nurse is here to take me into the Bingo parlor, I love Bingo!
By scrappy
January 22, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this
Atlanta needs so many things to improve it is hard to pick just one. In order to be a bustling city the city needs to offer things to majority of the population that spend money, this is the young professionals and young families. We already have enough ‘family friendly’ activities, couldn’t we try some entertainment for the young people with no kids that are willing to spend money on a night out? This means Nightlife! Being able to go to a nice dinner, maybe see a show, or do some gambling, and if the mood arises, to stay out late drinking (or be able to buy alcohol on Sunday!)and still be able to get home safely. This same mentality holds for the conventioners too. Until we let go of conservative values that do nothing but stifle the will of the young spenders, Atlanta will continue to decline and these young professionals and conventioners will move elsewhere.
By SL3
January 22, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
If Atlanta wants to get out of its financial mess, casinos, horse racing should be part of the mix. The tax revenues should be narrowly targeted for law enforcement, health services and education. This gambling should only be limited to Atlanta. We don’t need casinos all over the state. This will not siphon money from other businesses, but will enhance revenues. The money is going to Vegas and the other casinos in other states close by anyway. We could keep some of it right here. Atlanta could be a great city someday if only we could get the shackles off from the holy rollers and corrupt politicians.