Slots won’t save horserace industry

Mayor Arlene Mulder and the village board may not win passing grades for Government 101 but score big in a political sense in avoiding a public vote on opening up Arlington Park as a slot machine casino with occasion horse racing.

Let’s face it. Unfortunately, horse racing as a popular sport and one-time tax bonanza for cash strapped governments is dead, finished, over and only awaiting the overdue wake. It now belongs with the six-day bicycle races, dance marathons, indoor track and field, midget auto races in Soldier Field, Tuffy Twofists and the roller derbies.

If Arlington Heights wants to perpetuate horse racing by opening up to mindless slot machines it will not save the racing industry and certainly make no significant impact on Illinois’ fiscal mess.

State Rep. David Harris and pals, Reps. Sidney Mathias and Fred Crespo in order to seek cover in case their votes are necessary to win passage of the expanded gambling measure urged Mayor Mulder and trustees to go through a charade of considering the gambling measure. Harris and friends pinned hopes on trustees giving him a built-in excuse to vote for the gaming expansion and they could boast of only doing “the will of the people.”

All with the exception of Trustee Thomas Hayes fell for the disingenuous idea but wisely avoided a public vote and tossed the ball back to Harris. Mulder, apparently speaking for a “majority” of trustees, sent a letter in support for the gambling scheme to rescue the racing interests.

Harris in talking to the Daily Herald publicly criticized the mayor and village trustees for not taking a vote on the issue — which after months of prolonged polls, discussions, lobbying and debate he has not asserted an opinion.

Nice try but when push goes to shove Harris, Mathias and Crespo and the legislature will decide the issue whether the village board likes it or not.

Jim Strong

Arlington Heights