Fellow NY'ers, how are you voting on Prop 1 and other amendments?

[JaneyVee]

Non NY'ers feel free to give your opinion on how you would vote as well.

Proposal 1 | Authorizing Casino Gaming

The proposed amendment to section 9 of article 1 of the Constitution would allow the Legislature to authorize up to seven casinos in New York State for the legislated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated. Shall the amendment be approved?

An umbrella prohibition against gambling was added to the State Constitution in 1894. The Constitution has since been amended to allow certain forms of gambling – including state lotteries and wagering on horse racing – but casino gambling remains illegal in New York.

This proposal would amend the State Constitution to permit casino gambling at no more than seven facilities statewide for the legislated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated. Under a law enacted by the state legislature this year, if the ballot proposal is passed, up to four casinos could be placed right away in three upstate regions: the Hudson Valley-Catskill area, the Capital District- Saratoga area, and the Southern Tier. The law prohibits additional casinos for at least seven years.

Under this law, if this ballot proposal does not pass, gambling would be authorized at up to four new video lottery gaming facilities.

From the website:

Reasons to Vote YES»
Casinos will jumpstart the economies of economically depressed regions upstate by attracting tourists, creating jobs, and generating revenue.» This will generate substantial tax revenues for state and local governments. Most of these revenues would be used to finance public education and lower property taxes.» Casino gambling is a fun recreational activity that should be more accessible to New Yorkers.» Many state residents already visit casinos in neighboring states such as New Jersey and Connecticut. New York should reap the profits from New York residents’ gambling, not these other states.» There should be a coherent, uniform state policy with respect to casino gambling. New York already permits video lottery terminals at racetracks and has five Vegas-style casinos on Native American tribal land, as permitted under federal law.

Reasons to Vote NO»
Legalized casinos are a predatory scheme to raise money from the poor and vulnerable. They would lead to an increase in compulsive gambling, which has financial and social consequences for victims and their loved ones.» Casinos attract illegal activities such as forgery, fraud, theft, embezzlement, and prostitution. These and other problems caused by gambling could cost the state nearly $400 million per year.» We should not permit casinos in New York before we more carefully study their potential impact. Casinos do not guarantee economic development, and sometimes have little overall economic effect.» Casinos in New York will not be especially profitable, and will have a limited impact on regional economies, because the Northeast has recently become saturated with casinos.» This proposal would have minimal short-term impact downstate because casinos would not be developed in New York City and nearby counties for at least seven years.» We’re always promised that new state revenues will go toward education and lowering taxes, but this never seems to happen.
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The AFL-CIO is endorsing it while the NY State Conservative party is opposing it.

Here's all 6 proposals on the ballot, how will you be voting?:
http://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/general_2013/ballot_proposals.aspx

[Nite Owl]

1. Thanks for the link

it's really and offers both sides of the issues.

Here's how I think I will vote:

Casinos----no
Vets---yes
Both land exchanges--- NO
Sewer--yes
Judges--yes

[hrmjustin]

2. I am voting a big NO on 1.

I am voting yes on 2 and 3 and no on 4 and 5. Have not decided on 6.

I have posted each ballot proposal in the NY room with reasons to vote for and against from the NYC voter guide if you want to see it.