Proposed Anthony Casino Could Do More Harm Than Good
There is an abundance of information that could shed some light on the question as to whether an "off -reservation" casino can come into Doņa Ana County and set up a est. $100 million revenue suction.
It is unfortunate that the Bureau of Indian Affairs didn't provide some basic benchmarks by which to analize the proposed casino application.
What we have done is provided some background information. Please check the Archives for our first two installments.
Also please read the excerpts of an interview conducted with Mayor Ruben Segura of Sunland Park.
Excerpts:
We also provide an interview with Joe Monahan, spokesman for the Committee to Protect Doņa Ana County.
CPDAC:
With that in mind, there are some aspects that need to be at least mentioned.
We did find one business that will surely gain if the proposed casino goes through. Dos Lagos Golf Course is adjacent to the proposed site. It would seem that a casino nextdoor couldn't hurt. Mike Olson, manager of the Pro Shop indicated that he thought the casino would be a good thing.
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino will probably be adversely affected. Although the Peters Group indicates that the number of gaming devices will not be too large for the area. But El Paso and Las Cruces are not as prosperous as Alburquerque. It does seem that traffic to racetrack will be diverted especially initially to the new casino. This will hurt area farmers and other side industries associated with the horse/racing trade.
The Erickson study talks about a net tax revenue loss of up to $1.4 million but there are many variables. But tax-abatements are offered to many businesses by municipalities. Also, it would seem that there will be some revenue spent by interstate traffic and Mexico that would not normally spend any money in the area. The Erickson study suggests this is not true. Also the table gaming will attract customers that the Sunland Park casino won't attract.
If Speaking Rock Casino re-opens with only slots then the proposed casino will hurt both Speaking Rock and the Tiguas.
The revenue from the proposed casino will go north. Contracts for the constructiion and management do not guaruantee jobs or revenue for Doņa Ana County. And as we pointed out last edition, the promised high-paying jobs seem to come down to $6-$8 jobs instead of the "high" paying jobs; using the Peters Group information. The management high-paying jobs will be only a few. But there are no guaruantee on anythng by the Jemez Pueblo but that they won't give away "free food or drink". We don't find that comforting.
To some, two casinos are better than one. But with a region that is far below the median income of the nation, everything has a ripple effect. And it seems that a full-gaming 24-hour casino will bring with it social ills as well. Could there be a corellation between gaming facilities and predatory loan businesses? There seem to be numerous loan shacks in the Sunalnd Park area. These are likely to incresae in or near Anthony. Along with that there will be increases in finiancial problems and therefore domestic violence and turmoil.
It is too bad that we are not discussing the building of a new Border Health Institute with estimated $500 million impacts. Right now it is a casino that may bring even more casinos. Is that what the Upper Valley needs?
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Editor, Upper Valley Beacon
Copyright 2004 Valley Publishing Company
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