Gambling Hearing coming to Pensacola

Link to Rick's Blog article

Quote :

Do you want casino gambling in Florida? Pensacola residents will get to voice their opinions in November. The Pensacola hearing is one of four across the state as state lawmakers look at creating comprehensive legislation on gambling – including casinos, dog tracks and poker rooms – that will be addressed in next year’s session. The exact dates have not been set yet.

The state legislature has Spectrum Gaming Group working on a $388,845 study that analyzes the economic impact of gaming on communities. Part one of the study was released July 1, and the final piece will be out by Oct. 1, giving residents time to review it before the meetings.

You can expect religious leaders and law enforcement to weigh in. Will Mayor Ashton Hayward, Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Commission also speak at the hearing?

With an election year coming up, their opinions could become issues for the campaign trails.

I don't mind the Dog Track doing what they do already, but I don't favor a Casino here. Do y'all?

NO! NO! NO!!!!!!!!!  

I don't gamble but it seems to me folks are dropping their money in Biloxi anyway so why not put one in here and keep those dollars local. A nice casino would probably draw some more tourists who want to do more than look at a beach and a few more jobs wouldn't hurt either. I always thought the so-called Maritime park would be an ideal place for a casino - but too late now with Studer Stadium locked in. Of course it wouldn't take much to yank that cheap stadium out and move it somewhere logical - like AWAY from prime waterfront property.

nochain wrote:

I don't gamble but it seems to me folks are dropping their money in Biloxi anyway so why not put one in here and keep those dollars local. A nice casino would probably draw some more tourists who want to do more than look at a beach and a few more jobs wouldn't hurt either. I always thought the so-called Maritime park would be an ideal place for a casino - but too late now with Studer Stadium locked in. Of course it wouldn't take much to yank that cheap stadium out and move it somewhere logical - like AWAY from prime waterfront property.

There are locations near or around the downtown area that could/should be developed for a casino or two to come into the area...For some that oppose....here's a secret---there's already state sponsored gambling here in Florida in the form of the Lottery games...It would be a much needed boost to the downtown area and our local economy...But don't see it happening because of the backward thinking---hey maybe a huge wheel on the beach....

WHY put it downtown instead of someplace like the area where the Food World just closed at I-10 and Pine Forest Rd? The world does not revolve around the beach or down town..

There are locations near or around the downtown area that could/should be developed for a casino or two to come into the area...For some that oppose....here's a secret---there's already state sponsored gambling here in Florida in the form of the Lottery games...It would be a much needed boost to the downtown area and our local economy...But don't see it happening because of the backward thinking---hey maybe a huge wheel on the beach....[/quote]I don't gamble either, but have to agree it would be good for our economy.  I'm often asked by potential renters what there is to do here and the list is fairly short.  Like you, though, I don't see it happening.
Sorry, Mel, I'm not against it.

Jake, I have to disagree. Tourism does center around downtown and the beach, not Pine Forest.

Correct, tourism and the local economy does center around the beach with a small percentage in downtown tourism that mostly comes from the beach tourists and the base..  Having a tourist attraction to other areas would go far to open up more jobs for other areas..  Just a few small attractions are Sam's Fun City, Fast Eddies, the greyhound track..   One very profitable and popular one is the museum on the base..  Another popular one is 5 Flags Speedway with the weekly races and of course the Snowball Derby which sells out local motels and fills area restaurants for a few days every year, plus gets race fans back other times during the year to relax on the beach and see other attractions..  I think the closer it is to I-10, the more people would come to use it or stop by if they are just traveling from one place to another..  Imagine the people traveling on I-10 that would stop in for the buffet and drop a few $ in a machine but wouldn't go 10 miles out of the way to go downtown.  No matter where it's built, people will go, but lets make it convient for the ones going to the casino AND the people living downtown that will be impacted by the added traffic in an already crowded area..

Jake92 wrote:

Correct, tourism and the local economy does center around the beach with a small percentage in downtown tourism that mostly comes from the beach tourists and the base..  Having a tourist attraction to other areas would go far to open up more jobs for other areas..  Just a few small attractions are Sam's Fun City, Fast Eddies, the greyhound track..   One very profitable and popular one is the museum on the base..  Another popular one is 5 Flags Speedway with the weekly races and of course the Snowball Derby which sells out local motels and fills area restaurants for a few days every year, plus gets race fans back other times during the year to relax on the beach and see other attractions..  I think the closer it is to I-10, the more people would come to use it or stop by if they are just traveling from one place to another..  Imaging the people traveling on I-10 that would stop in for the buffet and drop a few $ in a machine but wouldn't go 10 miles out of the way to go downtown.  No matter where it's built, people will go, but lets make it convirnt for the ones going to the casino AND the people living downtown that will be impacted by the added traffic in an already crowded area..

