Apr 23, 2003 By Christine Haines 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – No one signed up for a community forum Tuesday to speak for or against gambling, but that didn’t stop a group from holding a lively discussion. The Brownsville Area Ministerial Association sponsored the forum before the annual candidates’ forum, offering anyone who wanted it five minutes to present their views on the expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania.

Fifteen minutes after the scheduled start time, there was a small audience but no speakers.

“Obviously, someone wanted to listen, but nobody wanted to speak,” said the Rev. Stan Burdock, who moderated the event.

Those who initially had come to listen ended up sharing their own views on the issue.

Harold Richardson said he attended conventions in Las Vegas during his business career, and despite the crowds attracted by the gambling, he saw little money move into the community.

“I don’t think it’s even a short-term gain,” Richardson said. “They put out fantastic buffets and meals because they feel if you go out to eat, you might go to another casino. They want to keep you right there.”

Mayor Norma Ryan has been a vocal opponent of gambling coming to Brownsville.

“This fast-fix economic development is something we don’t need in our community. We learned from the past from coal not to put all our eggs in one basket,” Ryan said.

Trinette Cunningham spoke in favor of casino gambling as an economic stimulus, though she agreed with Richardson that casinos do everything possible to keep the money inside their doors.

“If done properly, it can generate direct jobs and indirect jobs,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham said it could also create construction jobs and help broaden the tax base in the community. Cunningham said that as bad as Atlantic City is perceived today, it was even worse before the start of gambling in 1978. She said the gambling industry has created 41,000 jobs in the New Jersey city.

“One of the things that’s being overlooked here are the politicians,” said resident Bob Hess. “This is all for the politicians. They want the revenue for this project and that, and when the money is gone, they’ll look for something else.”

Another resident, Billie Bayne, raised a number of questions that would need to be addressed if American Indian gaming came to Brownsville.

“They are an entity unto themselves. Who controls the traffic? How would we get in and out of town? With that bottleneck, you wouldn’t be able to get an ambulance through,” Bayne said.

Borough Council President Jack Lawver noted that the elected officials have been given no information regarding the possibility of gambling in Brownsville, American Indian or otherwise, so it has been difficult to begin considering the issues. Lawver said parking, sewer, water and electric services would require upgrading in order to accommodate a casino, none of which can be addressed without information and all of which will cost the community money.

“How could it get worse? You could have what we have now, plus be in debt,” Lawver said.

A second forum on the subject is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church Parish House in Brownsville before the forum for Fayette County commissioner candidates.