Moving from CA to Cairo...Where and what kind of work is available? (casino, location)

[Evenstar51]

Originally Posted by King_X

apparently racism is acceptable in this area, as no one even attempted to call attention to this racial slur for African Americans

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Cairo stands as the model for what racism can do to a town; imagine if America followed the same path. It's demise came in the late 60s, and rather than save the town and integrate, most of the whites moved elsewhere taking jobs and finances with them. Just knowing how many black Americans felt the first air of freedom crossing the river into Cairo should make it a national heritage site.
Yes, it's an extremely racist area: The KKK had a strong resurgence in the 1920s in southern Indiana; southern Missouri and Ohio were affected as well. Yet only Cairo actually came apart rather than integrate, and should stand as an object lesson in what happens when people uproot their families and ruin what had been a lovely and historical small town, simply because they could not accept the concept of equality. Given enough money and help, it could be a thriving community again.

[Cthulhu7]

I've always thought Cairo would be a good place for a riverboat casino with an Egyptian theme.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland60426

Ah yeah, forgot about them when I made that post. They are usually counted in the St. Louis metro like Northwest Indiana.

Well Cairo would is counted as part of the Cape Giradeau (sp) metro area. So does that not count as illinois either?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Cthulhu7

I've always thought Cairo would be a good place for a riverboat casino with an Egyptian theme.

But who would go there? Seems like kind of a remote location for a casino.

[Irishtom29]

If Cairo couldn't make in the 19th Century it sure as Hell can't now.

[linicx]

Southern Illinois as a whole is a town that time forgot and modernization bypassed. If someone had the vision, the clout and the funding, the entire area could be turned into one hellacious retirement, vacation destination, and a dream for serious hunters. and those who like to camp and fish. It could put the whole area back on the map and put people back to work. But there are some really big obstacles that require heavy handed intervention - and I don't mean the Illinois Ozarks, If you have the dream. the time, the determination and the patience, you could live to see you dream come true, and witness the rebirth of 1/3 of the state. But ya gotta start.

People, like towns that have been neglected for half a century, require an large infusion of renewed hope. and innovation. It is not impossible, but it is one BIG project and a very long term commitment to a large group of resident skeptics who long ago accepted SI as their lot in life, their cross to bear. To date, no one who actually gives a d**n is willing to step up to plate,

Sadly, it is the greatest tragedy in the history of the state. .

[mattm93]

i know cairo is abondoned and run down, but is it a rough town? does it have a lot of gangs? i looked it up and noticed it is 61% african american.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by mattm93

i know cairo is abondoned and run down, but is it a rough town? does it have a lot of gangs? i looked it up and noticed it is 61% african american.

The stats suggest it's not a complete war zone but its crime rate is pretty high. Rough compared to East St. Louis IL? No. Rough compared to "small-town America?" Certainly.

[Cthulhu7]

Originally Posted by Drover

But who would go there? Seems like kind of a remote location for a casino.

People travelling from Chicago south on I-57 to places like Memphis etc. And that it was on a boat means that it could pick up people at other river locations.

[Drover]

Why would anyone traveling from Chicago stop to gamble at Cairo when there are plenty of casinos already in the Chicago area? Also, riverboat casinos are "boats" only in a very loose sense. They are permanently anchored structures. If you're going to have an actual functioning boat picking up people along the rivers, there's no reason to locate it specically in Cairo. It could be located anywhere along the rivers.