Kass on the County’s New Casino
John Kass (as usual) hits the nail on the head in today’s column about the new casino slated for Des Plaines.
Here’s an excerpt that enforces what we’ve written here previously:
Board members couldn’t give the license to Rosemont, since politicians were shocked, shocked I tell you, when they found out a while back that Rosemont has connections to the Chicago Outfit…
… Last week, the gaming board members couldn’t give the casino to the other town that wanted it, Waukegan, because board members were privately worried that indicted Republican boss Big Bill Cellini had hidden connections with the deal, and they didn’t want to look stupid later.
So Des Plaines got the casino license. For some strange reason, perhaps it’s just hives, my itchiness tells me that politicians see a jackpot and that the guys behind the guys in Rosemont will wet their beaks in Des Plaines. It’s almost across the street.
What happens in Cook County …
Filed under: Budget, Casino, Corruption, Taxes, Todd Stroger
Corruption. Organized crime. Casinos.
Are we talking about Las Vegas or Cook County? Try both.
With Des Plaines being awarded Illinois’ 10th casino license this week, Cook County has hit the trifecta. We are officially big time.
Bright lights. Big county.
It is so fitting that, at the same time Cook County’s very own hometown governor - Rod Blagojevich - is in the national spotlight for alleged corruption, our county wins the state’s latest casino license.
Cook County and and a casino. It just seems right.
One town with a reputation for corruption and alleged mob ties loses out in the casino license competition - so they just put it in the town next door. Makes sense. That’s the Cook County way.
And, as far as the state is concerned, gambling has long been the answer to our budgetary prayers. Remember when the lottery was supposed to close our education funding gap?
Oops.
We suppose the new casino will be solve the problem, too.
Now, whether or not you agree with gambling, we’d like you to consider whether or not state-controlled gambling is a fitting substitute for a real, honest economic growth agenda.
And whether or not a corrupt state government like that in Illinois should have control of casinos. And whether a corrupt county like Cook should be able to host one.
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