Anne Arundel Residents Upset Over Slots
Anne Arundel voters are up in arms about the very real chance that slots will appear near Arundel Mills. In a great rebuttal, at Mike’s Nether Land, the author lays out why he feels there should be slots. Personally, I am in favor of slots and have been for a while. On a core level, Mike is not. However, his post does have some great points. In part:
But the people of Maryland have spoken. They have overwhelmingly approved, endorsed and I assume welcome the return of gambling to the state. Now they should get what they asked for. They should be held accountable to themselves for whatever crime and traffic they were willing to foist upon the poor venues of the floundering thoroughbred racing industry in Baltimore and Laurel and upon the peaceful denizens of Cumberland and Garrett Counties.
No. If we expect our elected leaders to suffer or benefit politically for the policies they make, we should expect no less for ourselves when we make policy through ballot questions.
This reminds me of a group of homeowners that purchased wonderful homes backing up to open space in Bucks County Pennsylvania deeded to the State for a Route 202 Bypass. The actual route of the highway had been up for debate for literally decades and everyone thought it woudl never come. Well, it came. Despite the disclosures on the deed and the huge “Right Of Way” on the deed maps, these owners still pitched a fit–unsuccessfully I might add.
The language was very clear in the referendum–in Anne Arundel County, slots will be permitted within a 2 mile radius of MD 295. Time to break out your kid’s compass and a map!
Well…the people that bought those new homes and condos near AM, where they privy to the fact that a slots/casino would be placed so close? If so then their “cries” ring hollow. However, I think through the entire slots debate AM was never offered up as an option. Always revolved around Laurel park…and we know how that turned out. Seems to me the AM site is a very late addition, thus homeowners do have a legit reason to oppose the site.
@ SP Guy… I can’t see how they could NOT have known other than realtor incompetence. If they were living there before the referendum and did not pay attention tot he referendum–tough luck. But if they bought after the referendum and the realtor did not disclose it–probably an incompetent realtor.
But the fact remains that they are authorized in the County within two miles of 295. So realistically, as long as zonig can be had and it is in compliance with the law, they can go anywhere. We talked about Laurel park. Well they can close down the Walmart there and reasonably put them in the front yard of that community.
It is all about awaareness
Details…the Bottom Line is that County voters bought into the fantasy DESPITE the history of slots in MD, and the history of the lottery and KENO as far as actual revenue benefits are concerned. They deserve what they get.
And despite the arguments of many conservative bloggers that, surprise, the state will raise taxes anyway, with or without slots. So yes, Kathleen Snyder was lying to those in Severna Park when she repeated the gaming industry line that a vote against slots is a vote to increase taxes.
I don’t care if it’s two miles or three. People need to suffer the consequences of their foolishness if they are to learn anything. Perhaps a few years of trying to sleep with the blinking neon haze, the sirens and honking horns, the occasional shootout, will focus the mind for the next time.
In this case their foolishness was not heeding their mothers who undoubtedly told them that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Mike Netherland’s last blog post..Mo’ Money Maxwell