Editor, The Spotlight;
I would like to applaud Supervisor Clarkson’s attempt to temper Albany’s “enthusiasm” about the economic potential of casinos by reminding us that there are many unintended consequences. As the potential casino’s next door neighbor, the traffic problems created from added cars and trucks and more inebriated drivers are real concerns.
Recently, my husband and I stopped in Las Vegas on our way to Death Valley National Park and had a chance to wander through the labyrinth casino floors. As we wandered from one casino to another, the glut was apparent. The gambling tables were devoid of customers while most gamblers, plied with a continual stream of pro-offered alcohol, sat mesmerized at the slots like zombies. With daylight banned and cigarette smoke omnipresent, we were relieved after some effort to finally locate the exit and get outside. While standing on the sidewalk, an alleged drug-related drive-by shooting occurred outside the ritzy Bellagio, causing the car driven by the victim to lose control. It plowed into a taxi cab hauling tourists and unfortunately, several innocent people died that evening. Be prepared Albany. A casino may create jobs, but at what price? Students of economic development policies are familiar with the idea of “aggregation;” that is, one big project attracts complementary and competing actors creating nodes of activity. I fear that a casino will do the same; attracting more trafficking not only of vehicles driven by drunken drivers, but also the most unsavory kind of trafficking…human and drug. Surely, the good residents of the City of Albany and their neighbors deserve a better roadway to economic vitality.
Carole Nemore
Delmar
Bethlehem Community Voices