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I think they should put their money and efforts into making their casinos competitive. They're not going to be successful in stopping MGM from coming. Time to cut their losses.
I agree. The way it is looking they are running last in the other bids (MA and CA) as well. I don't think that they anticipated that there was going to be a change in the marketplace but that was poor planning on their part.
I agree. The way it is looking they are running last in the other bids (MA and CA) as well. I don't think that they anticipated that there was going to be a change in the marketplace but that was poor planning on their part.
No it wasn't poor planning. It was taking the words of the Governor and Legislature at face value that the 5 sites were it, that they didn't want to ever address gambling agaian and that no matter the offer that the selected sites were placed to maximize profit for all the stakeholders and would not have any more competition created.
No it wasn't poor planning. It was taking the words of the Governor and Legislature at face value that the 5 sites were it, that they didn't want to ever address gambling agaian and that no matter the offer that the selected sites were placed to maximize profit for all the stakeholders and would not have any more competition created.
As if the "promise" couldn't be contested by anyone ever? They never thought that PG would eventually petition for a casino? Or any other county? Blocking competition in an industry is always risky. You make the assumption that ideas, feelings, laws, etc won't change. Ever. You always have to assume that there will be greater competition and that your "perfect setup" can disappear overnight. In this economic climate, ANY firm that shakes millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in a state's face, has to be considered. That is what happened. Regardless of any promises or words from politicians. Voters make the call essentially. And unfortunately, Penn National doesn't control the voters. If the voters want a 6th casino, there's not much Penn National can say about it.
As if the "promise" couldn't be contested by anyone ever? They never thought that PG would eventually petition for a casino? Or any other county? Blocking competition in an industry is always risky. You make the assumption that ideas, feelings, laws, etc won't change. Ever. You always have to assume that there will be greater competition and that your "perfect setup" can disappear overnight. In this economic climate, ANY firm that shakes millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in a state's face, has to be considered. That is what happened. Regardless of any promises or words from politicians. Voters make the call essentially. And unfortunately, Penn National doesn't control the voters. If the voters want a 6th casino, there's not much Penn National can say about it.
You're correct with the last.
Everyone is criiticizing Penn National (I hold no brief for them, I voted against the gambling legislation last time and will do so again this time) but they have, as do the other operators, a point in that they put in X investment with a state regulated return on that investment (remember the State's cut in MD is larger than in other states with gambling) and now the game is being changed, at the State's insitigation, with a player that has different rules than the rest had to follow with better, at least right now, terms.
Penn National is really beginning to show their colors. Today it was reported that they are backing an anti gaming expansion group to protect their interest in WV. With Perryville tanking and Rosecroft looking less and less like a reality, they are giving MD the middle finger with this move. It will be interesting to see how the MD public responds to what presents as being hypercritical or sore losers. We will see.
So Penn National has contributed 5.5M to campaign against gambling expansion in MD. Do you think that this move will serve the opposite effect of what is intended? Do you think that if there plan doesn't work that it will create greater challenges navigating through or ingratiating the powers that be in MD as they continue operating perryville?
The reality is if anyonre wants Prince Georges County to compete on any high level they've got to bring money into the county. The federal government doesn't want to build in the county. Disney refused to break ground and put a resort in (the idea of mickey mouse sporting a ski mask, blunt and handgun was unsettling). MGM is the last straw to bring big business to the county.
Between Prince Georges County and Baltimore, both places suck the life out of the Md. Budget. That affects Hartford County, Kent County and St. Marys county. At some point, people have to make a decision to raise the bar. Once the casino goes in, the county law enforcement powers are going to be hard pressed to keep crime down there. Tourists will be easy targets for robberies and carjackings. Purse snatchings have reached "epidemic levels" according to a senior officer who was quoted in the news. Adding a casino will add to all of this existing crime. By the way the law enforcement described it is that if a criminal is committing crimes in a vehicle, there's simply nothing they can do to stop it. If the police try to stop you, they cant chase you, so feel free to run. Not many people want to go to a casino to get robbed (literally). For any federal employee who's ever worked at the suitland federal center, they are frequently warned about going to any food establishments to purchase lunch in the surrounding areas, because IT IS so bad. I really feel bad for those tourists who take the wrong exit and end up turning around in eastover only to get carjacked.
