To quote a line from the movie Wall Street, "Greed is good."
The city of Hollywood wants a piece of the action if slots are approved by our citizens on March 8. If
they don't get their piece, they'll "campaign against slots." "I don't want it to look like this is a
blackmail situation," says the mayor.
None of the pari-mutuel facilities are in Hollywood, so why should Hollywood receive a share of the
revenue? The state school system will benefit to the tune of $500 million annually. Hollywood gets a
share of that (not important -- we want money). There will be no more expense to the city for police
than there is during the winter tourist season. Perhaps their expenses will go down from whatever they
spend on the Seminole Casino in Hollywood, the largest in the state. Neither the state nor Hollywood
receives a dime in tax revenue from that casino.
The thousands of jobs created by the Seminoles have benefited Hollywood businesses with their
employees living and spending in Hollywood. Additionally, millions of dollars flow into the community
for purchases of food, beverages, furniture, fixtures, equipment, plumbing and electrical supplies. And
don't forget, those suppliers have employees who live and spend in this area.
When Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach have slots, it means not only school and sales tax revenue,
but many more jobs year-round benefiting Hollywood, creating cash flow for the aforementioned
suppliers. Translate that into sales taxes, employer and employee taxes.
"We will be against it unless there's a benefit to the residents of Hollywood," says the mayor.
Unfortunately, the commission didn't look for benefits, just money. That's what it's all about, money,
not benefits to the residents.
If the foregoing isn't of benefit to the residents, what is? Those representing government should
carefully examine a situation for pros and cons before taking uninformed positions.
The citizens of Hollywood will be able to recognize a benefit to the community on March 8 and vote for
slots instead of watching potential tax dollars float out to sea on cruises to nowhere or into tax-free
casinos.