THE PUBLIC MIND: RIVERBOAT GAMBLING CARRIES A COST, DESPITE WHAT BACKERS SAY

To the Editor:

Since we know there is no free lunch in government, I want to know why we are being led to believe that riverboat gambling will provide Cape Girardeau with tax income at no cost to the city.

I think there will be thousands of dollars required. Cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Arkansas, and Iowa are making the competition fierce for riverboats. Docking facilities with safety precautions and parking facilities will cost taxpayers. The city will not be able to stand the cost of lawsuits in the event someone is injured on or near the facility so insurance will have to be purchased. Police and fire protection expenses will have to be considered, as will the expense of city regulatory requirements.

Think about these costs, and think about the costs other than dollars. Riverboat gambling will change Cape's image not only in the minds of outsiders but also in our own minds. Since downtown will be the center of activity, it will be isolated and different from the remainder of the city. The gambling influence on young people has been documented and reported. Perhaps gambling will attract people we don't want to attract.

You can probably think of more tangible as well as intangible costs of riverboat gambling in Cape. Don't think for a minute it is free. The outsiders promoting it will make it look like that, so the voters must be realistic in assessing the total and long range effects. Let's be different than all the other cities up and down the river. Please vote "no" on June 8 and speak up to urge others to do the same.

Paul Stehr

Cape Girardeau