LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY

To the Editor:

In the best interests of our community, we would like to affirm the sentiments of the Yes Group Directors as expressed in their letter to the editor in the Southeast Missourian, Nov. 9. Their comments were reconciliating and addressed to the Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling:

"In a community where no one cares, everyone loses. In a community filled with people willing to get involved, everyone ultimately wins."

Given the outcome of the election on Nov. 2, we have decided that it would be in the best interests of the community for us, as persons who opposed riverboat gambling in Cape Girardeau, to work with the city in its upcoming deliberations regarding the selection policy, criteria, licensing, and arrival of a riverboat operation.

We came to this conclusion with a great deal of thought and discussion. One option for us would have been to push for yet a third vote on the issue, which other groups may yet pursue. We felt that the community is so evenly divided on the issue that future elections could have seesawed back and forth, using up both resources and the patience of the citizens of Cape Girardeau. The divisiveness of this prolonged approach could have proved overwhelmingly detrimental to the quality of positive community life that we enjoy in Cape Girardeau.

Because the community is yet divided on this issue, it is vitally important that both Yes and No people get a full and fair hearing in each phase of the planning process. We share in common a vision for the city of Cape Girardeau that includes growth, prosperity, justice and a better quality of life for all. While we have serious differences on how to achieve these goals, we need to promote a discussion of ideas and community values which will involve the contribution of many. Now is the time to pull people together for the sake of the community.

It is to the benefit of all that the process ahead be open, fair and just. The 6,046 "no" votes in the election represent nearly 50 percent of the vote. The number itself represents a figure that most elected officials in the city do not come close to receiving. Even though, in a democracy, 50.1 percent is enough to win an election, a decision that has the potential of bringing such a profound change to the community's day to day life needs the input of all significant population groups. Public policy that has a broad sense of ownership has a better chance to maintain community harmony than one that would remain divisive. The people who voted "no" have legitimate concerns and contributions to make in the criteria used to develop this new industry on our riverfront.

We, as members of the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance, believe that we represent the sentiment of many who voted "no." At our regular meeting on Nov. 9, the members of the Ministerial Alliance voted unanimously to request of the city council that we, and other community leaders who voted "no," be included in every step of the process to bring the riverboat to our town and in any permanent regulatory body that is created. While we are not happy with the results of the election, we promise to be a loyal opposition, operating in good faith for the benefit of the citizens of our community.

James G. Caughlan

Alliance President Pastor

Evangelical United Church of Christ

William Burke

Alliance Secretary/Treasurer Pastor

First Church of the Nazarene

Cecil Barham

Pastor

Bethel Assembly of God

Kim Ferguson

Pastor

Cornerstone Assembly

Roy Jones

Director of Missions

Cape Baptist Association

Andrew Pratt

Baptist Student Center

Neil Stein

Pastor

Centenary United Methodist Church

Elmer Trapp

Captain, Salvation Army

Wes Wright

Pastor,

Mount Auburn Christian Church