THE PUBLIC MIND: HISTORY OFFERS SUCH WISDOM TO DRAW FROM ON THIS ISSUE OF RIVERBOAT GAMBLING

To the Editor:

We've all heard that history repeats itself, and that those who are wise have the ability to learn from other people's mistakes. I hope and pray that we in Cape Girardeau possess this ability. For if we don't, the gambling issue could mark the beginning of the end of our beautiful city as we now know it.

Fact: In a 10-year period (1978 to 1988) reported street crimes such as prostitution, robbery, drug use, rape and car theft rose 380 percent in Atlantic City.

Fact: Those states which are trying to deal seriously with the social damage from gambling have found that in real terms gambling, in the long haul, does not bring the economic benefits they had hoped for. Maryland is a perfect example of this. A recent study concluded that gambling in Maryland was costing the state enormously. From Final Report: Task Force on Gambling Addiction in Maryland: "Pathological gamblers cost Maryland and its citizens about $1.5 billion annually in lost work productivity and embezzled, stolen or otherwise abused dollars. This cost estimate is considered conservative because we have not included costs such as suicide attempts, family neglect, and incarceration or other health problems resulting from pathological gambling. The total cumulative indebtedness of Maryland's pathological gamblers exceeds $4 billion". Surely this is not a goal which we in Cape Girardeau wish to achieve!

Fact: After 10 years of legalized gambling in Atlantic City, unemployment remains the same, the population has decreased not increased, and half the city's businesses have folded. I guess this means that approximately half of the individuals who own their own businesses in this town and/or their employees can look forward to working for the Boyd group in the future if riverboat gambling passes. So much for our downtown business district and historical preservation. Indeed, history does repeat itself!

Fact: Gamblers come to gamble, not to patronize local businesses. "... those in Central City have discovered that gamblers may be spending record amounts in local casinos, but other attractions, including those run by nonprofit groups, are not reaping the same benefits," the Denver Post, 8-31-92, states. "Not only is attendance down at most tourist attractions, but property taxes have skyrocketed. Opera-goers to the Central City Opera decreased by 15 percent this year. Attendance has plummeted at the Gilpin County Museum. Attendance at the Gilpin County Art Association is 50 percent behind last year. Overall sales have decreased 19 percent."

The Cripple Creek Gold Rush, 10-1-92, states similar results, "Although tourism increased slightly for all of Colorado this summer, most of the traditional non gaming family attractions in Cripple Creek have experienced between 20 and 70 percent fewer tourists this June, July and August compared to last summer."

Again, similar consequences elaborated in the Lake City Silver World, 9-11-92, "There were 55 gift shops in the Central City area a year ago, but only four remain today."

Do you get the idea that they're trying to tell us something? Perhaps the question should read, are we listening to what those who have experienced gambling in their communities are trying to tell us?

Final Fact: Iowa was the first state to legalize riverboat gambling in 1989. Tough restrictions limiting the size of an individual bet and total losses for one night were included, just like Missouri has done. The thinking was to "allow for some sin but not too much" as quoted from Forbes, 3-1-93. So what happened? In 1990 Illinois, directly across the river, legalized riverboat gambling with no betting or floor space limits which is a big advantage to the casino operators. The result has been that riverboat operators have pulled-up their anchors and set sail for more "fruitful" waters, leaving those in Iowa to sink with their community investments. Riverboat gambling operators who made similar promises as what we're being promised, have already left Keokuk, Bettendorf and Fort Madison.

I could go on and on. The evidence is overwhelming that the gambling operators break their promises time and time again. They have their own best interests at heart, not yours and mine. At stake is the long-term best interest of the people of Cape Girardeau and our children. We must look out for ourselves.

If history does repeat itself, and we all know that it does, then in a few years half of our current businesses will be gone. History has clearly demonstrated this. Crime will have increased by easily 300-plus percent. Again, history has overwhelmingly shown this. We'll be dependent upon The Boyd Group for a large source of our employment opportunities. Again history. Social ills which we don't currently experience will be commonplace. Again history. Our local government will have expanded exponentially (just what we need!) in an effort to deal with the added demands of this gambling industry. Again history. It's obvious to me that history offers much wisdom for us to draw from on this issue of gambling in our community.

Gambling will be legal in our lovely city only if we vote "yes" on June 8. We have every right to vote "no," and we should. I would encourage you to vote a resounding "no" on June 8 and to encourage everyone you know to vote "no" also.

Mary K. Wulfers

City Councilman

Cape Girardeau