24 Responses to “Jim Trakas works with MyOhioNow casino effort”

1. 1 Ben Keeler on April 15th, 2008 7:50 pm

   It doesnt look good, but he isnt going to win anyways, so most people won’t care.

2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on April 15th, 2008 7:52 pm

   I care! I care! People are letting me down! Where is everyone’s integrity!?

   Sigh.

   Just ignore me.

3. 3 Brian on April 15th, 2008 8:51 pm

   Good for Trakas! Ohio is squandering economic opportunity with their vintage era ban on casino gambling.

   I’m sure Indiana, West Virginia, Michigan, Ontario, and Pennsylvania are drowning in their own immorality with their seed casinos! Please.

   Yet another reason to vote for Trakas. He rocks.

4. 4 Joe Amschlinger on April 15th, 2008 10:05 pm

   I was just out going door-to-door for Jim tonight in Rocky River. I will continue to support him. Like Brian said, we are “sqaundering economic opportunity.” We are allowed to have state sponsored gambling (lotto) because .000001 cents of every dollar goes to schools. Come on. The government ran the mafia out of business and stole its money making schemes.

5. 5 redhorse on April 16th, 2008 12:04 am

   The guy’s trying to make a living in political consulting and there’s only so many gigs to go around. Even fewer that pay well. Meh, can’t begrudge him that reality.

   I’m not sure why you’re heartbroken, Jill?

6. 6 AMORALITYPLAY(BET YOU DON"T GET IT) on April 16th, 2008 12:38 am

   I am hard-line GOP, and I happen to agree with Jill, Trakas is selling out his principles for the campaign dollar….

   yes casinos make lots of money, none of which is going to keep organized crime from taking it out of Ohio

   just listen to the ads on radio, and wait for the name at the end (who paid for the ads)….. sounds to me like Italian Mob is back in Cleveland already, but want to place the casino in Cincy area?
   why is that, more traffic, or to squeeze out the irish mob that runs the show along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana??…

   And who needs the drugs booze and hookers that haunt these establishments, not to mention the conmen in boilder-rooms scamming old ladies with the promise of sweepstakes awards to get enough money wired to them so they can score some more blow, and gamble the night away

   let other states deal w/ that, we don’t need momentary construction jobs (that will likely go to workers from other states shipped in by their union (MOB) bosses…

   there’s got to be a better way to generate revenue in Ohio, perhaps we ought to get off our Union-Padded A$$e$ and start to develop some marketable products or services like other states have been forced to do….
   GM is moving back to Detroit, slowly, but it is going to happen, then what??

   Come on Ohio, we produced presidents, prophets & pioneers in all sectors of industry and technology, maybe we can stop feed off the corporate teat long enough to realize it’s time to trim down and run lean

   Like Edwin Moses, we’ve got Hurdles to cross, but we’d better get to the finish line first, before all the gold is gone…

   A Neo-Conservative (looking for my own way, not the union way)

7. 7 Jill Miller Zimon on April 16th, 2008 7:32 am

   Red – without saying anything more, I do know you are correct about that analysis.

   I’m heartbroken in my somewhat dramatic way but only partly dramatic. The real part is that it sucks to have so few political figures who even come close to what I admire and want to encourage and can support. Even though Jim is a Republican, I’ve met him and had enough exchanges with him to have found him to be more or less straightforward and, relatively speaking, trustworthy. Maybe even naive.

   I’m disappointed that no one else, for all this guy had done to be the fall guy for the GOP here, has given him work other than CASINO efforts.

   I think I probably voted for him years ago. And I’m okay with that.

   But as I’ve told him, I will do whatever I can to refer other kind of work to him so he can sack the casino folks.

   He of course hasn’t told me that he does or doesn’t support casinos. And we know that even SCOTUS chief justice John Roberts defended gays because of pro bono work he did. And I don’t expect he’s necessarily big on gays.

   So, okay.

   But I can still feel heartbroken.

   Come on – it’s just me.

