CITY OF JACKSON WILL GAIN IF CAPE BETS ON RIVER GAMING

To the editor:

I moved to Cape three years ago and as the father of three children I have to say that I would have thought twice about moving here had the gambling industry already owned a piece of this city. I wonder if those who favor gambling in Cape have answers to the following questions: Do productive industries like Thorngate or Procter & Gamble prefer to move to a community with gambling or without? Will families choose to move to Cape if given a choice of a city without gambling? As the city changes its character from a family-oriented city to a gambling city, and families choose not to move here, what will happen to the price of a family residence? Will families choose not to send their children to a university in a town that promotes gambling? Will those who do come here to study spend their money in our stores and restaurants or on the thrills and cheap food offered by the riverboat?

The argument has been advanced that Jackson, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Dexter and other area residents will beat a path to Cape to spend their money on the boat and in local businesses. The argument has further been advanced that if we do not vote in gambling then St. Charles and St. Louis and other Missouri cities that vote in riverboat gambling will cash in big as both our own residents and those just mentioned go to these places to spend their money. I believe that as gambling spreads up and down the river and across the country that the big dollars the gambling industry is promising will be diluted. The fact is that stocks in the gambling industry are at an all time high. The fact also is that analysts believe that the industry is in for a big bust as the saturation point is reached.

Why not build on what makes Cape great already? Why not put the Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors and Conventions Bureau to work promoting Cape as a city that welcomes families? Should we be known as a community that promotes a strong work ethic or the "pie-in-the-sky" dream that is the basis for gambling's success?

I like Jackson and have several friends living there but the truth is they will gain "at our expense" if Cape votes in gambling. Families who must live in this area will prefer to live away from the atmosphere created by gambling. That probably means Jackson. Productive industries who want to move to this area will be more likely to choose Jackson over Cape. People who live there have a stronger work ethic and are more family oriented, they might reason.

Jackson has recently taken a stand on the education issue that promotes family living while we voted down a similar proposition. One of the big arguments in favor of our recent school bond issue was; what sign would a "no" vote send to families and industries considering moving here? Well, what signal will a "yes" vote to riverboat gambling send to industry and families?

If gambling wins here, congratulations Jackson! You win bigger!

Randy Short

North Cape Church of Christ

Cape Girardeau