Dear Friends,
Elected officials in the Village of Niles are hosting an Open Meeting to discuss an ordinance to ban video gambling machines within city limits. The meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Drive. Input will be welcomed from Niles citizens and Niles businesses.
Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email to Niles Mayor Robert M. Callero to encourage him to vote in favor of banning video slot machines in Niles. You can also call the Mayor’s office at 847-588-8000 .
Please follow up by emailing the six Village Trustees (listed below) as well.
Chris Hanusiak cjh@vniles.com
James T. Hynes jth@vniles.com
Joe LoVerde jvl@vniles.com
Louella Blaine Preston lbp@vniles.com
Andrew Przybylo atp@vniles.com
Andrew Przybylo adweel@vniles.com
Background
The Illinois General Assembly passed and Governor Quinn signed into law, a bill allowing liquor-serving establishments to have up to 5 video gambling machines. The law allows for cities and counties to pass ordinances banning these. Dozens of communities and counties have already passed bans, thereby preventing local family restaurants from turning into mini casinos. Video gambling is rightly called the “crack cocaine” of gambling. There’s no skill required and studies have found that it takes approximately one year to become severely addicted, versus 4 years of other forms of gambling.
The State of Illinois has a serious revenue shortfall which they think they can fix by expanding gambling, but in order for the State to profit, it needs to create thousands of losers. Is this good public policy? Hardly! With the potential of an increase in gambling addictions which lead to bankruptcy, divorce and even suicide, state lawmakers and the Governor have done Illinois residents a great disservice.
Thank you for speaking out on this important family issue!
Sincerely,
David E. Smith
Executive Director
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