Casinos are not a way to fund transit

I am outraged that the Illinois Senate has taken the easy, less reliable way out to address funding of mass transit by voting to allow three new casinos to open. I strongly urge the Illinois House to soundly reject this approach and send a clear message that we expect and demand that lawmakers we send to Springfield come up with real solutions to real problems. Mass transit is facing a crisis on Nov. 4 if new funding is not found.

Over 30 years ago, Illinois citizens were told that the lottery would provide funding for education. Judging by the numerous requests by school districts for property tax increases, we can see how well that has worked out.

Expanded gambling is no way to finance anything.

First, it is an attack on the working poor Gov. Blagojevich says he cares so much about. Just go to a casino and you will see that many who are there don't have money to be throwing away on gambling, but are spending what they have in hopes of hitting the big jackpot.

Secondly, funding from gambling is not something that can be planned for. How will Pace, Metra the Chicago Transit Authority and the Regional Transportation Authority know from year to year how much money is going to be available from expanded gambling? They won't and we commuters will continue to be used as pawns and subjected to frequent anxiety, as we will have to worry about services we depend on being cut. The Senate plan also does nothing to reform our region's transit systems to recognize public transit is not just a Chicago issue but a regional one.

As a person who is blind who depends on Pace to get around, I am sick and tired of seeing Pace treated as if it doesn't exist. Approval of the Senate's plan will ensure this shoddy treatment will continue. Public transit is called public transit for a reason; it is paid for by the public for the benefit of the public. I urge the House to resoundingly defeat the Senate's plan for transit funding so that a real solution that provides a steady source of funding and needed transit reforms can be brought forward.

Transit affects real people like me and I am sick and tired of seeing politicians in Springfield trying to wash their hands of it.

Ray Campbell

Glen Ellyn