8. 8 Bad American on April 16th, 2008 12:33 pm

   AMORALITY PLAY: Union padded asses? Who the hell works for a union here in Ohio anymore? All I ever do is go by shuttered factories around here, especially in Y’town and Warren and you’re gonna tell me it was the unions that killed them? Hell man, how many times did the union give back and they STILL moved these jobs overseas to the Worldwide Capitalist Sweatshop that our masters so wonderfully envision? Oh yeah, the professional class doesn’t have to worry about it so let’s just slash taxes to the bone and let the peons worry about it. Wonderful vision for Ohio and America.

   Gambling? Hell, why not? The whole country’s going to hell in a handbasket anyway, let ‘em gamble away what’s left. Someone’s gotta make the big bucks in this state – might as well be the mob or the multinational gambling interests.

   Jill: remember the old adage about ‘if you want a friend, buy a dog?’ Works the same way with politicians in the land of the fast dollar hustle. You can depend on the integrity of your dog.

9. 9 oengus on April 16th, 2008 8:02 pm

   This casino proposal for Clinton County is estimated to generate $200M in taxes each year.

   Then to pacify the ignorant masses, they are proposing that the tax revenue be divided among all 88 counties. $200/88= $2.2M each.

   Therefore, Cuyahoga County would get what $1.00 per resident each year! It will change nothing!

   If Ohio were smart then it would make sure that the tax revenue from any casino is not directed into a bottomless pit. It would need to be directed into a trust and relegated into real capital improvement project. That would ramp up, compared to dispersing funds though out the state that may sound fair but it would actually have little or no impact.

   Detroit’s Casinos generate $700M annually in tax.

   If Cleveland had three casinos then it could generate at least $350 and that revenue could be relegated into developing the lakefront, upgrading the sewers to improve lake quality and also build and expand the transit system.

   Cleveland is a city on a lake and has a window for tourism every summer, when it is to hot in the south people go north.

   Creating a new source of taxes that revenue should not be thrown into the pot, it should be used for massive urban development projects. These projects are or would be fast track revenue generators. That revenue comes back to the rest of the state.

   What is happening is the system patronizes ignorance it is devoid of brilliance.

   What is with this fair crap> it should be more about smarter, the revenue should never be put into the system they just squander it. The funds need to go into a trust and then each project that it funds highly scrutinized. No government entity or system should be allowed to become dependent on the revenue generated by casinos they already have defined revenue streams. Comprehensive Urban development would increase those existing streams.

   If Cleveland develops a regional tourist center, the entire state is better off.

   A new convention center, a reinvented lakefront, a new system of transit on rail and at $350.00 million a year, it would happen very fast. In fact, as it happened the entire event would be catalectic.

   Alternatively, we could just take the $2.2M and use it to operate a soup kitchen?

10. 10 Boring Made Dull on April 16th, 2008 9:03 pm

    Well, I’m not shocked that a Republican would take gambling money.

    One of the constants among the political class is an inability to see beyond the obvious.

    The social costs of gambling are largely invisible to these folk; as is the costs of diversion of investment from other industry to gambling.

    ‘course I’m in favor of eliminating the lottery and replacing it with a poor tax. At least that would be straight forward and honest.

    Then we could have a real discussion about how much the state should tax and spend.

11. 11 redhorse on April 16th, 2008 10:56 pm

    Fair enough, Jill, I get that and I understand your position on gambling. I’ve bumped into Trakas a few times, very brief exchanges, and I found him pleasant.

12. 12 Bad American on April 17th, 2008 7:16 am

    “Detroit’s Casinos generate $700M annually in tax.”

    And Detroit is still a slum that makes Cleveland look good by comparison.

    Have your gambling – just don’t think it will change anything except to run more families into the poor house faster.

    So this is what is has come to in America: gambling will save us. We can’t make tangible things like steel anymore because no one wants to pay Americans a decent wage with all that hungry slave labor all over the world. Wall Street and Supply Side Jesus would cry bitter tears paying those kind of salaries. Corporate executives would have to made do with less summer homes. So give ‘em gambling and call it an ‘economy.’

