Slots referendum is on

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Lessons Learned! - 2010-07-24 15:31:43

We are in the midst of investing millions of AA taxpayer dollars into the construction of the 5th regional mall in Odenton Towne Center. That is 5 locations to serve community shopping needs, provide jobs and generate county revenue after the years of tax breaks,credits and bonds are paid off. I remember the debate-5 regional shopping centers to enhance the lives of residents and serve families. Arundel Mills is 1 of those planned malls with all the trimmings. I think the slot opponents are right on. First and foremost, AA county must serve its residents. It is a great opportunity to have a slots casino at a 6th revenue generating site with all the trimmings. Why would the Mall opponents who are paying the bills for this county settle for 5 when they can have 6 sites that produce jobs, revenue and expand the retail opporuntities for the county. It is now verifiable that racinos produced more revenue than stand alone slots during this economic downturn. Cordish says the state is losing millions each day, but taxpayers never seem to get the promised rewards from developers or government officialdom. All those business loop holes. By the time reality sets in, the damage is done. The slots opponents are acting from lessons learned. Leopold and the County Council caved to Cordish. The Cordish financial octopus should not be allowed to dictate the standard of living for all AA taxpayers. I would say the slots opponents are fighting for a better life for themselves and their families and future generations and that is a noble cause.

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Maryellen Brady - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Neutral

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NIMBYism strikes again! - 2010-07-24 11:00:38

The people of Hanover and Severn will discover, to their dismay I believe, that the upcoming vote will not be 'for' or 'against' a slots location but it will be a vote 'for' or 'against' NIMBYism. The duly elected officials of Anne Arundel county chose an Arundel Mills site that is well within the boundaries mandated by the state referendum in 2008. When that happened the NIMBY whiners of the area got their panties in a bunch and along with the Maryland Jockey Club set off on a petition drive that, (by the way, was a sham since ignorance of the issue, deception and lies by the 'out of town' company hired to get signatures on the petition) was meant only to micro-manage an issued legally decided by the voters. Why have elected officials at all if every issue needs a public referendum?

You moved near the largest mall in Maryland and near the busiest airport in Maryland...what did you expect the quiet of an Eastern shore cornfield?

Anyway, I voted against slots in 2008 and probably will never visit a casino but I will vote FOR building a casino at Arundel Mills and will urge all friends and neighbors to do the same, simply as a vote against NIMBYism.

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Mike B. - annapolis, md - Karma: Excellent

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de/pa/wva - 2010-07-23 19:00:52

i really wonder how slots will do in MD if and when a casino is finally built, now that DE, PA, and WVA casinos are now featuring full table games. while the gamblers in the state may have remained home if the option was slots in MD or slots in another state, now that craps, blackjack, and poker are only an hour drive or so, it will be interesting to see how a slots-only MD casino can compete (assuming one is ever built).

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average waiter - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Facts - 2010-07-23 18:06:51

AA County's zoning bill being put to county referendum actually exactly matches the state referendum's defined land area allocation. "From RT100 South to 198,
2 miles to either side of 295"

The only reason there was no bid at the track is because the filing procedure was not followed. Some folks say they "assumed" one thing would happen and voted for the state referendum. Now that another thing happened, they want the process to start all over or just plain ol' give slots to the track.

However, what happened with the bidding process was well within the state referendum's language as to possible locations between 100 and 198.

Interestingly, by a 30% spread,
The Baltimore Sun pole shows a trend developing. That trend shows that most respondents feel that the county zoning
is in place now and being put to county referendum should be affirmed and slots be placed at that site.

Don't believe it? Look here:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-poll0721,0,6577791,post.poll?status=voteplaced

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Tim Reyburn - Laurel, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Silworth/Constitution - 2010-07-21 13:57:40

Silkworth based his opinion on Article 16 sec 2 of the MD Constitution. The part in question reads, "No law making any appropriation for maintaining the State Government, or for maintaining or aiding any public institution, not exceeding the next previous appropriation for the same purpose, shall be subject to rejection or repeal under this Section. The increase in any such appropriation for maintaining or aiding any public institution shall only take effect as in the case of other laws, and such increase or any part thereof specified in the petition, may be referred to a vote of the people upon petition"
Since this was not the case, Silkworth was wrong. It is true that the Court of Appeals corrected this mistake as should happen, but I fail to see how the plain language can not be understood. The excuse that there is little case law is irrelevant as cases should be based on the plain language and intent of the framers of that article.

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David Kyle - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Voters denied - 2010-07-21 13:52:24

The voters of Maryland/Anne Arundel County approved slots. The location was to be within location within two miles of BW Parkway. AA Mills met the location criteria. Horse industry gets portion of gambling dollars regardless of location. This referendum is a denial of what the voters approved. A wealthy group is directly affecting legislation for their personal gain. This 'referendum' violates our republican form of government. It takes away our representative form of government. I voted against slots, but this is a dangerous precedent.

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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Answer this - 2010-07-21 10:41:52

Lets say people get their wish and they dont build the casino at the mall.Then someone decides to build a casino at the race track.Are you saying no one will fight that.Please it will be the exact same thing.So I say to Cordish and any other big company that wants to bring business to AA County,DONT!!

