LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: CITY YOU CAN BE PROUD OF

To the Editor:

Cape is a vibrant and healthy city. Witness the new construction of homes and commercial buildings and the growth of sales tax revenue. The Southeast Missourian even had an editorial on Oct. 18 about the unusual new construction and growth during 1993. Solid growth has always been a hallmark of Cape and will continue to be as long as we are concerned and watchful.

I don't like to see any business quit, but the reasons for going out of business vary widely. As a small business owner who once went out of business, I can testify that it wasn't Cape's fault. If we examine the recent list individually I'm sure we would find the same conclusion.

I've always been proud to be a citizen of Cape and chose it to live and raise a family after living throughout the United States for 12 years. Never was I more proud than when the riverboat gambling issue was defeated last June. Now we must vote again and I am naturally concerned. I'm concerned that taxing entities (states, counties, cities, etc.) want income from gambling. They will not lower your property taxes or sales taxes, and will probably need the money to solve the problems that gambling creates. In Cape, a fireboat and its personnel, additional police, streets to handle the traffic, and staff for inspections are just a few examples of cost.

Think for a minute of where all this money comes from. Is it only money that losers (and most gamblers will be losers) can afford to lose? Or is it coming from people that have a need to provide for a family, a business, an education, or medical expenses.

Let's be different. Let's be one of the very few cities in the Midwest to veto gambling. Surely the good industries that might locate in Cape would be more likely to do so in a city without gambling.

Please don't be shortsighted. Let's keep Cape a city we can long be proud of and vote no on gambling.

Paul Stehr

Cape Girardeau