Why all the fuss about slots at track?
I have lived in Arlington Heights for a pretty long time, 35 years plus. I was here when the racetrack burned down. I was here when the Daily Herald published stories about how the village suffered from the loss of the revenue that the racetrack generated. Budgets were trimmed because of the lost revenue.
Yes, the racetrack was rebuilt and the village started to get some of the revenue back. I do not recall any trustee coming out at that time against "gambling" and refusing to take the money that the racetrack generated.
Our policemen, firemen and village employees need and deserve pay raises. Our police and fire departments need the best equipment to do their life and property saving jobs. This all costs money, something that is not unlimited. That money does not grow on trees but comes from taxes and other fees.
For the people on fixed incomes, how do they pay for these taxes that keep going up? Even the younger set of people can't keep paying increased taxes all the time.
I do not understand this resistance to slots or a casino at the racetrack. What do some of the people that object to the idea think, that the bogeyman is going to invade Arlington Heights?
Don't kid yourselves. Residents of Arlington Heights are traveling to other casinos and other states that have gambling. I myself sometimes do when I am on vacation. Am I going to hell for it?
Another thing I do not understand -- betting at the racetrack is gambling, is it not? That fact is even painted on our police cars. So, what is the problem with slots? Gambling is gambling. You either do it or you don't.
The racetrack, after being rebuilt, is a premier place. I don't know of any business that is built to be used for a few months of the year and then after just used sparsely. That just doesn't make sense.
All in all, the idea that the citizens of Arlington Heights can just keep paying higher and higher taxes to live here or that the employees will forgo a living wage when there is revenue knocking at the door is, frankly, nuts. Let us get into the 21st Century!
Kenneth Labuda
Arlington Heights