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bob builder - annapolis, md - Karma: Terrible

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to keith and david - 2010-07-21 10:01:10

to those of you who are coming down so hard on Silkworth, take it easy. this was not a case of judicial activism. this was an intricate and complicated appeal filled with a variety of issues. there was little to no case law to act as a guide, and the relevant laws and regulations leave a lot of grey areas. Silkworth was forced to make his best interpretation in a novel case. all involved with this issue (including Judge Silkworth himself, i would imagine) knew that this case would be appealed, and that our high court would issue a ruling. the fact that the court of appeals overturned Silkworth's decision does not show any sort of flaw in the system, but instead is a perfect example of how the system is supposed to work. if a similar issue ever comes up, the trial courts now have precedent on which to rely.

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average waiter - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

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We - 2010-07-21 08:37:39

have just been told our votes really mean nothing. We voted for slots period. We did not vote for slots only at racetracks. We the people have been hoodwinked!

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Pat Magnum - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Referendum - 2010-07-21 00:03:17

If the people of Maryland decide by their vote in November that they want slots at Arundel Mills, amen.

If they don't, consider that Cordish Brothers and every party who stood to profit (which certainly did not include the State Education Fund, except in the pie-in-the-sky promotional promises) underestimated the intelligence of the voting citizens.

Just remember the birth of the Maryland State Lottery and the state education funding promises of the 70s, or the 90s and the smoking cessation funding promises of the Tobacco Settlement, and tell me where all of those monies have gone, and what the persons responsible for making those promises have to say now about how the dollars were really spent.

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Raejean French - Severn, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Slots At Arundel Mills - 2010-07-20 22:24:25

We may get justice yet. The slots in AA County were initially presented to the residents of this county as a way to save Laurel Race track. Instead Cordish and his lapdogs in the State Senate, State House of Delegates, County Council and the Editors of the Capital-Gazette Newspapers attempted to change this venue after the fact. We should remember the weasel politicians who sold the voters out for Mr. Cordish in November and throw all of the them out. The Captital-Gazette Newspapers would serve their readers well if they stuck to strictly reporting the news insteaqd of attempting to influence it.

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Vincent Russo - Severn, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Slots Referendum - 2010-07-20 20:55:33

This is truly heartwarming news. Democracy is really at work here. Now comes the work to educate the voters about slots and the consequences to a community when slots/casinos move in. If in November, the AACo. voters demonstrate that they want slots at Arundel Mills, then that is that. In the meantime, I find this news uplifting and commend the high court in its thoughtful ruling.

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Liz Barrett - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Curious? - 2010-07-20 19:43:13

So I wonder what will happen in November if people still vote yes for building the casino at Arundel Mills Mall?

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bob builder - annapolis, md - Karma: Terrible

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Liberal? - 2010-07-20 19:30:30

How is this a liberal decision? I would suspect the justices would argue that they decided this based on law and not on their personal opinion on slots.
As for slots themselves, let me remind you of our last three governors: Glendening -Against; Ehrlich - for; OMalley - for. Some true conservatives are strongly against slots on moral/religious grounds. Some liberals are against slots on moral/social grounds. Some conservatives are for slots because they can be used to lower income taxes. Some liberals are for slots because they can pay for the programs they desire. The point being that there just isnt any way to assume a persons position on slots solely on their general political persuasion.

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Nils Pedersen - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent

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traffic and noise? - 2010-07-20 17:33:40

I find it funny that the residents had concerns about traffic and noise. They must kidding that area around the mall is very busy with traffic and noise. Also Route-100 is in the area and NOISY planes that fly over. What do people think they live in a small farm town over there!

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claude duval - edgewater, md - Karma: Good

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Slots at Arundel Mills - 2010-07-20 16:48:42

The claim that this vote will result in putting appropriations to referendum is a red herring. The issue before the Anne Arundel Court was not about slots - it was about changing present zoning to allow a slots parlor in a particular location. And the only person Mr. Cordish feels sorry for is himself - no big bucks for developing the site; the list of "losers" he rattled off is the same list that's been used for the past 10 or so years by the legislature, the sitting governor, and candidates for any state-level office. Nothing has changed.

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Michael Calo - Glen Burnie, MD - Karma: Good

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Appeals Court correct. - 2010-07-20 16:30:47

It was Silkworth that made the bad decision. The Court of Appeals simply followed what the Constitution states in plain language. My only disappointment is that the Court did not say why they came to their decision. Although if they had, the Democrat controlled Legislature would be up in arms because the people would realize they had a way of preventing out of control spending by the GA.

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David Kyle - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Neutral

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RE: Slots referendum - 2010-07-20 16:19:01

Robert, quite the contrary. It was the original decision by Silkworth that was judicial activism. The appeals court will enumerate their reasons in a brief later, as is usually the case.

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Keith Jamison - Hanover, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Slots referendum - 2010-07-20 16:01:35

Once again Marylands highest court ignores state law and engages in judicial activism. Why else would they not enumerate their reasons fo this outrageous decision. And the people of Maryland are going to have to suffer the consequences for this rediculous decision. If you dont get your way the first time, then there is always a few liberal judges around who will bend the law for you.

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Robert Ecker - Tionesta, PA - Karma: Neutral