Proposed bills would prohibit cities from including casinos in urban renewal plans

[cigaretteman]

More bills dealing with new casino projects are floating around the Iowa Capitol, but the bill’s author said they should not impact the recently approved casino project in Cedar Rapids.
Republican lawmakers in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature on Wednesday introduced legislation that would prohibit a city’s urban renewal plan from including gaming projects that were awarded a state license this year.
Earlier this month, state regulators awarded a license to Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center, a $275 million project planned for northwest Cedar Rapids.
The planned location for that project is in an urban renewal district, city officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.


Iowa law allows local governments to establish urban renewal areas to redevelop blighted areas, fund private economic development and finance construction of low- and moderate-income housing, according the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency. The primary funding source for urban renewal areas is tax increment financing.

​

Cedar Rapids officials said the casino project is in an urban renewal area, and that they are working to understand the new legislative proposal while considering their next move.

While the property is located in an urban renewal area, casino developers have said they are not seeking tax incentives for the project.
Because developers do not plan to seek tax incentives, the newly proposed legislation should not impact the Cedar Rapids project, Iowa Sen. Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf, told The Gazette Thursday afternoon.

Proposed bills would prohibit cities from including casinos in urban renewal plans

More bills dealing with new casino projects are floating around the Iowa Capitol, but the bill’s author said they should not impact the recently approved casino project in Cedar Rapids.

nonpareilonline.com

 

[JimStarr777]

Things are never going well when the next step is to entertain a casino.

 

[Titanhawk2]

I've actually been to a number of casinos the past year or so, not for gambling reasons. They all seem fine, clean, orderly - not one problem

 

[MitchLL]

So far this session, the Mississippi North legislative action has been BEYOND ridiculous.

Making and proposing laws for problems that don't exist.

It's incredible and I wonder how Republicans can justify it.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

So far this session, the Mississippi North legislative action has been BEYOND ridiculous.

Making and proposing laws for problems that don't exist.

It's incredible and I wonder how Republicans can justify it.

Dems used to protect the little guy. Money for gambling comes more from less educated and poor.

 

[MitchLL]

Dems used to protect the little guy. Money for gambling comes more from less educated and poor.

You know why the gambling industry is still growing in Iowa??????

Local municipalities need the revenue.
Republicans in Des Moines continue to skim tax $$$ for their pet projects, so less goes to cities and counties.

Another example is on Tuesday, Reynolds signed a bill giving public schools a WHOPPING two percent increase per student for the 25/26 school year.
An increasing amount goes to the ESA program, benefitting private schools.
Anything else you don't understand?

 

[hydro2.0]

You know why the gambling industry is still growing in Iowa??????

Local municipalities need the revenue.
Republicans in Des Moines continue to skim tax $$$ for their pet projects, so less goes to cities and counties.

Another example is on Tuesday, Reynolds signed a bill giving public schools a WHOPPING two percent increase per student for the 25/26 school year.
An increasing amount goes to the ESA program, benefitting private schools.

Because dumb****s keep going

 

[MitchLL]

Because dumb****s keep going

It's still a choice.

Not everyone has an addiction. For many, it's still a form of entertainment. For elderly citizens, with a spending budget, it's a social event...like bingo.

 

[JMNSHO]

You know why the gambling industry is still growing in Iowa??????

Local municipalities need the revenue.
Republicans in Des Moines continue to skim tax $$$ for their pet projects, so less goes to cities and counties.

......

Yup, as my dear old dad has said ever since the boat came to Marquette and is patronized by all of the old crabs who oppose every school and municipal bond issue: "Gambling is the idiot tax."

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

You know why the gambling industry is still growing in Iowa??????

Local municipalities need the revenue.
Republicans in Des Moines continue to skim tax $$$ for their pet projects, so less goes to cities and counties.

Another example is on Tuesday, Reynolds signed a bill giving public schools a WHOPPING two percent increase per student for the 25/26 school year.
An increasing amount goes to the ESA program, benefitting private schools.
Anything else you don't understand?

I get that very well. Doesn’t make it right. What don’t you get about that?

You kinda spoke out of both sides of your keyboard.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

It's still a choice.

Not everyone has an addiction. For many, it's still a form of entertainment. For elderly citizens, with a spending budget, it's a social event...like bingo.

Like Bingo. Wow

 

[MitchLL]

I get that very well. Doesn’t make it right. What don’t you get about that?

You kinda spoke out of both sides of your keyboard.

Not really

I'm pointing out the hypocrisy with which the Mississippi North legislature and Republican Governor govern.

Still don't comprehend?

 

[MitchLL]

Like Bingo. Wow

We go to casinos on occasion.

You would be amazed watching the old hens socialize.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

Not really

I'm pointing out the hypocrisy with which the Mississippi North legislature and Republican Governor govern.

Still don't comprehend?

Yes but you made leaps. We basically agree

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

Yes but you made leaps. We basically agree

I do watch it. In Canada they are great for currency exchange. The wife hates watch and in Vegas she is allergic to smoke

 

[NDallasRuss]

I've actually been to a number of casinos the past year or so, not for gambling reasons. They all seem fine, clean, orderly - not one problem

I don't think the cleanliness is as much the issue, as the potential negative impacts it has on the community where it's located.

Year ago I went to the MotorCity casino in Detroit when it was brand new. It was after work, around dinner time. There were plenty of people in there playing, but it was the quietist atmosphere I'd been in at a casino. It appeared that the reason it was so quiet is that these weren't people in there having fun, spending recreation money, etc. These were poor people in there hoping to make more money, presumably to better make ends meet. They were genuinely invested in the outcome, because it mattered to them. It was pretty depressing, and we didn't stay long - we felt bad to be in there having fun pissing away money while knowing that others were in there because they saw that as their answer for getting through the month.

I don't think that additional tax revenues matter much if it's largely coming from the same community that it's supposed to benefit.