I had said:
I figure since Hollywood/Las Vegas stole the Motown music company, this is a little payback , where Detroit steals some entertainment industry. Hopefully some of the local talent will get to play the casinos, but we will see. Maybe some of the economists have a take on the casino industry.
When I say "local talent" , I mean music and entertainment talent.
The idea of casinos in Detroit was initiated by Mayor Coleman Young in about 1976. He sought approval to change anti-gambling laws through referenda. But the churches and progressive, grassroots activists opposed this change, and the two or three referenda failed. Then a referendum passed in about 1995. Windsor in Canada just across the Detroit River opened a casino a few years ago, and it was said you could hear a giant sucking sound of the money going over there - $ 1 million / day in revenues.
I opposed casinos at first, but then I started to figure that it is an over moralizing position. There is no doubt that the vast majority of people must lose for the casinos to be in business, so it is like giving money away. But then when you think about it, that's what happens in all businesses: people give their money away to them. Who am I to say that the fun that people have in Las Vegas is not worth the money they give away ? In other words, people get something for their money, a commodity, fun and relaxation. Also, it is just a fact, that a lot of people (lets call them "average" , so we don't get into class :>) ) go to casinos a lot and evidently enjoy the whole scene a lot, cause otherwise why would they go ?
I even developed an analysis ( big surprise, right ?) of what the mentality is. In a word, maybe the average person is able to treat money like it is unimportant when they gamble, LIKE RICH PEOPLE CAN ALL THE TIME. In other words, given that the vast majority of people must suffer a net loss in their total gambling for the casino business to profit, at some level most gamblers must realize that they are losing that money overall. So, the thrill of winning a lot of money cannot be what keeps people gambling. So, the real thrill is to act like money doesn't matter, to be able to basically throw it away, TO FREE ONESELF FROM THE OPPRESSION AND SLAVERY OF MONEY, just for that illusory moment.
Anyway, the big issue here was the effort to get at least one of the three casinos with Black controlling ownership. The most likely candidate for that, a Don Barden, lost, as the Neo-liberal, House Negro Mayor Dennis Archer, did not use his discretion to try to make that happen. As a result there is an effort to recall Archer, but the City Clerk disqualified 50,000 signatures on the petitions ( it is very suspicious), so it may be stopped on the old "you can't fight city hall" basis.
Here's a joke article from the Metrotimes:
Better Bets By Chris Handyside, Curt Guyette & Alisa Gordaneer. E-mail feedback.
You probably didn't hear about the Metro Times casino bid. It was in the early days of the Great Casino Bidding Wars of '98, and, frankly, we didn't get very far. Maybe Mayor Dennis Archer has some reticence toward the paper. Maybe it was something we wrote about the other developers. We'll never know. But since we didn't get to build our dream casino, we present the plans, and some of the attractions we would've liked to include, right here. Investors?
Karen Newman National Anthem Revue: Get star-spangled, 24-7!
The Ilitch/Detroit Tigers Sports Betting Room: Outcome guaranteed.
Preference Poker: The cards have pictures of the Little Caesars mascot and Greek statues. The only winners are named Ilitch or have "Greektown" on their business cards. City officials are welcome to try their luck under the table.
Auto Defect Roulette: Spin to win! What defect will you drive home with? Air bags that inflate when you turn on the ignition? Too-easy rollovers? Exploding gas tanks? For those with the drive to win a big insurance settlement!
The All Losers, All the Time Slot Machine: Easy to match * all the pictures are of Don Barden. Unfortunately, there*s never a payoff. Special option: You can feed your paycheck directly into the machine.
The Washed-up Motown Revue: Watch second-stringers, bit players and retirees get down in this unique revival of some of Motown*s forgotten B-sides.
The Tyree Guyton Polka-Dot Slots: You win for a while, but then the whole game gets thrown into city-owned Dumpsters.
Progressive Craps: Bet whatever amount you*re comfortable with losing. First level is car notes. Second is house titles. Third, for high-rollers, is first-borns. Also played in the John Engler High-Roller Room, where we*re not sure what the rules are, but you go in rich and come out richer.
Illustrated by digital artist Jerome Ferretti. ALSO: Check out Jerome's animated MT Grand Slot Machine, plus his two previous Web animations * Edible Complex and Auto Show.
Chris Handyside, Curt Guyette and Alisa Gordaneer are practicing their three-card monte. Jerome Ferretti is drawing a crowd. Your email comments are encouraged.
Fun for all!
At the MT Grand Casino, gamble your cares (and all your worldly possessions) away while enjoying our many exciting attractions.
Detroit City Council Smoke-filled Backroom! Never a loser! Open to elected officials only.
Virtual Reality Demolition Arcade! Strap on a pair of safety goggles and re-create the destruction of downtown Detroit! Target any non-casino building you like and watch as it tumbles before your eyes!
Unique shopping opportunities! Visit our deluxe Pawn and Gift shop, where you can buy other people*s watches, wedding rings and car titles * or hock your own to increase your gambling pleasure!
Delectable dining! Visit the fabulous, famous coney dog buffet. All-you-can-eat wieners and chili, with Little Caesars pizza for dessert. Edible gold leaf on any order for just 50 cents extra. Free 40-ounce malt liquors for anyone actively gaming.
Exciting entertainment! In the TV News Puff Room, you can watch every night as host Bill Bonds and local TV reporters interview the day*s big winners! Will you be next?
Of course we have plenty of $100-an-hour call girls, just like Vegas. But as an added feature for the cost-conscious conventioneer, MTG offers the Crack Ho* Ballroom where pleasures come cheap but not necessarily disease-free.
Share a complimentary jug of fortified wine with Celebrity Greeter Soupy Sales and his sidekicks White Fang and Black Tooth.
And don*t miss Circus Martius * Detroit*s version of the Cirque de Soleil features trained hoop-jumping pit bulls, flaming Opa daredevils and a guy who sticks his head in a Rottweiler*s mouth. Watch the hourly pie-in-the-sky toss, sponsored by Detroit*s own mayor, and visit Loser*s Leap, where you can pay to watch * but it*s always
>>> Tom Lehman <TLEHMAN at lor.net> 07/28/99 09:50AM >>>
Local TV has been running advertisements announcing the opening of the
MGM Grand Casino in downtown Detroit this Sunday.
Possibly, Attorney Brown could give us a little local color on this big event in Detroit?
Btw Charles, will you be accepting referals from LBOers?
Tom Lehman