THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2008
Mayor Confident In Casino Pitch
Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia says he feels "pretty good" about the presentation he and casino developer Neil Bluhm gave to members of the Illinois Gaming Board Tuesday in their quest to garner support for a gaming operation here.
Representatives from the three casino finalists gave 90 minute presentations in downtown Chicago Tuesday as the five-member board nears making a decision on which applicant will win the state's 10th casino license. Midwest Gaming and Entertainment LLC wants to operate a casino in Des Plaines at River Road and Devon Avenue; Trilliant Gaming Illinois LLC wants to operate a casino in Rosemont along the Tri-State Tollway; and Waukegan Gaming LLC wants to operate a casino in Waukegan at the former Lakehurst Mall site. All three unveiled details of their plans to the Gaming Board Tuesday.
"It's still going to be up to the Gaming Board," said Arredia on Wednesday. "This is a big test to the credibility of the entire state."
Arredia said he thought representatives of the three municipalities where the 10th casino may be located should have been asked more questions by Gaming Board members at Tuesday's hearing.
"I was all prepared to answer questions about the variety of special programs and services we have here in Des Plaines," said Arredia. He was referring to numerous services and agencies that help deal with problems such as alcohol abuse and gambling addiction.
"We have half a dozen programs in place here now. We could expand them if there is a need," Arredia said.
Arredia also stressed the fact that Des Plaines' proposal includes sharing 20% of its host community tax revenue with the 10 most economically depressed communities in the state. In Rosemont, he said, its revenue sharing program calls for distributing nearly all of its host tax revenue to 70 area communities. Many of those communities, said Arredia are not economically depressed. Former Rosemont Mayor Don Stephens crafted that plan several years ago as a way of drumming up support for a casino. Des Plaines was one of the towns that voted not to participate in Rosemont's revenue sharing program.
"When I was an alderman I really pushed not to be part of Rosemont's revenue sharing. My reasoning was that since we are that close to Rosemont and our police and fire services might be needed, we should be getting a larger portion. It was the best move we didn't make."