THE PUBLIC MIND: GAMBLING IS AN `ECONOMIC STEROID' ... BUILDING FALSE MUSCLES

To the Editor:

Thank you for the timely Perspective regarding riverboat gambling. After reading this, I obtained some information from Cripple Creek, Colo., where gambling has been in effect for the past two years.

Evelyn Boardman, the local coordinator for the Boyd Group, states in her summary that she "sees this as an economic issue." The people in Cripple Creek evidently don't see it that way after two years. I have included some quotes from local papers for your review.

Former Governor Dick Lamm is quoted in the Denver Post 10/8/92 as saying, "Gambling is an economic steroid. Just like steroids build false muscles and eventually destroy the body, gambling builds false economies and eventually destroys communities."

"Left unrestricted, gambling diverts income from more productive enterprises thus shortchanging the overall economy, and it encourages compulsive gam~bling by those who can least afford it." Editorial, Denver Post 1/2/92.

~"The initial concept of gambling was to help mom and pop operations stay in business. It has gone totally awry, every business is being torn out and a casino is being in its place. We don't even have a gas station." Gilpin County Resident, Central City Weekly Register 2/28/92.

"There were 55 gift shops in the Central City Area a year ago, but only four remain today.~" Lake City Silver World 9/11/92.

In Cripple Creek, cost of living increased and property tax increased when the casinos moved in.

"Houses and apartments that used to rent for $300 a month in Cripple Creek now rent for $500-$600." Cripple Creek Gold Rush 10/1/92.

"Norby Larsen's Cripple Creek home was valued at $5,000 in 1991 and $517,000 in 1992. An increase of 10,000 percent. His tax bill will ultimately rise from $632 to $10,000." Rocky Mountain News 8/6/92.

"A Bennett Avenue Jewelry Store in Cripple Creek paid $1,600 in property taxes in 1991, and this year the tax bill will be $7,000." Cripple Creek Gold Rush 10/1/92.

Increased taxes were needed to pay for added police protection.

"Overall, police activity in Cripple Creek from September 1991 to August 1992 is up 10 times~ the same period as the year before." Cripple Creek Gold Rush, 10/1/92.

"Cripple Creek's police department staff is up eightfold over gambling days." Cripple Creek Gold Rush, 10/1/92.

"Crimes against persons in Central City during the first three months of gambling were at a rate three times as high as the previous nine months." Central City Police Department Crime Report Summary, 1991.

"Gilpin County officials say that the majority of its share of first year gambling revenues will be eaten up by increased law enforcement costs alone." Denver Post, 7/23/92.

"DUI arrests in Teller and Western El Paso Counties increased 1,300 percent." Cripple Creek Gold Rush, 10/1/92.

In summary, it doesn't look from these papers that the economy of Cripple Creek has been boosted by gambling. It appears to be quite the contrary.

Linda Lawrence

Jackson