Kalona News - News - 05/10/2005 - Kalona delegation protests Riverside casino proposal
Kalona News - News - 05/10/2005 - Kalona delegation protests Riverside casino proposal: "A group of some 20 Kalona and Washington residents appeared before the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission during a hearing May 4 to file a special protest of the proposed Riverside Casino and Golf Resort.
Herbert and Lloyd Mast, representing the Amish community, also appeared before the commission to refute a statement that had been made that they were in favor of - or not opposed to the casino.
'We didn't feel we had the right to protest as we did not vote in the casino referendum,' Herbert Mast said. 'However, we wanted to make it clear that a statement that had allegedly been made to the commission that they weren't opposed was completely inaccurate.'
A petition signed by 100 Kalona area Amish was presented to the commission by James Hussey, Kalona.
Following the all-day hearing in Johnston, the commission members said they would favor issuing three to five licenses. They were scheduled to announce their selection from the 10 applicants at their meeting in Johnston on May 11. (log-on to www.kalonanews.com Wednesday for results from the commission).
In his presentation to the commission, Hussey stated, 'As you know, the Washington County vote was the closest of any that passed-4.4 percent. The other margins ranged from 5.6 percent to 50 percent. You should also note that the casino picked the referendum date, lobbied hard for the shortest possible campaign timeframe, and hoped the anti-casino group wouldn't have the time or resources to muster an effective counter-campaign. Obviously, they almost lost that bet. If you must approve licenses, please give them to casinos with broad public support, not to one where a bitter election divides residents to this day.'
Hussey protested that"
Herbert and Lloyd Mast, representing the Amish community, also appeared before the commission to refute a statement that had been made that they were in favor of - or not opposed to the casino.
'We didn't feel we had the right to protest as we did not vote in the casino referendum,' Herbert Mast said. 'However, we wanted to make it clear that a statement that had allegedly been made to the commission that they weren't opposed was completely inaccurate.'
A petition signed by 100 Kalona area Amish was presented to the commission by James Hussey, Kalona.
Following the all-day hearing in Johnston, the commission members said they would favor issuing three to five licenses. They were scheduled to announce their selection from the 10 applicants at their meeting in Johnston on May 11. (log-on to www.kalonanews.com Wednesday for results from the commission).
In his presentation to the commission, Hussey stated, 'As you know, the Washington County vote was the closest of any that passed-4.4 percent. The other margins ranged from 5.6 percent to 50 percent. You should also note that the casino picked the referendum date, lobbied hard for the shortest possible campaign timeframe, and hoped the anti-casino group wouldn't have the time or resources to muster an effective counter-campaign. Obviously, they almost lost that bet. If you must approve licenses, please give them to casinos with broad public support, not to one where a bitter election divides residents to this day.'
Hussey protested that"
posted by Radon | 12:48 AM
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