    Sic transit gloria America.

13. 13 Daniel Jack Williamson on April 17th, 2008 10:03 am

    I don’t like it. I had a brief conversation with Jim Trakas in 2004, during my campaign for state rep against incumbent Joe Koziura, at a fundraising event at Landerhaven in Beachwood for Senator Voinovich. During our brief chat, we both expressed disdain for Koziura’s past efforts to bring a casino to Lorain. I interpreted the conversation to be an anti-casino viewpoint, and supposed that Trakas was against gambling expansion. Certainly, Senator Voinovich has been very outspoken against gambling. Was Trakas being conscious of his surroundings when he spoke instead of coming clean on his gambling views? Or did he later change his mind? I have to wonder.

    I suppose I feel much the same way about Trakas in light of this new information as you might have felt when I brought Eric Fingerhut’s key role in the Learn and Earn effort to your attention.

14. 14 Jason Sonenshein on April 17th, 2008 10:47 pm

    “Where is everyone’s integrity!?”

    Wait a second, Jill. Are you saying that Mr. Trakas lacks integrity because he’s backing a ballot initiative that you oppose? I also support the expansion of legalized gambling (though I’m not sold on this particular initiative). Do I also lack integrity?

15. 15 Jill Miller Zimon on April 17th, 2008 10:54 pm

    Well – you KNOW I do not think you lack integrity. You KNOW that I don’t think gambling is a moral issue (that is, that it’s right or wrong).

    With Jim, it’s not about that – this is about consistency. How is he a GOP candidate and repping a casino effort?

    Now – I do have to step back because he hasn’t said that he is or isn’t against casinos – I assume he is against. But I could be wrong.

    When I think of integrity, I think about being consisten, true to oneself and the image one promotes. I feel that people who can easily eschew that dodder on the edge of sociopathology – that is, they can be duplicitous without care.

    That’s a problem for me, esp. in someone who wants to be my political rep. (though he isn’t in my district).

16. 16 Jason Sonenshein on April 17th, 2008 11:34 pm

    “Well – you KNOW I do not think you lack integrity.

    Thanks, Jill.

    “How is he a GOP candidate and repping a casino effort?”

    Well, the gambling issue doesn’t split along party lines. If I remember correctly, Frank Fahrenkopf, the head of the AGA, is a Republican. I really don’t see the inconsistency.

17. 17 oengus on April 18th, 2008 6:39 am

    The proposed casino in Clinton County is more than just a casino its legislation.
    I believe the agenda is based on the acquisition of some inexpensive land and then a push to get it built and to limit any other casino ventures.

    This is such bad idea, it is located in rural Ohio, it will not grow anything and ironically should be protected farmland. Seriously, Ohio really needs to be protecting its open space.

    If your against gaming I can understand that, but be careful. The surveys are beginning to show that Ohio is moving towards accepting it. The campaign these people will launch will take it further and we had better all hope this venture will not happen.

    The Michigan gamming, that which took place in Detroit is the best model, its what triggered all the other states in the region. That is why these people are pushing for one location, however it is not tied to a large city its in the middle of nowhere. Casinos should be in proximity to a convention center and is why this proposal has meeting space included. Detroit has the fourth largest convention center and the fourth largest gaming center outside of Nevada and NJ.

    I am concerned Ohio may be ready and the for or against debate will actually prevent any real serous alternatives to this very amateur proposal in Clinton county. They are creating a locked in environment, the casinos can be catalysts the certainly changed Metro Detroit.

18. 18 oengus on April 18th, 2008 7:40 am

    I actually believe politics takes it often beyond the obvious, it often gets into the abstract.

    Creating trusts and then processes to closely scrutinize the funds and expenditures is progressive. The issue with casinos is all about that, about maximizing the impact of the revenue. Concentrated it has high impact and dispersed it has marginal impact.

