However, the big question is what kind of action would it bring?

There have been plenty of studies done by various organizations, including the U.S. Justice Department and the National Institute of Justice, among others, that show a casino does not necessarily attract the kind of people and activities that we would want.

As an example, there is an 8 percent increase in crime in those counties where a casino is built over those counties that don't have one. It isn't a coincidence.

The collected data proves that the casinos actually create the additional crime. It's an ugly gift that keeps on giving, too, because it spills out into the adjoining communities, as well. Isn't that neighborly?

But that's not the whole story - there's plenty more trouble where that came from.

As an example, there's a huge increase in a sick dependency on gambling, which shouldn't surprise anyone.

When you promote vice as just another form of entertainment you're going to create a lot of problems. In a casino town, three to five times more people are arrested because of a gambling problem than the general population.

Many of these admitted to committing robberies the previous year, as well. Much of the crime increase with problem gamblers is violent. Thirteen percent of those arrested admitted to assaulting someone for money.

One of the most common arguments of those who favor an Indian casino is that it will create badly needed jobs for our people. But once again, the facts don't support that argument. Just look at the economy in the Buffalo area.

Also, a University of Illinois study showed that for every job that a casino supposedly creates, 2.75 jobs are lost in the community.

And as far as the Indians sharing the wealth with their neighbors - do you really believe they'll fulfill that promise? I think we all know the answer to that one.

Any way you look at it, a casino is a blight on the community and nothing but trouble.

We applaud Auburn City Councilors Matt Smith and David Dempsey for seeing the truth in this situation and for working to get the message out. We hope they stick to their guns and that others will join them. Say “no” to a casino. Let's bring real jobs into our community.

Ducayne's column appears Tuesdays in The Citizen, and she can be reached at

sacredheart6005@hotmail.com