The lure of the casino is a powerful one. Just like the sirens to Odysseus, the ringing of slots and clicking of dice create an unquenchable desire to gamble in dimly lit rooms without the notion of time. The goal of the casino: to keep the unsuspecting travelers for as long as possible, nurturing their own powers from the lifeblood of the weary patrons.
For over a year, New York legislators have been fighting to give the sovereign Seneca Nation legal clearance to construct a casino in downtown Buffalo. Gov. George E. Pataki and Mayor Anthony M. Masiello are backing the plan, even though many constituents have mixed opinions. Neither candidate was elected on his views about this issue, since it is a relatively new concept. In the last year and a half, strides have been made, but their plans must be stopped.
The economic and ethical problems of a possible casino in downtown Buffalo are enormous. The most popular argument for casinos is that they draw tourists to the area and generate money. While it is true that casino revenues are huge, most of the money they generate will profit the Senecas while the 25 percent of funds collected by the state may not be concentrated on the improvement of Western New York.
The issue of tourism is moot; tourists will still gravitate toward Casino Niagara. The region in which the casino is located is already a tourist attraction because of Niagara Falls, and part of the appeal is the sheer novelty of being in "another country." A Buffalo casino is more likely to be patronized by nearby residents than patrons from around the country. A casino could be a final bell or whistle, but it won't be the needed infrastructure for the area.
Allowing a sovereign nation to operate inside of an already established city propagates the questions of legality. By handing over a large portion of land to the Senecas for the purposes of building a casino, Buffalo is giving up a considerable amount of taxable real estate, and there is no way the land could be reacquired.
Since the casinos will be outside civil, state, and federal jurisdiction, the Senecas will be able to sell cigarettes, liquor and even gasoline without charging taxes. It does not make sense for local businesses to support this kind of venture. Arguing that businesses and industry will develop around the casino is also unfounded, considering that the purpose of casinos is to keep patrons on the premises and spending as long as possible.
A casino will only create a slum of the surrounding area by draining local businesses and adding other vices. According to State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, the money generated by a casino would not be sufficient enough to defeat prostitution, violence and theft, which are crimes that flourish from the casino gambling industry. Much more harm will be done to the community by this proposal.
The other claim is that this casino will save our community by creating jobs. While it is a new company that will employ people, most of the jobs are under $10 an hour and have little room for growth. The majority of the jobs offered in casinos are not in the professional sector, but merely blue-collar tasks. A 1996 report by Pataki showed that a casino would cost job losses in the surrounding area upwards of 1,200 jobs; a casino would actually suck money out of the system, instead of injecting prosperity back in.
The decision to put this casino into effect is out of the hands of New Yorkers and Buffalo residents. Members of the Seneca Nation will soon vote on their next president, the outcome of which will strongly affect whether the nation pursues a casino in New York. One candidate is opposed, claiming that New York State will be getting too much money. It seems now that the only way that this leech of an industry can be stopped is by massive public outcry. A casino in downtown Buffalo is not only a terrible idea, but will be the first step in driving this city back into the economic recession which we have worked so hard to begin the climb out of.