    Casino revenue is gaming taxes, spread it out and nothing will change, in fact, link it to general revenue and it will be squandered. The opportunity to create new revenue has to be used to fuel what the existing revenue system of government depends on. Not directly funding government but to fund the components from which government depends. New construction and the occupants of that construction or to reduce infrastructure costs or to downsize or consolidate government.

    Detroit was damaged before gamming not by gamming; they are using the gamming taxes to rebuild. If done better yet that revenue would to be used to have direct impact and the revenue should not be dispersed across the state that will change nothing.

    Consider this, if the lotto funds were not relegated to education and instead used to fund projects, it could have been used to fund a manufacturing start up, it could be used to purchase land and fund construction then let go of and the revenue would have kept coming from the labor taxes, the factory would not have the burden of the initial costs it would be more profitable.

    I do not have a problem with education receiving the funds …but they should teach something. That is obvious isn’t it! Like the odds of winning the lotto are similar to that of being hit by lightning.

    Using casino taxes to shore up a government system is a recipe for disaster if the funds go directly into government, they will become dependent on it. Those casino revenues need to go into capital projects, in fact most taxes should, they have the most sustainable impact. If what it funds is sustainable, durable and efficient.

    The other Detroit http://www.visitdetroit.com/meetings/

19. 19 Daniel Jack Williamson on April 18th, 2008 5:12 pm

    Detroit rebounding because of casinos?

    Ha! Totally laughable. Every time I visit Detroit, it’s so much worse than the prior visit to Detroit.

    I guess everyone sees Detroit and its casinos through different lenses. Personally, I think the assertion that Detroit is better off for having casinos totally lacks credibility.

20. 20 Oengus on April 19th, 2008 8:01 am

    Most peoples perception of cites that are negative are of those that have never spent any time there.

    http://www.theworldiscoming.com/seethechange.html

    http://www.greektowncasino.com/

    http://www.mgmgranddetroit.com/

    http://www.motorcitycasinohotel.com/

    http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mgcb/revstaxes_2008_225481_7.pdf

    http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/0,1607,7-120-1395_1469_7138—,00.html

    There is a substantial amount of tax revenue being generated, and increased last year to, I believe 24% of revenue.

    This report details were the taxes go…
    http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/0,1607,7-120-1395_1469_1472—,00.html

    I believe that that Ohio should look close at this and look at how such revenue could be used to leverage development. I believe directly injecting the funds into education is unwise, better to direct it into capital improvement project that would inevitably increase the sources of revenues the educational system depends on.

    It would be wise to use these types of taxes to reduce government through funding consolidations and also improve and make infrastructure improvements. This would increase jobs, also wages, and property values.

    It may pacify some that say gamming is immoral if we fund education then it offsets the negative, which is unwise. It ignores economics; direct the funds into what funds educations. Use it to build school, use it to build housing around the school, us it to build commerce in that neighborhood. If you water the roots the tree flourishes, do not mist the leaves.

    What is immoral is undermining economic with sin taxes, there will always be compulsive people, and the percentages of alcoholics, smokers and gamblers will exist it all about education and choices.

    Look at the bankruptcy rates gamming has fallout.

    http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/cog/A000002177.cfm

21. 21 Daniel Jack Williamson on April 19th, 2008 7:48 pm

    On the contrary, I made those observations about Detroit because I’m very familiar with the place.

    Allocating money for education by passing it through the casino-owners hands first is a very inefficient way to fund education.

    Be real. Casinos have done nothing to improve education. Don’t just look at education dollars, look at education results, too. Nevada, which has the most gambling, is ranked lower than all states except for Louisiana and Mississippi in education.

    Too many look to gambling as the silver bullet that will save economies, when it is a parasitic economic activity, siphoning money out of the economy. We’ve chased manufacturing out of the country, but any sizable manufacturer would do far more for any city’s economy than a casino would. Detroit’s thriving because now they have gaming? No! Detroit’s tanking because it’s losing manufacturing. That demonstrates how pitifully impotent gambling is in stimulating an economy. When Detroit had manufacturing but no gaming, that’s when Detroit prospered, not the other way around.