The ideas sported on this forum thread that "the casino wont bring crime" or "PG county isn't defined by crime" is ludacris. The casino will only add more opportunity for criminals. Its going to bring money but its time to hold the politicians feet to the fire to improve the schools, to bring down crime no matter the cost. Upper Marlboro is known as the pinnacle of the revolving door justice system. Simply stating they will, or using these items as a campaign slogan to get elected is unsatisfactory. Im ok with a casino going in anywhere. Im all for putting in big business in the county. But what big business CEO is going to move to a place where they have to shell out that much more in security if they build in Prince Georges County when they can build in Fairfax where crime is 40 percent lower, and employees aren't victimized everyday?
The reality is if anyonre wants Prince Georges County to compete on any high level they've got to bring money into the county. The federal government doesn't want to build in the county. Disney refused to break ground and put a resort in (the idea of mickey mouse sporting a ski mask, blunt and handgun was unsettling). MGM is the last straw to bring big business to the county.
I will say this much. The issue with attracting business is in part the county problem, but it's really a state issue. Maryland has a horrible business climate. Until the state as a whole makes some changes, I'm not 100% sure if there is much for PG to do. They can at least work on improving crime and schools though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CommonsenseDMV
Between Prince Georges County and Baltimore, both places suck the life out of the Md. Budget. That affects Hartford County, Kent County and St. Marys county. At some point, people have to make a decision to raise the bar. Once the casino goes in, the county law enforcement powers are going to be hard pressed to keep crime down there. Tourists will be easy targets for robberies and carjackings. Purse snatchings have reached "epidemic levels" according to a senior officer who was quoted in the news. Adding a casino will add to all of this existing crime. By the way the law enforcement described it is that if a criminal is committing crimes in a vehicle, there's simply nothing they can do to stop it. If the police try to stop you, they cant chase you, so feel free to run. Not many people want to go to a casino to get robbed (literally). For any federal employee who's ever worked at the suitland federal center, they are frequently warned about going to any food establishments to purchase lunch in the surrounding areas, because IT IS so bad. I really feel bad for those tourists who take the wrong exit and end up turning around in eastover only to get carjacked.
Yeah I do believe that it will make people targets. I'm not completely convinced that they will be able to keep crime down. You always have individuals who come to this area and get lost. I remember living over near Fed Ex Field and random white people used to walk around in the wrong direction not knowing where they were going. They were actually heading away from the metro into a very very bad neighborhood and luckily they flagged me down to figure out where to go. That can easily happen in a place like this and when you consider that these people going to casinos have $$$, they are prime targets. Hopefully the police can curb the crime aspect of it, so that doesn't happen.
As far as SFC, there is a reason why so many drive when going out to lunch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CommonsenseDMV
The ideas sported on this forum thread that "the casino wont bring crime" or "PG county isn't defined by crime" is ludacris. The casino will only add more opportunity for criminals. Its going to bring money but its time to hold the politicians feet to the fire to improve the schools, to bring down crime no matter the cost. Upper Marlboro is known as the pinnacle of the revolving door justice system. Simply stating they will, or using these items as a campaign slogan to get elected is unsatisfactory. Im ok with a casino going in anywhere. Im all for putting in big business in the county. But what big business CEO is going to move to a place where they have to shell out that much more in security if they build in Prince Georges County when they can build in Fairfax where crime is 40 percent lower, and employees aren't victimized everyday?
Unfortunately these ideas are by close-minded pro-PG people who don't have a realistic view of how this county really is. I'm not saying that this will be a cesspool, but the police department has a lot to prove, if they want to convince people they can control crime in this area.
Im not sure the CEO's are closed minded by wanting to pay less in operating costs so they choose to build their business in a low crime county. I really think that crime is the major factor when deciding where to relocate to. Not taxes. I don't mind paying taxes in an area where you get quality police service. I don't mind paying tolls when you drive on a quality roadway. A prime example is the dulles toll rd. Yes it costs money, but there's no major backups, its a nice stretch of pavement to drive on and it gets you from point A to B faster than taking I66.
Now on the other hand, look at metro. Ridiculous costs. High crime, overcrowding and chaos plague the system. Transit police are understaffed, the board who runs it just cares about making money, and the riders suffer. You really don't get what you pay for when riding the transit system in the DMV.
