There are certain times in life when unique opportunities present themselves for individuals from various backgrounds and ideologies to unite together for the “greater good” regardless of previous differences or perspectives. Such is the time we find ourselves in at the present regarding State Issue 3.
Assembled in this room are leaders of both political parties in our county as well as representatives from the Youngstown Mayor’s office, educators, and clergy from various expressions of faith who are joined together this afternoon with one common objective—defeating Issue 3 on Tuesday. Our intense objection to this proposed amendment to the State Constitution is personal, passionate, and today, public. While there are, no doubt, a variety of reasons among us for our opposition to Issue 3, what unites us is the common ground we share in believing that Issue 3 is a bad deal for the Valley and a bad deal for the good people of this great State.
Therefore, we join with the Youngstown City Council in their unanimous opposition to Issue 3 as well as other local, civic, and church groups. Even a cursory glance at the individuals gathered today reveals individual differences, methods, beliefs, and party affiliation. However, we feel strongly that State Issue 3 is of such magnitude and potentially so damaging to our area that it requires nothing less than a joint effort that reaches across party, cultural, and religious lines for the welfare of our Valley and the future of the State of Ohio.
The following are but a few of the many reasons why we stand in opposition to Issue 3:
- We believe that it is NOT in the best interest of Ohioans for casino properties to be owned and controlled by out of state casino developers.
- We believe that it is NOT in the best interest of Ohioans for our honored State Constitution to be used to create a private monopoly that favors the wealthy few instead of the hard-working, tax-paying many.
- We believe that it is NOT in the best interest of Ohioans when the lack of competitive bidding in the area of casino licensing results in the loss of millions of dollars of unrealized revenue.
- We believe that it is NOT in the best interest of Ohioans to have their Constitution redefined by the “Casino gaming” regulations of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as outlined in the proposed amendment (Article XV, Section 6, Sub-section (C)(3)(9)(d)).
- We believe that it is NOT in the best interest of the Mahoning Valley for more money and resources to be drained from our area.
- We believe that it is NOT in the best interest of the Valley if any proposed casino revenue is then offset by reductions in current state subsidies through the Local Government Fund.
- Simply put, we believe that Issue 3 is NOT in the best interest of local workers, small businesses, and community social services. Quite frankly, Issue 3 is just a bad idea framed in an even worse amendment. It’s the wrong thing, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Therefore, we issue this joint statement today inviting others to follow our lead reaching out across party lines with a resolute and broad-based commitment—whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, or heretofore unengaged—and simply vote “No” on Issue 3.
A Pastor's Response to this "Historic Meeting"
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