Emanuel Renews Vow To Use Chicago Casino Profits To Improve Schools
By Chuck Sudo in News on May 1, 2013 4:30PM
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's press office sent out a statement Wednesday restating the mayor's intent to funnel all profits from a proposed Chicago casino to improving public schools.
Emanuel is quoted in the release saying:
Every child in every neighborhood deserves access to a high-quality education, and we are working to create a school district that supports a brighter future for our children. I have said repeatedly that if Chicago were to build a casino, all revenue would be directed toward modernizing schools in our neighborhoods and communities. I encourage all parties in Springfield to take swift action on the gaming bill and, in so doing, create the opportunity for us to rebuild and renew our public education infrastructure in the city.His office even produced a video showing serene classrooms full of children eager to learn if only the schools could be rehabbed by casino revenues.
Do we have to go over this again? Why do politicians continue to push for gaming expansion as some sort of cure-all for all their ills? If it isn't improving schools (which it won't, we went over this last month), Emanuel would have promised the revenues would go to rebuilding the city's infrastructure.
But then there's also no promise gambling expansion would pass in Springfield, anyway. Debate over the matter turned tense last month when state Sen. Terry Link and State Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe exchanged barbs face-to-face over the state Legislature's long-stalled gambling expansion, which Jaffe has criticized for having little regulatory oversight.
Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed in March legislation from 2011 that would have allowed for near-unchecked gaming legislation in Illinois, including a Chicago casino.