Councilman wants vote on riverboat gambling
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JEFFERSON CITY -- It's been a contentious issue for over a decade: whether or not Jefferson City should allow riverboat gambling. Monday, at a council meeting, the issue was brought up again.
And one by one a few residents spoke out.
"We're raising an issue again that was here in '92 that almost caused a civil war in this town," said Brian Richey, a Jefferson City resident who spoke out at the meeting.
"I think the negative outweighs the positive, that gambling is not a way for government to balance the budget or raise money," Richey later said.
The idea of riverboat gambling in Jefferson City has been a hot one. In 1992 voters approved the idea but then voted against it just three years later. Fourth Ward Councilman Kevin Brown is trying to put gaming back on the table.
"There have definitely been folks who contact me and passing conversation say, 'Man we should have done that when we had the opportunity,'" Brown said. "And, you know, that opportunity isn't necessarily gone."
Brown said the time is right to let voters once again decide. At issue is Article 15 of the city's charter which prohibits casino and riverboat gambling within the city. He noted that Boonville, which allows riverboat gambling, has received almost $4 million for local projects that they otherwise wouldn't have.
"Other cities that have brought gaming have profited and received improvements," said David Welch of the Missouri Gaming Commission. "But we have not looked at any economic benefits or studies relating to Jefferson City. And I think that is an issue for the proponents and opponents of gaming to make the case to the public."
Still, not everyone agrees.
"The casino's they tout that they will give money back to the community in forms of revenues, contributions of various kinds - but they can't possibly give back to the community what they will take away from it," said Jonathan Hale, a Jefferson City resident.
Mayor Landwehr said he didn't think there is much community support for a riverboat casino, but it doesn't hurt to ask the voters directly. There will be a public hearing on the issue at City Hall next Monday at 6 p.m., and the council will take a vote in December to decide if the issue should be put on April's ballot.
Whether or not the measure will pass this time around is, well, a gamble.