People in Fairfax pay for the high cost of living and paying into their system pays out dividends in the long run. Montgomery County is the same thing. 270 technology corridor is making an attempt to bring in corperate business. Rt. 28 and the dulles toll rd attempt to attract major corperations and they do. They have low crime rates, the employees have nice places to eat lunch and don't have to worry about getting robbed. Workers are more productive and moral is better because of this. This in turn attracts professionals from all over the US, with great schools, great places to live and thrive and the company is successful in turn.
A casino will set the standard for where things in Maryland should be. Bringing in professionals to work and demonstrate that we can bring professionalism and good jobs to the area. Its up to the applicants who are selected to work there to be up to par on the national standard of customer service and people will come from all over to get vegas standard service and treatment. I think if the casino can demonstrate they can set the bar high and bring in tourists from all over that will greatly improve the county's overall image.
The reality is if anyonre wants Prince Georges County to compete on any high level they've got to bring money into the county. The federal government doesn't want to build in the county. Disney refused to break ground and put a resort in (the idea of mickey mouse sporting a ski mask, blunt and handgun was unsettling). MGM is the last straw to bring big business to the county.
Agreed but then PG is going to be in big trouble no matter what. Pinning your hopes on casinos is a fools' errand and I'm going to vote yes come November. Detroit and New Orleans both have casinos and things have actually gotten worse. I believe one of the casinos in Detroit has already shuttered.
Quote:
Between Prince Georges County and Baltimore, both places suck the life out of the Md. Budget. That affects Hartford County, Kent County and St. Marys county. At some point, people have to make a decision to raise the bar. Once the casino goes in, the county law enforcement powers are going to be hard pressed to keep crime down there. Tourists will be easy targets for robberies and carjackings.
I was talking with a friend about this same thing this week. It'll be a field day for the stickup boys from Southeast and the other thugs nearby. Look for fights in buffet lines and just a general auro of nastiness in and around the casino. It won't be pleasant. These are all things I witnessed when I spent a summer in Detroit and frequented casinos there.
Quote:
Purse snatchings have reached "epidemic levels" according to a senior officer who was quoted in the news. Adding a casino will add to all of this existing crime. By the way the law enforcement described it is that if a criminal is committing crimes in a vehicle, there's simply nothing they can do to stop it. If the police try to stop you, they cant chase you, so feel free to run. Not many people want to go to a casino to get robbed (literally). For any federal employee who's ever worked at the suitland federal center, they are frequently warned about going to any food establishments to purchase lunch in the surrounding areas, because IT IS so bad. I really feel bad for those tourists who take the wrong exit and end up turning around in eastover only to get carjacked.
A very real possibility in a jurisdiction that was once billed as the carjacking capital of America.
Quote:
The ideas sported on this forum thread that "the casino wont bring crime" or "PG county isn't defined by crime" is ludacris. The casino will only add more opportunity for criminals. Its going to bring money but its time to hold the politicians feet to the fire to improve the schools, to bring down crime no matter the cost.
The same people who say "PG isn't defined by crime" are the same ones who fell for the "Hope and Change" tripe and other nonsense. I've given up on them long ago.
Quote:
Upper Marlboro is known as the pinnacle of the revolving door justice system. Simply stating they will, or using these items as a campaign slogan to get elected is unsatisfactory. Im ok with a casino going in anywhere. Im all for putting in big business in the county. But what big business CEO is going to move to a place where they have to shell out that much more in security if they build in Prince Georges County when they can build in Fairfax where crime is 40 percent lower, and employees aren't victimized everyday?
Big Business goes where money can be made while keeping risk down. What PG residents don't seem to get is that there is no conspiracy. The jurisdiction in particular the Southern half simply is not attractive to business with it's poor schools, high crime and IMHO a general climate of incivility.
Until there is a cultural change nothing much will change and no casino is going to change these realities.
One last thing this is how I see things going down. While the National Harbor location is centered in an oasis of affluence. In due time folks will simply go elsewhere. After a couple sensational news stories about robberies and shootings. The folks in say Fairfax and points west will simply go to West Virginia. It's about a hour away and the drive is scenic. It makes for a decent date. If table gaming opens up statewide in Maryland than folks in Northern PG, Montgomery will probably just go to Arundel.
If PG doesn't take an aggressive policing stance, kind of how they are doing at the Wegman's this whole enterprise could unravel very quickly.
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