Gambling is bigger than us all

To the editor:

To call video gambling devices “one-armed bandits” points to a reality that is complicated with nuances that are both alluring and dangerous. When I was a young boy, my dad operated a dozen slot machines for fund-raising events. I have vivid memories of taking slot machines apart and adjusting the weights to increase the winning combinations. I know there are regulatory agencies to guard against adjusting slots to make anything but random hits. But if mechanical slots could be adjusted, a fortiori digital slots would be easier. And if it is possible…

What occurs to me is that this gambling business is so powerful that it is impossible to control. I learned at a conference that legalized gambling in the United States is bigger than all U.S. theme parks, cruise lines, video games, the music and movie industry, and professional and amateur sports. That is a lot of money and power. Legitimate gamblers spend more on betting by $450 billion than America spends annually on groceries.

Another startling fact is that approximately 1.1 million adolescents from 12 to 18 were identified as pathological gamblers. Video gambling machines were described as the crack cocaine of making new addicted gamblers.

The marketing techniques of the gambling industry are pretty close to those of the tobacco industry. “Joe Racino” may become to this decade what “Joe Camel” was to the 1990s. Can you picture Berman, Ehrlich, and Cappelli standing before a Senate Committee on gambling and swearing that they did not manipulate the addictive qualities of their slots and that they had no idea that addictive gambling changes the neurochemistry of the brain (as does nicotine in tobacco)?

The sales pitch is all too familiar: gambling is family entertainment; it creates new jobs; it has a multiplier effect in the economy; a portion of the proceeds goes to support education, the environment, and the elderly. But gambling’s proponents steer clear of the social costs of addictive gambling brought on by readily accessible slots.

I think that the owners of Mighty M should save part of their profits to satisfy lawsuits. On second thought, only government may be big enough to sustain the lawsuits over the years. Elliot Spitzer, get ready.

By the way, kudos to Hiatt, LaBuda, and Cunningham.

The people of Bethel have spoken

To the editor:

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is soliciting comments about closing the Toronto Dam boat launch and enhancing the facilities at the Moscoe Road boat launch. The filing deadline is December 6, 2004.

Bob Barrett has recently filed a petition with 726 signatures from Smallwood and if you followed the letters to the editor and attended any of the Town of Bethel meetings you might have thought that this issue was a done deal.

On Election Day all of the voters in the Town of Bethel had a chance to voice their opinion at the ballot box. Our Town Supervisor Vicki Vassmer-Simpson and our Councilman Daniel Sturm got re-elected on a strong platform plank which again upheld the closure of the Toronto Dam boat launch.

Mr. Barrett, the people have clearly spoken on this issue.

Attempting to find a reasonable solution

To the editor:

Dianne and I have lived at 6 Summit Drive in Timber Lake Estates in Yulan, NY over the past two years. We received all of the proper permits from legal authorities; our home was approved by our local building inspector, an independent building inspector and apparently by our town as well. Now, two years later, our home is a total disaster. We are becoming ill from the mold and are troubled by the poor and crude workmanship in our home.

I have appeared before the Highland Town Board a number of times asking, “What should I do next to conquer our problems”?

I have received no satisfaction at all. It’s like the town board has separated 6 Summit Drive from all other properties in the town.

The New York State Uniform Code clearly spells out the duties of those responsible for the safety of homeowners prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy. These rights have been violated.

It is our understanding that the Department of State has reached out to the Highland Town Board to find a fair and reasonable solution to our situation. This is what we have been asking the town officials for over the past year.

I approached the Town Health Officer at the October Town Board meeting about visiting our home to view some of the unbearable living conditions. On November 2, she apologized for not coming and stated that she needed approval from Mr. Garigliano, the town attorney. Why does she need his approval to do her job? We feel that our civil rights have been infringed upon.

Luzon Station closure is a great loss

To the editor:

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. James Sullivan.

In one fell swoop you put a sizeable number of people out of work, caused several local businesses to lose needed sales and closed a well-regarded restaurant.

With no advertising, word-of-mouth alone placed “Luzon Station” into the public eye and launched an appealing dining facility: unique and fanciful, warm and refreshingly different. It had its own special personality and quickly came to be a successful, happily received restaurant, taproom and gathering place.

Patrons started out as strangers and soon became friends who brought others to enjoy fine food, drink and a pleasant comfortable interlude of amiable togetherness.

Now, what is wrong with that!

You have crushed and shattered a devoted effort and its happy, worthy fulfilling result. Hurleyville has lost a significant and pleasing awareness of its own respected presence. In my opinion, you did it with meanness and spite. You destroyed a dream, trampled upon hope and willfully wiped out a thriving business.

How sad, how shameful, how callous and unfeeling.

Shame on you.

Let’s see the petition

To the editor:

As a public service, I would like The River Reporter to obtain a print copy of the “Friends of Toronto Reservoir” petition that is claimed to now have over 1,900 signatures.

I am sure residents of the Town of Bethel would like to see just how many people who signed that petition actually live in our town and are entitled to have a say in this matter and just what the percentage of signatures are from other states—from people who have never even been to the Toronto Reservoir. Thank you.