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Some years ago when the leges were actually debating whether to have riverboat casino gambling in LA, the “cover story” for this form of legalized gambling was the jobs and other economic development that they would generate. A point was made by opponents that once a riverboat casino sucked all the money out of a community, it would simply lift it’s anchor and go to another locale. The point made by the opponents was dismissed out-of-hand. However exactly what they predicted has and is happening around the state.

Early on the casinos docked in downtown New Orleans (thought to a gambling Mecca) quickly went bankrupt and moved on to other venues. Now, the casino that was docked on the lakefront (and losing money) in New Orleans is now on its way to Amelia in St. Mary Parish. One of the casinos in Lake Charles wants to move to West Baton Rouge Parish. It’s a costly game of “musical casinos.” Where they stop nobody knows.

Economic development is said to be the creation of new wealth. New wealth is that money which comes from outside the state. What we see now is a mere shifting of existing dollars from one pocket to another.

We see the new venues for the old casinos touting the gains in jobs and government revenues, but there is little discussion of the jobs revenues lost at the previous locale. Anecdotal evidence is that as the boats shift locations, the number of jobs decline.

Lessons not learned

Legalized gambling is not economic development. State and local government are addicted to gambling revenues the same as gambling addicts are addicted to the games.

As a result of the lessons not learned, no in-patient or out-patient treatment has been developed for the addiction of our local governments. When the “fix” is taken away, local governments have two choices: raise taxes or cut services. If history is any indicator, as with any gambling addict, getting more revenues (another “fix”) will be the cure of choice.

As the leges became owned by Organized Gambling and the state has become addicted to gambling revenues, no longer is any weight given to whether legalized gambling is beneficial to the people of LA.

Current evidence is to the fact that fewer casinos in LA are producing more government revenues. Although the additional revenues are likely temporary, clearly all the casinos are not needed to feed the state’s addiction. More casinos only spread the revenues around.

My point

I’m not suggesting that we should repeal all the existing gambling. I’m not naive enough to get between an addict and his “fix.” What I am suggesting is that more scrutiny is needed of the overall impact of gambling on the state’s economy. After a casinos boat sucks all it can from a community, perhaps it should NOT be re-licensed in another community just because the local officials can convince the voters to provide them with a “fix.”

Looking at the overall impact of gambling on our state in the absence of the leges is the job of the Gambling Promotion and Protection Board. About all we ever hear from these folks is a monthly report of the “fix.” Shouldn’t we look at the downside of our governmental addiction?

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

Attorney General Charlie Foti has finally arrived at the war on crime in New Orleans. Not only is he late, but he came only armed with the equivalent of a knife for a gunfight.

Pre-Katrina, crime was out of hand in New Orleans. In the weeks and months after Katrina, it escalated until the National Guard had to be returned. Crime is now spreading to all parts of the metro New Orleans area and other parishes are requesting crime fighting assistance.

Yesterday, after months of investigation, Foti made his first foray in the War on Crime as our Attorney General. He did so by announcing that a doctor and two nurses had, during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, committed murder.

Let me be clear, I don’t know the facts of Foti’s investigation. If the doctor and nurses, violated the state criminal law then following due process if they are found guilty they deserve to be punished. However, I do question Foti’s purpose and priorities.

When it comes to enforcement of the criminal laws of LA, the State Attorney General does not have original jurisdiction. In other words, despite all the “tough on crime” rhetoric during the campaign for office, he cannot initiate the prosecution of a crime committed in LA. LA Constitution Article IV, Section 8, leaves that to the local district attorney, except when the D.A. asks for his assistance or where the A.G. is authorized by a court that does have original jurisdiction over the matter. Thus far no formal charges have been filed, which begs the question of the A.G.’s announcement of his findings.

Priorities

With all the violent crimes going on in the New Orleans metro area since Foti was elected Attorney General, I have to question his priorities. If he’s coming to the war on crime, albeit late and lightly armed, why doesn’t he take on the responsibility of helping to prosecute some of the criminals in the jails of New Orleans. I raised this issue some months when Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan was complaining that he didn’t have the manpower to prosecute all the criminals in New Orleans.

If the General is really interested in pursing the most heinous crimes committed after August 29, 2005 he should look at the crimes committed against hundreds of innocent citizens by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For starters he could research and investigate violations that may have occurred under the state criminal laws of Negligent Homicide.or Negligent Injury through Criminal Negligence.

If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is immune (I respectfully dissent from that legal conclusion.) from a civil suit for the damages and deaths caused by their negligence, then perhaps criminal charges might be a way to hold the Corps accountable.

While I welcome the General to the war, I would prefer that he arrive with the cavalry.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

“The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little longer.” Motto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found a new solution to its shortcomings. According to the story in today’s Daily Monopoly, the USACE when faced with difficulty in fulfilling its promises, it simply lowers its goals.

The problem with the USACE is not limited to the New Orleans. Questions are being raised about the Herbert Hoover Dike that if it fails may flood thousands of people. (See story here.) The USACE’s initial reaction was anger and denial. Sound familiar?

The Department of Homeland Security should be equally as concerned about the damage done by the USACE as it is about terrorism. Perhaps Homeland Security should raise the alert level for incompetence. As long as millions of souls are dependent upon the USACE for their lives, there is great danger to America.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 1:08 pm