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Community Corner

Community Update

NILES DOES NOT NEED VIDEO GAMING



 



Dear Mayor Przybylo and Village Trustees,

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Last week the Video Gaming Committee reported back to you
their recommendation that the ban on video gaming in Niles should be lifted,
with “conditions”. What those critical “conditions” might be were not
specified. As the issue is before the Trustees at the February 25 Board
Meeting, I urge that before you vote on this potentially cultural changing
issue, a few facts should be considered by you, and carefully thought through.

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The substance of why you should not vote to lift the ban as
did the last two Boards are as follows. First, there is no competitive
disadvantage to Niles liquor license holders regarding the 5 – 7 video gaming
locations in Morton Grove. Do these locations really compete with Niles’ 60+
liquor licensees? Highly doubtful! Are Niles residents going to drive to
Wheeling to drink eat and gamble instead of in Niles? Hardly!



 



Niles has over 60 liquor license holders that would be
eligible to apply for 5 gaming stations each. That’s over 300 video gaming
stations, more than one for each 1,000 Niles residents, over 50 per square mile
of Niles. If the ban is lifted Niles will have more gaming stations than any
municipality in the state. Is that what the “Best Place to raise kids in the
US” wants and needs. I hope not. If this Board votes to lift the ban on video
gaming, such a vote would change the culture of Niles from a family centric and
child friendly village to one where gambling and drinking are a central focus.
In the 1950’s Niles was notorious for its gambling and underage drinking
culture. Over the years that reputation was improved to the point where Niles
became an All American City and The Best Place in America to Raise Kids.
Lifting the video gaming ban at this point will start Niles to regress. Put our
families first before bringing a few dollars into the Village coffers.



 



The argument that there will be no additional crime, social
problems or costs to the taxpayers with the lifting of the ban defies logic. While
it has been reported that other municipalities that have video gaming had no
increase in crime, none of them have 300 such stations at 60+ locations like
Niles will have. Lifting the ban will cost the Village taxpayers significantly more
than dollars than it will ever take in with video gaming. One recent example of
what gambling abuse has cost Niles occurred about two years ago when a Niles
employee faked a robbery, actually stabbed himself in order to steal village
funds to pay off his gambling debts. The cost to the Village was well over
$100,000, all because this employee had a gambling problem that he couldn’t
control. More such problems could reasonably occur if you allow video gaming to
flourish in Niles.



 



The only municipality near Niles which has allowed video
gaming is Morton Grove; not Park Ridge, not Glenview, not Skokie, and not
Chicago. Why do we need to do so? The liquor license holders would benefit from
having video gaming in their facilities, as this is just another revenue stream
to them. But allowing this widespread gambling in our Village will result in a significant
change in the fabric of this Village. For years Niles has tried to increase the
number of younger families moving into our Village. When a younger couple
looking for their first home or a bigger home looks at Niles they will
certainly question whether a village that is the biggest video gaming center in
Illinois is the right place to raise their family.



 



While we don’t demonize a business for trying to maximize
its revenue stream, the taxpayers shouldn’t be fooled into thinking this will
help them. Lifting the ban on video gaming will only benefit the liquor license
holders many of whom do not even live in Niles. The taxpayers of Niles will pay
dearly in dollars, property values and reputation if you vote to lift the ban.



 



Vote against lifting the ban of Video Gaming for the
families of Niles.



 



 



Very truly yours,



 



James Hynes
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