Who wouldn’t want a new casino-hotel-truck stop-convention center just outside of Moorhead?
Well, I can name a few groups.
The taxpayers of Clay County. The plan includes not only taking the land off the tax rolls permanently, but the complex will stress the county budget greatly. Roads, law enforcement, snow removal, and the social services that come with added gambling. Moorhead School District: Do you want to loose this chunk of revenue?
2) Any group that depends on gaming revenue. Who will stop at the Dilworth Legion for pull tabs when the brighter lights and excitement of slots are just down the road? Moorhead Youth Hockey? Forget about it.
3) Anyone that gets drinking water from the Buffalo River Aquifer. Does Moorhead really want a truck stop built on their water supply? Winona LaDuke: Where will you stand on protecting this water resource?
4) Anyone with a family. Can we all agree that gambling is addictive? Does the area need more poor, ignored children, broken families, unpaid bills and the expense of social services trying to pick up the pieces? Moving a flashy casino into easy reach of the FM population will not help make life in the area better.
Please, Clay County commissioners, fight this. Please, Minnesota legislators, fight this. Please Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, help keep Clay County as good a place as you can, fight this.
David Kragnes lives in Felton, Minn.
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