Posts Tagged Cleveland Cavs
Mayor Jackson a Disappointment, Servant of Big Shots
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Politicians on September 23, 2009
Every day in every way, Mayor Frank Jackson is a disappointment.
Jackson today endorsed casinos – Issue 3 – as an economic development gain for downtown Cleveland. It will take money out of Cleveland, that’s what it would do.
Vote NO on 3.
“Mayor Jackson’s vision of revitalizing Cleveland is having 25,000 people living downtown, thousands of people working downtown and 150,000 additional people visiting downtown. ‘Although not a panacea, I believe this casino will go a long way in helping to achieve that vision,’ said Mayor Jackson,” a press release by email said.
Not a panacea is the line the casino people are pushing.
The only thing a gambling casino will do for Cleveland is enrich a guy who lives in Detroit.
What’s ironic is that Gateway was supposed to be the spur that kicked Cleveland to riches.
One of the beneficiaries of Gateway, of course, is Dan Gilbert, who owns the Cavaliers.
Jackson has now become a very conventional Cleveland Mayor – Give the Big Boys What They Want. And do it fast.
What a disappointment.
Wise to Combine LeBron James and a Gambling Casino?
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development on September 19, 2009
The fact that Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association will own casinos is reason for a NO vote against the casino issue on the November ballot.
I can’t understand how NBA chief David Stern can look the other way when one of his franchise owners combines basketball in Cleveland with a casino.
The NBA and Stern were marred when the FBI investigated and found that NBA referee Tim Donaghy was betting on games he officiated.
It seems to me that not only does it put the NBA in a ticklish situation but it also puts Cleveland Cavalier players in a bad position.
Would LeBron James, for example, spend some time in Gilbert’s casino after Cavs games? Would he be barred? If he were barred, why would he be barred? Or Delonte West?
It raises serious questions. If he were barred one reason obviously would be that he’d likely be rubbing shoulders with bettor on Cavs games.
Now you wouldn’t expect that James would have to ingratiate himself with gamblers but you never know, do you?
Stern admitted that half of NBA referees violated the league’s no gambling rule by visiting casinos in one year. Stern took the violations lightly, saying that the rule was “overly broad.”
Awfully lenient of Stern.
Well, when the referees and players are a few minutes from a casino doesn’t that suggest there could be a problem?
Frankly, I don’t know how any major league sport league could allow a team owner to combine ownership with a gambling joint.
And with the corruption problems that Cuyahoga County has been hit with in recent times, do we want to add the influence of gambling and the characters big time gambling attracts? I don’t think so.
Gilbert also is the wealthy chairman and founder of Quicken Loans, leading online home lender.
He is, of course, benefits greatly from the public subsidies of Quicken Arena, formerly Gund Arena, which has been heavily subsidized by Cuyahoga County taxpayers. Indeed, Cuyahoga County is still paying for the $120 million in bonds issued to complete the arena in the early 1990s. Doesn’t he have enough?
And will he be looking for tax subsidies for the hotel that’s promised with the casino? Well, of course, he will.
These guys never stop with the golden begging cup.
Finally, why isn’t this gambling situation a major issue in the casino battle?