Good observation, Jake. A location close to I-10 with a buffet would probably draw people in off the "big road"

I was on a short 10 day road trip recently and was impressed by the 50 miles around Myrtle Beach.. The roads were mostly clean, the signs were good and drew attention, but not overpowering, and the tourist INFO stops were great and provided a lot of info for area businesses and things to do.. Before getting to the beach, we already knew where we wanted to eat and the area we wanted to stay in, because of the info we got at a rest area 50 miles away from the beach.. They could teach our local businesses a lot about advertising.. The only place to get info on things in Pensacola is the tourist info stop by the bridge going to Gulf Breeze.. NO, I haven't stopped at the FL welcome centers on I-10 coming from AL, but the ones in AL and MS have lots of info on the things they have. We changed destinations 2-3 times a day just because of things we found or saw on signs or in pamphlets 1-2 hours away from where the places were.. We even found a LEGAL moonshine still in Anderson, SC and spent over $100 on some fine tasting shine.. There is another trip planned for the Blue Ridge Parkway once the leaves start changing colors in another month or so..

Jake92 wrote:

I was on a short 10 day road trip recently and was impressed by the 50 miles around Myrtle Beach..  The roads were mostly clean, the signs were good and drew attention, but not overpowering, and the tourist INFO stops were great and provided a lot of info for area businesses and things to do..  Before getting to the beach, we already knew where we wanted to eat and the area we wanted to stay in, because of the info we got at a rest area 50 miles away from the beach..  They could teach our local businesses a lot about advertising..  The only place to get info on things in Pensacola is the tourist info stop by the bridge going to Gulf Breeze..   NO, I haven't stopped at the FL welcome centers on I-10 coming from AL, but the ones in AL and MS have lots of info on the things they have.  We changed destinations 2-3 times a day just because of things we found or saw on signs or in pamphlets 1-2 hours away from where the places were..  We even found a LEGAL moonshine still in Anderson, SC and spent over $100 on some fine tasting shine..  There is another trip planned for the Blue Ridge Parkway once the leaves start changing colors in another month or so..

I have a brother that lives in Franklin, NC.  We're going to be visiting him at the end of October, when the leaves will be at their peak... according to a web site I saw yesterday.  We usually get there too early and have to find some mountain peaks where the leaves turn early, just to find some color.  One photo from a year or two ago.

Jake92 wrote:

Correct, tourism and the local economy does center around the beach with a small percentage in downtown tourism that mostly comes from the beach tourists and the base..  Having a tourist attraction to other areas would go far to open up more jobs for other areas..  Just a few small attractions are Sam's Fun City, Fast Eddies, the greyhound track..   One very profitable and popular one is the museum on the base..  Another popular one is 5 Flags Speedway with the weekly races and of course the Snowball Derby which sells out local motels and fills area restaurants for a few days every year, plus gets race fans back other times during the year to relax on the beach and see other attractions..  I think the closer it is to I-10, the more people would come to use it or stop by if they are just traveling from one place to another..  Imagine the people traveling on I-10 that would stop in for the buffet and drop a few $ in a machine but wouldn't go 10 miles out of the way to go downtown.  No matter where it's built, people will go, but lets make it convient for the ones going to the casino AND the people living downtown that will be impacted by the added traffic in an already crowded area..

You do have a good point, Jake. Thanks, it would make sense to put something close to I10. It'd probably be easier to get approved there too.

I don't gamble.  I don't care if you gamble...it's your money.  My opposition to casino type gambling would be the crime that would come with it..among other things.

If you want to live near a casino, move to Mississippi or even Las Vegas.  If you want to live on 30A, don't complain about the lack of industrial development once you do. If you want to live the Mobile Alabama life style, move to Mobile Alabama.

Writlarge wrote:

I don't gamble.  I don't care if you gamble...it's your money.  My opposition to casino type gambling would be the crime that would come with it..among other things.

If you want to live near a casino, move to Mississippi or even Las Vegas.  If you want to live on 30A, don't complain about the lack of industrial development once you do. If you want to live the Mobile Alabama life style, move to Mobile Alabama.

Wow, Writ, you feel more strongly about it than I, for sure.

Being rather sheltered and having spent little time in places like Vegas, AC and (yee haw) Atmore, I'm curious as to what type of crime it brings on,"among other things".

Totally serious here, I'm curious.

Well I probably came on too strong in that post. The more I think about it, geee, we probably could use all that casino excitement right here in Pensacola city.

And I'm not being totally serious.

Writlarge wrote:

Well I probably came on too strong in that post. The more I think about it, geee, we probably could use all that casino excitement right here in Pensacola city.

And I'm not being totally serious.

Ok, not serious, Writ.  Got it!  You must enjoy the quiet life that I do.

More than one phone call a week unbalances my "inner peace"!  However, being the capitalistic, free enterprising luvin, libertarian that I am, I've got to say........let em do it if they wanna!