THE PUBLIC MIND: CAPE GIRARDEAU VOTERS SAID NOT TO GAMBLING ISSUE, NOT TO MORE TOURISM AND REVENUE

To the Editor:

The regional publication, ~Business Today, has since it~s inception been a part of my reading regime. I have found it generally informative and factual. However, in the July 1993 issue I was taken back by the publication's ~~"Opinion Column~~" comments concerning the recently defeated riverboat gambling proposal. Two very presumptuous and erroneous statements were made in this column. First, the column stated that "....the proposal by the Boyd Group of Las Vegas became a moral question that was defeated by opponents who insisted that gambling is, simply stated, wrong." Second, the publication stated that "....riverboat opponents feel the city does not need great numbers of tourists traipsing through their city. They say they do not want Cape to become another Branson, as if that were possible, that the city and the business community do not have any need for those millions in new revenues turning over in the city."

The opponents of the riverboat gambling proposal were as many as were their reasons for opposing it. Some said it was a moral issue and voted their conscience, some felt it was a wrong business venture for the city, some knew first hand what it was like to live in a city with gambling casinos, others just did not like the campaign propaganda of the Las Vegas-based corporation. And the list goes on. What is simply wrong is to make a blanket statement as to why gambling opponents voted against the proposal.

The most disturbing thing about this column was the second assumption it makes. All riverboat gambling opponents are not against tourism for Cape Girardeau. Many would just like to see other avenues of tourism, other than gambling, pursued in our city. Other ideas for tourism range from a fine arts center to new recreational sports facilities, and again this list goes on and on. I personally have heard no one say they did not want Cape to prosper and grow. To say that opponents of riverboat gambling do not want the city to see new revenues turning over is absolutely ludicrous.

The reasons for the recent defeat of riverboat gambling are many. But it is accurate to say that a majority of voters in Cape Girardeau said no to the Boyd Group proposal, not to increased tourism and revenues for the city. Instead of offering vi~~ndic~tive remarks, ~~Business Today~~ should offer positive solutions to increased tourism and revenues that the majority of the Cape Girardeau business community and the community at large can agree on.

Julia~ Kridelbaugh

Cape Girardeau