Chicago needs to legalize casinos, dope, prostitution, coke, sports betting, then rebuild the Roman Coliseum and bring in the lions. After all that is accomplished BK is will still be required. Only the political class whores will get paid to set up the operations and of coarse we will get the fish to believe it is all a good idea and it will work. The redundancy of stupidity prevails in Chicago.

Oh come on. Casino's are already legal. That isn't the same at all..

It's not like cocaine or prostitution is legal in Hammond, IN. I'd much rather charge people to gamble than pay more taxes myself.

Current Illinois law states that all casino's have to float and be "operatable" as a boat..... so put the Chicago casino at the end of Navy Pier. Or next to Northerly Island or Goose Island. But considering Chicago's culture of corruption, it'll probably end up in a man-made pond next to O'Hare or something, accessible from the Blue Line to suck in the poor from all over the city.

I can see it now, the casino will hand out pre-paid transit cards.

Horseshoe is already accessible for the poor, they run shuttles. And for those on the South Side, Hammond would be closer than OHare anyways, so not sure that would really do much to suck in the poor.

If that's their target market, it's going to be on the West Side or the South Side.

(10-14-2010 12:42 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  DrTorch.. I'm not a gambler myself, so I don't really care either way. My point is though, some people do care, and are going to gamble no matter what. There's no reason Illinois, and the city of Chicago, should just let millions of dollars go out their doors every weekend to Hammond, Indiana.

I understand your point. And after thinking about it, it may work for Chi/IL. I still believe you overstated your numbers, but it still might provide some benefit.

I did want to think it thru first, b/c yours is the same argument I hear from Ohioans about losing money to IN. But the situation is different. No one is going to make special plans to go to Botkins, OH to gamble, you may just siphon off some people who were headed to Lawrenceville or Anderson, IN.

So at best for OH, you're going to see diminishing returns as you split the customer base.

Chicago is different. People will go there in preference to Gary or even Hammond. Plus you have conventioneers, and Milwaukee to draw from.

Nevertheless, in the long term there are costs associated w/ gambling. And it's not clear it's a solution by itself.

Definitely, plenty of costs with Casino's.

Part of the problem is, and I'm not sure how familiar you are with the geography here, but this IN casino is basically walking distance from the South East side of Chicago. Chicago's East Side neighborhood is the border to IN. It's not like people are driving 20 minutes into Indiana to get to the casino, they cross the border and there it is. So we already have plenty of the problems from a casino, we just have none of the benefits.

And it's clearly not going to be enough revenue to fix a lot of our problems, but I think it's just the most obvious, and easiest thing to put in right away that doesn't hurt the average tax payer who doesn't gamble.

With our convention center struggling to keep business in the city (union's insane costs mainly have been killing them, although there have been a lot of reforms there in the last year), having a casino could be a positive for them too. Our convention center is on the lake shore, so even if they have to put the casino on Lake Michigan, it'll be right there.

There are several problems with this casino issue.

First of all, Chicago is a cesspool of waste and corruption. They sold the Skyway and the parking meters for billions, and that money is almost gone already. They are dipping into reserves for this year too. They need to look at spending cuts before anything else.

Secondly, Chicago getting a casino will hurt the other Illinois casinos. There is a new one to be built in Rolling Meadows (I think that is the right burb). There are existing boats in Joliet, Aurora, and Elgin. The Chicago casino is getting into an already crowded market. Market saturation is probably already happening.

Third, when you hurt those other casinos, your hurt other governmental entities. The state is counting on the funds from the new casino. The governmental entity I work for has taken a hit when their allocation from certain above boats fell with the economy.

Gambling taxes are like crack. The lottery in Illinois was supposed to fund all kinds of education. Look where Illinois is today. It is not sound fiscal policy, my employer included, to depend on gambling taxes.

GBF, I believe you're referring to the casino in Des Plaines (near Rolling Meadows).
That and the other casino's you've listed are all further from Chicago than the Hammond, IN casino.

In any case, even if there wasn't a casino next door in Hammond, and we just had the casino's in Illinois, why would I want Chicago residents leaving to spend their money in the suburbs? Keep the money here I say.

(10-15-2010 01:01 PM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  There are several problems with this casino issue.

First of all, Chicago is a cesspool of waste and corruption. They sold the Skyway and the parking meters for billions, and that money is almost gone already. They are dipping into reserves for this year too. They need to look at spending cuts before anything else.

Secondly, Chicago getting a casino will hurt the other Illinois casinos. There is a new one to be built in Rolling Meadows (I think that is the right burb). There are existing boats in Joliet, Aurora, and Elgin. The Chicago casino is getting into an already crowded market. Market saturation is probably already happening.

Third, when you hurt those other casinos, your hurt other governmental entities. The state is counting on the funds from the new casino. The governmental entity I work for has taken a hit when their allocation from certain above boats fell with the economy.

Sure, but the cities look out for themselves.

These added costs are certainly real, and part of the problem. It's a fallen world.

BTW, since we're discussing IL economics, I was discussing housing w/ a couple of co-workers this week. One has a home for sale in Paris, IL (the other in IN). The one in IL is beautiful, brick exterior, nice lawn, a friggin elevator. It's list price is about 1/3 of what it would be where I am, and about 1/6 closer to DC.

This fed gov't bloat is detroying Middle America.

