I for one say do it in the 500+ room hotels. I think Blanco is off her rocker for giving this proposal the cold shoulder. Let's see, New Orleans has a 24 hour alcohol serving policy, allows everyone to walk around the city with open containor, embraces the debauchery of Mardi Gras, HAS casinos(with harrahs being the only land based, obviously), yet Blaco doesn't think this is a good idea for the city???? It provides thousands of service industry dollars and will immediately jumpstart the tourism industry in N.O. But no, she thinks that tax credits and better public schools will do the job. Please, if New Orleans has no economy then everyone getting Federal Tax credits will take the money and run. And as for the public schools. What does she think? We snap our fingers and have the best schools in the nation, churning out thousands of eager and able workers to boost our economy? Yeah right, and in what time frame. Anyone else thinking this lady is really lost in space???
I think it is time we all started to accept the fact that the people of Louisiana anywhere north of, say, Gonzales, really couldn't give a Flying F%&# about New Orleans and what happens here. Just look at the way the state gov't has treated the Saints fiasco. Dave
What I have seen to be apparent is that this whole deal is tiring on the rest of the nation's water-cooler talk. Which is expected to happen at some point. I just have a lot of trouble understanding Blanco's rationale regarding the best way to get the economy and tourist industry rolling again. Many may not like gambling, but we already facilitate it on a smaller scale, so this isnt a major leap for a city like New Orleans where freedoms are held sacred. If anyone else comes forth with better ideas I would like to hear them, but as it stands now, far less than 1 dozen hotels qualify. Doesn't seem so bad to me.
I think gambling would be good, but in moderation. I would hate seeing something like Vegas happening, but I also see the good that the revenue from the MS casinos has done. http://impeachblanco.org/
Agreed, luckily the proposal would not allow casinos in the French Quarter. Additionally, NOW is the time. Mississippi is down and out for now, but will comeback with land-based Casino's(in the works as we speak). This would take time to build, but New Orleans hotels that are eligible can simply gut bottom floors and quickly usher in the slots and table games.
I disagree. If you want a revenue stream, you need tio do it in a big way. To have a timid aopproach here will only attract the low ball hitters, and the students who are tired of Bourbon street. I don't think that's where the money is. Plus, I think it needs to incorporate some PLANNING. By this, I mean think of the city as a whole: the hotel zone, the historical parts, and other attractions.
People who can't afford to gamble seem to be the ones who gamble the most. Blanco is just saving the residents of NO from themselves.
We already have Harrah's land-based casino in place, facilitating exactly what you are afraid of. I may disagree with you, but the fact that certain casinos already exist negate the reasons for having more(based on that particular stance). We already facilitate what you are afraid of. We might as well add a few more casinos to jumpstart the tourism industry. Big names with big dollars would love to come in and make big attractions available for tourists in the Big Easy. Had Blanco really had the poor in the forefront of her stave in office she would have immediately allowed the National Guard, FEMA, and the Red Cross come in the day after the hurricance to help, at minimum, to drop food and water supplies to those in need.
