Re: Article “Get the casino scoop, Oct. 10,” which appeared in the Oct. 9 edition of Northern Life.

After reading the article on the front page of the Tuesday issue concerning the scoop on the new proposed casino, a relative and I headed out with great apprehension to the open house information session.

What a joke, a farce and a waste of time that turned out to be. They had an array of tables with representatives who could not give you any direct answers to your questions.

They redirected you to other tables to fill out forms or speak on video if you wished to verbally address your concerns or issues, as all they were there for was to gather your input and forward it to the involved city officials and to the OLG.

They wanted the public’s opinion for a preferable location and as to what kind of building structure and amenities the new casino should provide.

We were then directed to the chamber council area, where a formal presentation was given by one of the city officials.
No OLG representative was present to answer your questions.

Very little information was provided at this presentation, and once the question and answer period became available, all concerns and inquiries were directed back to the table areas outside the chambers where forms were provided to address your concerns.

The public was getting quite agitated and a restlessness started forming among the attendees when we spotted our great mayor giving the speaker the signal to end the meeting and cut it short.

We were informed that the bottom line is that whoever acquires the bid from OLG for the casino has the final say as to the location.

Thanks for making us all feel like a group of uncomprehending fools and letting us think that we, the taxpayers and residents of this city, have a voice or any say as to how our city is being run and how our tax money is being spent.

We were given the impression that this hullabaloo is all about how many mighty dollars will make it into the city coffers with no concerns towards the the job and business losses, financial failures, the broken family and homes caused from gambling addiction, the loss of our race track, horses that might have to be put down, ect.

Shame on you, city officials, in thinking that this casino is the cat’s meow when there is so much more at stake. Do people’s lives mean anything to you?

We have a casino now that provides us with ample revenue. How much more of our money and how many more gambler’s lives and families have to be destructed before you see the big picture?

Jeanne Leclair-Gunter
Greater Sudbury