Regional Leaders Betting Big On Horseshoe

Monday, May 14, 2012 at 11:19 AM

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Projections show that beginning in 2013, distribution of gaming taxes should total up to $30 million annually for the City of Cleveland, and close to $19 million for Cuyahoga County.  Local leaders plan to make good use of that money, including County Executive Ed Fitzgerald. 

“We’re going to try to use those funds to invest in economic development and hopefully kind of re-circulate that money in the local economy,” he says.

Brett Farmer is a line cook, who also enjoys an occasional round of poker. He says having the Horseshoe will brighten the city’s fortunes.

“When I think of Cleveland, it is pretty high on the poverty level,” says Farmer.  “And I think when you add something like a casino to the city, that possibly more tax money can go into the city and clean up a lot of this poverty.”

But some critics question whether the payoff will truly be as big or sustaining as backers say it will.  Others say it’ll spur crime, traffic, and gambling addiction.

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Community/Human Interest, Economy, Regional Economy/Business - News, Government/Politics