although i understand everyone’s reservations regarding the casino, the bottomline is that for the last 35 years, Buffalo (and western new york) has seen a serious decline in their economy. This is further exacerbated by the fact that business do not wish to invest in the region.
Every Casino opponent sounds like what they want is for this not to happen until something better comes along - whether it be the downtown being regentrified or for something that is “better for the community” shows up.
Guess what - those things aren’t going to happen. They haven’t happened in 30 years, what makes you think a knight in shining armor is going to ride in to save WNY?
Seize the opportunity that you have now - people should be jumping up and down for joy that any one would be willing to invest so much money into Buffalo.
so what makes you think that a new business is going to want to open up in the area near the casino? For example, If I decide that i’m going to go to the Casino one night and then I lose when i’m there, i’m not going to want to go to the restaurant next door to the casino because i’m broke. So they will be loosing my business and the casino will be the only one absorbing my money. Granted, I might win that night and decide that going to get something to eat is a good idea, but most people on the whole lose money at the casino. All those other small businesses are not going to benefit from the casino. In a struggling economy, how many people can afford losing money at the casino and then going out to spend more money after that? Again, there ARE better ways to fix the economny, but the “night in shining armor” isn’t the casino either.
so you’re willing to turn away a business that would pump millions of dollars into a poor community b/c you’re afraid that “people” won’t come in and invest once this business is established?
well, based on that line of thinking, where are these “people” now? Why aren’t these “people” investing now?
You could do both at once, so long as downtown is built to support increased traffic.
I would want to limit the store fronts the interior of the casino can have, and put those outside of the casino…and not stupid stores (I’m sure I’ll catch shit from the elmwood crew but we don’t need hippy ladies wild wood funiture type stores), Gaps, Bananas, fuck add some real designer stores in there too. I know plenty of people who take a weekend here and there to goto NYC SIMPLY to shop.
I’d want to work with the casino to pool money to build attached, but not enclosed restaurants on the property.
I would make sure part of the deal includes a MASSIVE OPULANT hotel.
I would want to spend a lot of time on the parking ramp design. The layout of the NF casino is pretty shitty.
The problem with downtown buffalo is the old industrial shit is fucking spread out everywhere. Something needs to be down about that.
WNY has the population and the population of wealthy people, to make a more “upper class” downtown work.
I’m all for making downtown a desitination.
In a perfect world, we could move the bills downtown. But I don’t see that happening.
Shit if we could come together with an impressive plan for downtown, I’d pay an extra 1K/yr tax to help make it happen.
It’s unfortunate this city was thrown together half assed, too bad we don’t have a few dozen billion to re-do the whole fucking thing.
Like I said numerous times before…NY is a democraticly run state. Most of the people in power have been in power for some time and will do anything to remain in power. That is why everything is being run the same as it has always been and they just raise taxes to try to “fix” the financial problems. You guys can’t say I’m just spouting republican bullshit because the history of this state speaks for itself.
i have a couple of problems with you believing that the money the casino makes is from the local community.
If Buffaloians are STUPID enough to give their money away to a casino, who’s damn fault is that? The casinos for “tempting” them? Not to quote Confucius, but a fool and his money are soon to part.
And what the hell is the difference if a Buffaloian uses his money to buy cheeseburgers at McDonalds, fishing rods at Bass Pros, tickets to the Sabres or losing it at a Buffalo Casino? Isn’t all forms of business and commerce in WNY just “shifting money” around?
There are just too many problems that come along with the casino that outweigh the benefits.
Can’t argue with you on this point. but due to the severity of the situation, Anything is better than doing nothing.
I don’t buy this whole “there are so many problems that come along with the casino” statement. The days of mob run casinos are long gone, replaced by big business. What “big problems” does Niagara Falls have, other than 12 million a year to play with, a bunch of jobs at the casino, a bunch of construction jobs putting up that huge hotel, more construction jobs to build the new parking ramp, and even more jobs working at the hotel?
I guess Niagara Falls has had to step up parking enforcement around the casino, but that turned into a cash cow as well, because they’ve been writing a whole bunch of parking tickets.
Degenerate gamblers will gamble with or without a casino in downtown Buffalo. Be it in Niagara Falls ON, Niagara Falls US, their local OTB, or online poker. If you have a gambling problem you’ll find a way to gamble.
According to John Kindt, a professor at University of Illinois, “The field research indicates that nationwide you stand to lose 1.5 jobs for every job the casinos create. In Chicago the field research indicated that 2 to 2.75 jobs would be lost if a land-based casino were built. . . . for every dollar legalized gambling interests indicate is contributed in taxes, it really costs the taxpayer three dollars to address the increased socioeconomic costs to society.”
Sounds good to me!!!
This NF Resident seems thrilled about the casino…
"Bob Vitagliano, Letter to Buffalo News, April 29, 2005
The City of Niagara Falls and its citizens have not benefited from the casino. We have higher taxes and sewer and water rates. Our streets are a mess. Our library is going to close, with no help from the casino money. Why did we say yes to a casino if it was not going to help the city and its residents? Niagara Falls can’t use the money as it wishes. Why does Buffalo want a casino? Give it to someone else, because Buffalo will end up like Niagara Falls."
i agree with tom. it’s funny, his first post differs only in syntax from a report I wrote 4 years ago when this deal first started.
I don’t think it’s positive. it’s already been said it won’t be marketed as much of a “gala” kind of casino. just more of a go there and lose your money joint.
there is such a small percentage that would go into the government through tax revenue. miniscule even.
not to mention they have the option to be an all inclusive casino. That means they can house a hotel, shops, restaurants, etc, and hold all the tax money for that.
do i think we owe something to the native americans? yes, a shitload
but spending what little money we have on something that won’t regenerate income, in the HEART of downtown, is not a good idea
Of course they’re not the ideal jobs - no one is claiming they are.
However, its better than working fulltime at Mighty, Delta, WalMart, Wegmans, Tops, Wilson Farms, McDonalds, Burger King …
Any well paying job is better than no jobs. At this juncture, any legal, legitimate business would be better than nothing.
Do I personally like the idea of a Casino? Hell no. It’s not a business that produces anything substantial. But regardless of the fact that the casino is service/entertainment business, the entity would still bring money to community and that is the first step in turning around the economy.
80K a year? Sounds pretty ideal to me. What about GM employees that work 50-60 hours a week? Does that foster a healthy family? Oh no! Buffalo will end up like NF! You mean a place that is in the dumps and no one goes to? I think we are a bit late for that.
BTW - what other potential business??? If there was all this potential, why hasn’t it happened?
So it hasn’t worked out well for NF, and they have a real tourist atraction there, why would Buffalo be any different?
“Dealers. Nearly all dealers have completed a two to four-year certification in gaming or a hospitality-related field. Experienced dealers who are able to attract new or return business have the best job prospects. Dealers with more experience are placed on the high-roller tables. While dealers handle a small fortune in cash and chips, they do not make much money, with median earnings estimated at about $14,000.” - California Job Journal '04
The proposed Hotel on Elmwood is something new. Obviously on a much smaller scale, but it is a better direction for the city.