Mississippi: SLOT BARN Opposition

The Mississippi Coalition for Family and Community Values (MSCFCV) is an organization of like-minded individuals dedicated to preserving and enhancing the core values essential to maintaining and building strong families and communities.

The MSCFCV came together in June 2010 to address one of the greatest crises to face South Mississippi since Katrina... the building of a gaming facility in rural Jones County.

Site preparation has already begun at the site just outside of Sandersville. The leadership of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) started construction secretly despite strong opposition from within the community, and even within the Choctaws themselves.


The impacts of such a facility are many. The leadership of the MBCI has failed to address specific requirements of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and their compact with the State of Mississippi, including:

◦Public Health and Safety
◦Inadequate infrastructure in the Bogue Homa and surrounding communities
◦Impacts on the environment in which several endangered species are located
The purpose of this site, with your help, is to highlight the many concerns related to this project and get your help in addressing them.

NEWS

NEW REPORT: PROPOSED SLOT PARLOR WILL PRODUCE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS IN JONES COUNTY


Infrastructure improvements for proposed development could cost at least $2M, burdening county budget and increasing taxes for Jones Countians

(LAUREL, Mississippi) – Members of The Coalition for Family and Community Values (the coalition)said today their concerns regarding the negative social and economic impacts of the proposed Jones County slot parlor were validated by a recent analysis conducted by the National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center (nSPARC) of Mississippi State University.

The study, “Is the Development of Casinos a Viable Economic Strategy? The Case of Jones County, MS,” found that the proposed casino in Jones County is “so atypical of casino resort projects that it might have serious negative consequences for the region and the state.” The analysis of construction, infrastructure, environment, social and economic considerations determined the proposed casino could have a significant negative indirect economic and social impact.

“The nSPARC analysis substantiates our concerns regarding the proposed Jones County slot parlor,” said Cal Callen, spokesperson for the Coalition. “The report is a compelling snapshot of the negative consequences that will befall Jones County and citizens of both the state and the Tribe, should the development of the proposed casino continue.”

While local news reports have indicated that the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians may be willing to partially fund some of the $2 million or more in infrastructure costs, there are no written agreements between the Tribe and the county, Callen added. “Even if the Tribe provides $1.5 million to fund infrastructure upgrades and improvements—which, as we understand, is something the Tribe has not agreed to in writing —that still leaves a balance of $500,000 to be shouldered by Jones County taxpayers.” According to the nSPARC report, $500,000 represents nearly two-thirds of the entire total Jones County road budget.

In its study, nSPARC found the negative impacts of the proposed casino could “seriously compromise the ability of the area to grow other economic sectors,” thus leading to a “persistence of economic deprivation.” The study reports the casino as proposed by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is smaller in scale than a typical casino and, unlike state-regulated casinos, is not required to provide an accompanying investment in amenities to help boost the economic vitality of the area. This report concludes that “with no hotel and entertainment venues, it is expected that visitors to the proposed casino will only spend one-third of what visitors generally spend at casinos with hotels and local amenities.”

Other negative impacts include the slot parlor’s drain on the local economy, as local residents are expected to make up the bulk of visitors to the proposed casino. This will be felt particularly among Jones County and the surrounding area since the average income of the population in this area is substantially lower than the state average, according to the report. Additionally, the job creation impact will be minimal or short-lived, as industry trends forecast the gaming sector to experience a 10 percent decline in employment over the next decade.

The report concludes, “The MBCI casino in Jones County is expected to produce minimal or no multiplier effect as its jobs will be primarily low-wage and low-skill, with little or no opportunity for access to career pathways. The fact that tribal casinos are not regulated by the state and do not have traditional tax obligations, thus shifting the burden to local and state tax bases, compounds the chances for negative social and economic outcomes.”

“We hope this information will, above all else, serve as a call to action for citizens to get involved in stopping this slot parlor from moving forward,” Callen stated. “We at the Coalition believe there must be a better way to improve the economic vitality of Jones County and the surrounding area, one that will mutually benefit both the citizens of the state and of the Band of Choctaw Indians.”

The Coalition for Family and Community Values is an alliance of like-minded citizens working together to encourage and affirm positive values for the purpose of strengthening families and communities. For more information about the Coalition, visit their website at “http://www.mscfcv.org/“ or their Facebook page at http://tiny.cc/mscfcv.



Jones County Baptist Association Adopts Resolution in Opposition to Casino Gambling

Whereas, gambling is built on a system that appeals to personal greed, that fosters deceit, that exploits those most vulnerable and at risk, particularly children and the poor, and

Whereas, gambling violates the 10th commandment against coveting and the biblical work ethic by encouraging individuals to think they can get something for nothing, thus minimizing personal initiative and responsibility, and

Whereas, gambling contributes to family instability, to economic hardship, and to increased crime rates in communities where gambling facilities are located, and

Whereas, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians are involved in construction of a casino in Jones County.

Be it therefore resolved, that messengers of churches affiliated with the Jones County Baptist Association, meeting at Bethlehem Baptist Church on October 4, 2010, call on its member churches to actively oppose efforts to establish casino gambling in Jones County, and

Be it further resolved, that we acknowledge the sovereign status of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and affirm our desire to see the Choctaw people prosper through any and all legitimate and honorable options to casino gambling, and

Be it finally resolved, that we offer support and cooperation to fellow Christian believers in the Bogue Homa community as we seek to work together in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Southern Baptist Churches Opposed to Casino

Bethel Pleasant Home

Bethlehem New Hope

County Line Open Door

Ellisville First Baptist Ovett First Baptist

Emmanuel Park Haven

Fairfield Pineview

Faith Salem Heights

Friendship Sandersville

Glade Shelton

Grace Soso First Baptist

Heritage Heights Sumerland

Highland Tuckers Crossing

Indian Springs West Ellisville

Journey Plainway

Laurel First Baptist Myrick First Baptist

Moselle Memorial

For more information contact: Rev Cary Kimbrell 601-498-8830

or Rev John Bryant 601-580-6452