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Health & Fitness

WILL NILES BE "LAS VEGAS- MIDWEST?"

Recently the mayor’s committee on video gaming met to take testimony from “experts” and local residents regarding the legalization of video gaming for liquor establishments in Niles. The Board of Trustees voted against such gaming some months ago but the mayor decided to bring it up yet again. The notice for these hearings was posted inside the village hall and on the village web site.

 

On Monday, January 6th anti-gaming groups gave testimony about the horrors which come from such gaming. Families are destroyed because of gambling addictions and innocent children suffer from the actions of their parents and guardians. Some college “professor” barked about how Niles was losing half a million dollars a year in revenues and other inaccuracies. It was all showmanship by the promoters of gaming.

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On Wednesday, January 8th a few residents, including myself, showed up to counter the “pros.” We each had three minutes, while State Representative Louis Lang (D-Skokie), who was truant from the Monday hearing, spoke for fifteen minutes. His “argument” was the same ‘ole same ‘ole that he prates for the Madigan machine in the legislature- the State of Illinois will literally wallow in cash if such gaming comes to Niles. Interestingly, Lang’s hometown of Skokie BANS video gaming but he is content as Elsie the Cow to export Skokie’s gamers to Niles. What isn’t in his house he thinks should be in ours.

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If the mayor’s team suggests that gaming should be allowed, rest assured I will vote against it again. I have researched the topic and mentioned at last Wednesday’s hearing that the state gaming chairman, Aaron Jaffe, has repeatedly warned the public about the problems, social and economic, which come with gaming. Niles receives a small percentage of the so-called money benefits. Is it worth it?  There are too many financial and economic tragedies in America and we ought not to create yet another.

Speakers on Wednesday rightfully pointed out that adoption of gaming will change the character of the town which claims that it is the best place to raise a family. It must be stopped now.
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