May,1995
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A Bridgeport Casino: Savior or Curse?
By Sandra Jarret
Will a casino be the savior to rise from the streets of Bridgeport? On March 28, Bridgeport residents voted overwhelmingly in support of a referendum calling for a casino in the city. As residents of Bridgeport, we should be wary about gambling coming to our city.
We should look to Atlantic City, New Jersey as an example of what can happen to our city. Some people support the idea of a casino in Bridgeport because they say it will bring jobs but there is no guarantee that Bridgeport residents will receive the majority of the jobs created by a new casino. Over seventy-five percent of Atlantic City casino employees live outside of the city and many of the city residents who are employed by the casinos occupy positions which pay the lower salaries.
The first casino in Atlantic City was opened in 1977 and by 1982 the crime rate of the city had increased dramatically. Accusations were made by Church groups that residents were being burned out their buildings so that more development could take place. Seventeen years has passed and the crime rate has continued to rise, increasing the need for police protection in the city.
There is also a chance the casino will bring more drugs and crime to Bridgeport, increasing our need for police protection. Some say we can learn from Atlantic City's mistakes and negotiate a better deal from the casinos. But what about the families ruined by gambling? Why is there a need for an organization such as Gamblers Anonymous?
Look ahead, can you see yourself gambling away your pay check? Can you see heads of households gambling their pay checks in hopes of getting lucky. Can you see people on welfare gambling their checks, dreaming of a better life? When misfortune strikes these people what will they do? These might be the same people who might stop you downtown or in Trumbull and ask you for change so they can catch the bus.
