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* UPDATED x2 * South suburban leaders say they got the short end of the stick yet again

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A coalition of mayors from mostly African American south suburbs are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reconsider a key portion of the state’s new gambling law, which they say gives the house edge to owners of a combination horse racetrack-casino over majority-black towns vying for a separate casino license nearby.

Not only would the two new full-blown gambling dens compete with one another for customers in a saturated suburban market, but the law also potentially allows the racino owners to block a traditional casino from setting up shop in the first place. That “11th hour” provision to the gaming bill only benefits “a wealthy, white track owner,” according to Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin.

”While this proposed law appears to allow two casinos (one with a track), in fact, we all know that this will never happen, and the favored track owner will have the only gaming property in South Cook County,” Chalmers-Currin wrote in a June 11 letter to Pritzker publicly released Wednesday. “I speak for the many minorities that suspect this is all a ruse and special legislation to benefit the private racino operator to the disadvantage of the African American community and its leaders.” […]

The bill also authorized another casino located in one of the following townships: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton or Worth.

One hangup: that casino can’t be located within 35 miles of the track — effectively ruling out any of those townships — unless the track operator “has given written consent” for the casino to open there, the law says.

Ugh.

*** UPDATE 1 *** I just searched the statute and the only mention of a 35-mile limit I can find applies to the distance between racetracks/racinos, not casinos…

(230 ILCS 5/) Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. […]

(230 ILCS 5/19.5)
Sec. 19.5. Standardbred racetrack in Cook County.

Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, in addition to organization licenses issued by the [Illinois Racing Board] on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Board shall issue an organization license limited to standardbred racing to a racetrack located in one of the following townships of Cook County: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Orland, Rich, Thornton, or Worth. This additional organization license shall not be issued within a 35-mile radius of another organization license issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, unless the person having operating control of such racetrack has given written consent to the organization licensee applicant

*** UPDATE 2 *** The CS-T walks it back…

Horse-racing advocates on Thursday shot down the incorrect claim of a south suburban mayor who said owners of a soon-to-be-licensed racino can block a standalone casino from breaking ground nearby.

But Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin says there are still flaws in the expansion, which, as written, gives substantial leeway to one of the state’s most powerful horse-racing families. […]

The Matteson mayor acknowledged the misreading, saying she and other south suburban leaders have since “gotten some clarification on that” from state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, an architect of the casino expansion.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:32 am

Comments

Companies are scouring the country looking for places to build anufacturing plants. One of the biggest challenges in unemployment rates being so low.

Why aren’t these mayors out marketing their high unemployment rates to attract employers with real jobs and opportunity for their communities. Alton, Metropolis and East St. Louis haven’t improved their local economies by having a casino.

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:37 am
and Joliet’s casino is roughly 35 miles away from Hawthorne racetrack already anyway….

Comment by six or half-dozen Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:50 am
“That “11th hour” provision to the gaming bill only benefits “a wealthy, white track owner,” according to Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin.”

Illinois Horsemen have been waiting 25 years for meaningful legislation to help ensure the survival of racing in Illinois. AP is a gem;one of the most beautiful tracks in the county. If AP and Hawthorn each get 1,200 gambling positions they will be hiring folks to manage the casino operations. Jobs that will draw from communities both far and near and both tracks have convenient public transportation options.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:57 am
@Downstate - Unfortunately manufacturing may be slowing. Del Monte just announced it is closing a 70-year old plant in Mendota.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:57 am
To borrow a quote from Field of Dreams, and amending it a bit…
“If you build it; they won’t come”

If this thing isn’t somewhere in the downtown area, no one will build it, and few will support it and come to it. Find a different way to help these areas. This isn’t it.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:19 am
Yeah, there are all sorts of manufacturers looking to build new facilities in the north especially.

I grew up in Thornton township the manufacturing base was shrinking 30 years ago, some didn’t just closed, they moved to the south.

Part of what these communities need is property tax relief because the rates are nuts. More manufacturers are not going to solve that problem short term, they are going to have to pay those high rates. New tax revenues are going to help

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:29 am
I think the mayors are confused. Here is the section of the gaming bill that they are spun up about:

==”Sec. 19.5. Standardbred racetrack in Cook County. Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, in addition to organization licenses issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Board shall issue an organization license limited to standardbred racing to a racetrack located in one of the following townships of Cook County: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Orland, Rich, Thornton, or Worth. This additional organization license shall not be issued within a 35-mile radius of another organization license issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, unless the person having operating control of such racetrack has given written consent to the organization licensee applicant, which consent must be filed with the Board at or prior to the time application is made. The organization license shall be granted upon application, and the licensee shall have all of the current and future rights of existing Illinois racetracks, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain an inter-track wagering license, the ability to obtain inter-track wagering location licenses, the ability to obtain an organization gaming license pursuant to the Illinois Gambling Act with 1,200 gaming positions, and the ability to offer Internet wagering on horse racing.==

That section is contained in the Horse Racing Act, not the Gaming Act. And it clearly refers an additional horse racing license being subject to written approval of any nearby tracks.

Comment by confused Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:33 am
For some folks the rub is that Tinley Park/Orland Township is not part of the “southern suburbs” (the Black ones) until its convenient. The initial legislation that created the south suburban casino included six townships, one would assume that the track would go in one of those six but all of sudden a seventh, wealthy white township is added and they already have an operator ready to break ground. Its all suspect.

I wonder what the State Senator who campaigns to the east but governs to the west thinks of this. Although he is trying to unload a vacant Lincolnway North to DNR, the State Police and/or School District 227 right now. The Mayor of Matteson is one of his political allies so I am sure he is going to help her resolve this, no?

Comment by wndycty Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 1:14 pm