    Casinos in Detroit thrive, too, because competition in that industry is artificially limited. The gaming industry is not part of America’s free enterprise system. It’s an industry that can only exist because of graft and corruption, because somebody gets to be a casino owner with the government’s blessing, while millions of others are never permitted to open and operate casinos.

    The only states that don’t have lotteries or other state-sanctioned gambling are Hawaii and Utah. The residents of those two states also enjoy a longer life expectancy than other states do. Cause and effect? Maybe not. Correlation? Maybe not. Then again, maybe so.

22. 22 Brian on April 19th, 2008 10:27 pm

    I’m glad Nevada, the mecca of casino gambling, was mentioned because Las Vegas continues to be one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country that was all started with casinos on the strip.

    Now Nevada’s overall economy has suffered of late because of its total reliance on the tourist industry.

    But more tourism activity in Cleveland would help to diversify Cleveland’s economy. Total reliance on manufacturing hasn’t really served us well in the past 20 years.

    The money generated by casino gambling is very real. I agree that the money should be put in a trust and out of the hands of self-serving local politicians. An independent commission could serve as a trustee that would invest the funds into roads, bridges, sewers, lakefront redevelopment, schools, police, etc., etc.

    Casinos aren’t a panacea but they are hardly the root of all evil. When you hear the left oppose casinos, it’s almost as if they feel the general public must be protected from themselves and their urges to gamble away little Johnny’s college fund. Let people make their own decisions.

    That’s what we do with the current Ohio lottery system. A lottery pushed and supported heavily by then-Gov. George Voinovich. Now that’s hypocrisy in action. Not to mention Ted Strickland and his recent embrace of Club Keno yet steadfast opposition to casinos.

    Jim Trakas being a Republican Congressional candidate and helping a casino effort is not inconsistent. Just Jill grasping at partisan straws. And FYI: Casino gambling is NOT a partisan issue. Never has been. Democrats Deval Patrick and Steven Beshear are pushing casinos in their respective states. Strickland opposes similar moves in Ohio. While Republicans in Nevada have long served as a voice of the gaming industry and others vigorously oppose casino gambling.

    As far as Detroit goes and the economic impact of its casinos go here: http://www.tourismcenter.msu.edu/virtualtourism/omarcasinos.pdf

    That Michigan State research paper illustrates that casinos generate significant revenue and provide good paying jobs. It’s impossible to argue otherwise anywhere–Michigan, Ontario, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, riverboats on the Mississippi or Ohio.

    And the perceived negatives of casinos are either debunked or are inconclusive. Crime in Detroit actually decreased after casinos opened their doors there. And bankruptcies paralleled the path of the overall US economy.

    I suspect a casino in northern Ohio would be far more successful because Canada and its 19 year old drinking age would not be as big of a competitor as it is in Detroit.

23. 23 Jeff Hardin on July 2nd, 2008 9:57 am

    You have impled that Jim owns or manages Excellence Solutions. Neither is true. Jim is an employee of Excellence Solutions. I am a conservative Republican that grew up in the Warren and Youngstown areas. I know the evils of gambling. But the community that this casino would go in just lost 6,000 union paying jobs from DHL. If this casino is not approved devasting results for Clinton County will follow.
    Jim Trakas is a pragmatist. He is what OH-10 needs to represent the intersts of blue collar workers. He is 10 times better than the worst mayor in the history of Cleveland. Get smart. Send someone to DC that wants money in your pocketbook and jobs for your grandchildren.

24. 24 The Republican case against Issue 6 « Buckeye RINO on October 29th, 2008 11:34 pm

    [...] that have sold their soul as well.  Jill Miller Zimon of WLST outed one of the Republican backers: Jim Trakas.  There are others, I am sure, but they are engaged in a stealth campaign that, according to [...]

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