Paris, IL is basically Indiana I believe.. I've only met one person from there so I don't know much about it, I just know it's far from Chicago and it's small. Closer to Indianapolis (possibly St. Louis too) than Chicago. Probably pretty conservative and rural (as most of Southern Illinois is).

I'm sure it's relatively nice, I can't imagine how big a house you could get there for a reasonable price. Southern IL & large parts of Indiana have unbelievably cheap housing. Of course.. you're two hours from anything, so it depends on what your lifestyle is. If you like the outdoors or farming, not having to lock your doors at night, "Middle America", Paris, IL is probably what you're looking for.

(10-15-2010 01:39 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  Paris, IL is basically Indiana I believe.. I've only met one person from there so I don't know much about it, I just know it's far from Chicago and it's small. Closer to Indianapolis (possibly St. Louis too) than Chicago. Probably pretty conservative and rural (as most of Southern Illinois is).

I'm sure it's relatively nice, I can't imagine how big a house you could get there for a reasonable price. Southern IL & large parts of Indiana have unbelievably cheap housing. Of course.. you're two hours from anything, so it depends on what your lifestyle is. If you like the outdoors or farming, not having to lock your doors at night, "Middle America", Paris, IL is probably what you're looking for.

I have family in Paris, Oakland and Charleston, IL. I know the area very well – I think you’ve given it a fair description, but time are tough down there. Farming is still strong, but not much else is……

Terra Haute is the "big city" down there

(10-15-2010 01:39 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  BTW, since we're discussing IL economics, I was discussing housing w/ a couple of co-workers this week. One has a home for sale in Paris, IL

Did he work at the National Guard Armory in Paris?

Speaking of housing and living in Middle America, I almost bought a house in Oakland IL (it's about 20 miles from Paris, IL.) It was the old Lions house, and was bee-u-tee-ful. A 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom Victorian-esque mansion with woodwork and stained glass. It would need some future restoration, but it has a solid renting family that was long term committed to the property. I thought it would be a nice place to retire to, or retreat to in the upcoming zombiepocalyse.

It’s the home in the link with the turret.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qm86187...nd%2C%20IL

In 2005, at the height of the market, that home was $80,000. It had no interest for months, then as soon as I expressed my initial interest to the listing agent, it sold.

A missed opportunity, for sure, even buying at the top of the market. I'll be down in Oakland this Turkey Day, so maybe I'll go check it out....

(10-15-2010 02:08 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(10-15-2010 01:39 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  Paris, IL is basically Indiana I believe.. I've only met one person from there so I don't know much about it, I just know it's far from Chicago and it's small. Closer to Indianapolis (possibly St. Louis too) than Chicago. Probably pretty conservative and rural (as most of Southern Illinois is).

I'm sure it's relatively nice, I can't imagine how big a house you could get there for a reasonable price. Southern IL & large parts of Indiana have unbelievably cheap housing. Of course.. you're two hours from anything, so it depends on what your lifestyle is. If you like the outdoors or farming, not having to lock your doors at night, "Middle America", Paris, IL is probably what you're looking for.

I have family in Paris, Oakland and Charleston, IL. I know the area very well – I think you’ve given it a fair description, but time are tough down there. Farming is still strong, but not much else is……

Terra Haute is the "big city" down there

(10-15-2010 01:39 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  BTW, since we're discussing IL economics, I was discussing housing w/ a couple of co-workers this week. One has a home for sale in Paris, IL

Did he work at the National Guard Armory in Paris?

No, there was some other work down there which has since ended. If you asked around you'd figure out what industry I'm currently in. It's intentionally a sunset industry, but it's good work, and several people are willing to follow it around the country.

Quote:Speaking of housing and living in Middle America, I almost bought a house in Oakland IL (it's about 20 miles from Paris, IL.) It was the old Lions house, and was bee-u-tee-ful. A 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom Victorian-esque mansion with woodwork and stained glass. It would need some future restoration, but it has a solid renting family that was long term committed to the property. I thought it would be a nice place to retire to, or retreat to in the upcoming zombiepocalyse.

It’s the home in the link with the turret.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qm86187...nd%2C%20IL

In 2005, at the height of the market, that home was $80,000. It had no interest for months, then as soon as I expressed my initial interest to the listing agent, it sold.

A missed opportunity, for sure, even buying at the top of the market. I'll be down in Oakland this Turkey Day, so maybe I'll go check it out....

Beautiful.

Yeah, I'm looking around too. I'm still hoping GTS invites me to join him in his 40 acre hedgerow compound. But if not, I started looking at Hillsboro, OH the other nite. Nothing like the houses above, but you can get a good price on a rambler, large garage, and small barn set on a few acres.
I believe I could manage a few acres.

If that's the kind of thing you're looking for, I have to think Paris, IL is a good spot to look.

(10-15-2010 02:54 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  If that's the kind of thing you're looking for, I have to think Paris, IL is a good spot to look.

I went to college in IL. I hate IL. Besides, I'm an Ohioan.

Well I can't blame you for that.. the rest of Illinois isn't my cup of tea either. Although, I can't really understand hating all of IL, when the two halves are so different. A state this big, I'd think anyone could find an area where they fit in.

I personally think there are 4 parts to Illinois

• Chicagoland
• Northern Illinois north of I-80
• Central Illinois between I-80 and I-70
• Southern Illinois south of I-70

I'd say you are correct, and they are all very different.