Group against Chicago casino calls for referendum
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">A group that opposes Mayor Richard Daley's long-stymied plans for a Chicago casino called Wednesday for a local voter referendum on the topic.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">If the General Assembly were to authorize a gaming palace for the Windy City, the project would breed corruption and "change the nature of this city forever," Doug Dobmeyer, spokesman for the Task Force to Oppose Gambling in Chicago, said at a news conference.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"We're supposed to be a friendly place, not a city that reaches into your pocket and takes your money," he said.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The idea of a Chicago casino - and the potential millions it could rake in for cash-strapped state and city governments - has been revived by some lawmakers as they look for ways to solve the continuing budget stalemate in Springfield.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Daley has not said anything to discourage legislators this week and suggested Monday that a Chicago casino could help raise money for a state capital program.</font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"We haven't had one in a long time; we need it for Illinois' safety," the mayor said.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The influential Democrat has advocated public ownership of a casino here, but lawmakers have been cool to such a provision. The state's nine casinos are owned by private license-holders and regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board, while state government collects gambling taxes.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The Rev. Phillip Blackwell said allowing a casino would be "toxic" to Chicago. Rian Wanstreet of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs said the project would create "exploitainment," rather than economic development.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Dobmeyer said a city council majority would need to OK a local referendum on a casino, but he disagreed that is an impossible task even with Daley's desire to bring gaming to town.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Asked how the General Assembly should raise revenue, Dobmeyer advocated increases in the state income and sales taxes.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">GateHouse News Service in Chicago can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net.</font>