That's what Dottie Niklos thinks. She's the President of the Nazareth Area Council of Governments (NAZCOG). Last night, she told Northampton County Council she wants a seat on the newly formed Northampton County Gaming Revenue Authority. She was joined by Charles Palmeri, President of the Slate Belt Council of Governments (SBCOG).Niklos told Council that NAZCOG represents around 45,000 people along the southern tier of the Rte 512-33 access corridor, and SBCOG represents an equal number. "It is a great misdeed to have a gambling authority that does not include 90,000 people in the access area." She also mentioned that many of these people are already deprived of services available to city residents, like public transportation and health bureaus.
"The most overlooked people in Pennsylvania is the rural poor. For you to ignore these people is just not right."
The gaming authority, which will be distributing about $1.25 million annually, is currently configured to include mostly Bethlehem area members. Niklos previously called it the "Bethlehem gaming commission."
Bernie, I know that I don't like a heavy slant on a Board or Authority that feeds funds to its own self-interests. There should be more balance, especially since county services will end up being used and increased. The municipalities who are directly affected will need some of that money, but so will the county and all of its citizens. Let's ease the burden on the county level if it's allowed (which is nuts if it's not). As such, all areas of the county should have some representation.
ReplyDeleteThe casino is within 1/4 mile from me in Bethlehem. I live on the other side of the river. Why should poor rurla people get money when they already has systems to get public assistance? Bethlehem should keep the money here. Poor communities can come up with their own projects.
ReplyDeleteHands out of my pocket.
Your pocket? This is dirty money to begin with and it will be washed by and used by those deserving of it. This board is still up for grabs so relax and enjoy your view of the house of sin.
ReplyDeleteThis casino is causing a mess.
ReplyDeleteSo people live in the sticks and then whine that they don't have public transportation? Only in America.
ReplyDeleteYour pocket? This is dirty money to begin with and it will be washed by and used by those deserving of it. This board is still up for grabs so relax and enjoy your view of the house of sin. -
ReplyDelete"Sin" is a religious term and holds no weight with me. Here's a plan for you: go to church, ignore the casino.
" Why should poor rurla people get money when they already has systems to get public assistance?" -
ReplyDeleteReally? What "systems" are in place to help the rural poor? I tend to agree w/ Dottie's claim that the rural poor are the most overlooked group in Pa. Of course, it is easier to provide assistance where there is infrastructure.
The entire point was that these folks are working as hard as they can to take care of their communities. These 90,000 residing in the 33/512 corridor should not be expected to shoulder the added cost to the fire, police ,EMS and road crews and infrastructure that will be created with increased traffic flow to the casino(s). ALso they will be victims of the same social ills that are precipitated by gambling and casino lifestyles,abd they will not have the benefit of the programs the people in urban areas have. Therefore, a seat at the table so that rural areas have some idea of what is available and voice if they have a related need is small request. No one is asking for a perentage of the take, just a voice in the management so that no one in the county is left with less than they had before the casino came to town.
ReplyDeleteGambling IS a SIN. Look it up if you don't believe me..blow the dust off your bible and start reading!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, folks...if there are more people in our county prison because of behaviors associated with the casinos, then I don't want to pay any more tax money for that purpose. I don't live next to the damn thing, but I better not have any dollars out of my pocket because of it. We've already done enough of that.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the "official" PA Department of Revenue estimates of the money available to the Northampton County municipal grant fund for 2010 assuming 5,000 slots in operation is $ 2.8 million dollars. This estimate was widely published about a year ago.
ReplyDeleteSecond, let's not lose sight of the gambling law. It clearly states that these municipal grants should be "used to fund the costs of human services, infrastructure improvements, facilities, emergency services, health and public safety expenses". An Erie County judge has ruled, in a case under appeal, the listed uses must be associated with the casino's operation. That means the grants must offset the impact of the casino.
Under the law, the five contiguous municipalities (Freemansburg and Hellertown Boroughs and Bethlehem, Hanover and Lower Saucon Township) have first crack at the grant money. If there is still money in the fund, the County and the City of Bethlehem gets the next shot at the money. It might not seem fair, but the law does permit the City to get impact grants in addition to the projected $ 9.1 million the City will receive as the host municipality. Finally, if any money is left over at this point, the County and any municipality may be awarded money by the authority without any restrictions as to use or any requirement of impact.
Unfortunately (or perhaps it could not legally do so) the County Council did not specify that the Gaming Revenue Authority had to use a competitive grant process, nor did they specify how the authority should award money from the bottom or third tier -- the uncommitted funds.
At the April 16 County Council meeting I did suggest adding four representatives from the non-coniguous municipalities to the authority. Hopefully their membership would help assure that the impact grant money is in fact awarded to offset casino impacts, thereby increasing the chances that there will be money left over to fund county-wide grants. Their membership would also help the non-contiguous municipalities get a better shot at these grants.
Stay tuned -- this story isn't over yet.
The pictures you post are too funny. Where do you get them?
ReplyDeleteDave, gambling is a sin in the Bible as is touching menstruating women. However polygamy, slavery, concubines, touching menstruating women, and stonign people who wear mixed fabrics isn't and is encouraged. Read all your Bible and keep religion out of this.
ReplyDelete"The pictures you post are too funny. Where do you get them?" -
ReplyDeleteThat was a picnic at my brother's house.
Please don't foget all that John Stoffa signed over half of the money that Northampton County would have received.
ReplyDeleteThe City of Allentown appreciates your contribution.
Stoffa signed away nothing. Act 71 allows LC municipalities like Fountain Hill to seek a municipal grant from the meager portion of the local share assessment which is allocated to Lehigh County for that purpose.
ReplyDeleteWrong, wrong and wrong again. There you go again with your fractured facts. Stoffa signed an agreement that gave over half of the money that would have come exclusively to Northampton County to Lehigh County and Allentown.
ReplyDeleteThe Act did not require that. In fact County Council including the late Wayne Grube voted their displeasure with the agreement. With one stroke of the pen, Stoffa cost Northampton County and its municipalities over $2 million.
Good job John.