Ohio's Issue 3 (2009) Results

[Joe Republic]

The only thing of interest on the ballot this year:

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Full results by county

Yes  52.97% No    47.03%

[Lunar]

one in each city?  lolfail

[Joe Republic]

Here are the results for the four counties whose cities will be getting these casinos:

Cuyahoga (Cleveland):  65% Yes; 35% No

Hamilton (Cincinnati):  67% Yes; 33% No

Franklin (Columbus):  42% Yes; 58% No

Lucas (Toledo):  53% Yes; 47% No


I really don't get Franklin county.

[Alcon]

What were the arguments for/against this other than "I WANT A CASINO HERE"/"NO HERE"?

[Joe Republic]

What were the arguments for/against this other than "I WANT A CASINO HERE"/"NO HERE"?

To be honest I couldn't have given a rat's ass and thus didn't pay much attention, but apparently the argument for was based on the casinos generating  multi-bajillion dollars in revenue and thousands of jaeorbs for Ohians, and the argument against was a laundry list of gripes about anything and everything, including the fact that the casinos would "only" be taxed 33% of their revenue.

[Alcon]

What were the arguments for/against this other than "I WANT A CASINO HERE"/"NO HERE"?

To be honest I couldn't have given a rat's ass and thus didn't pay much attention, but apparently the argument for was based on the casinos generating  multi-bajillion dollars in revenue and thousands of jaeorbs for Ohians, and the argument against was a laundry list of gripes about anything and everything, including the fact that the casinos would "only" be taxed 33% of their revenue.

Too bad you don't live in a state that doesn't address the true pressing issues of democracy

[Joe Republic]

Too bad you don't live in a state that doesn't address the true pressing issues of democracy

Interesting.  Tell me, fifteen years later, does the mighty Dentistry & Othodontic Technicians Union still hold sway over Cowlitz county these days?

[Alcon]

Too bad you don't live in a state that doesn't address the true pressing issues of democracy

Interesting.  Tell me, fifteen years later, does the mighty Dentistry & Othodontic Technicians Union still hold sway over Cowlitz county these days?

High-quality dentures are important in a county where so few citizens still have teeth

[Padfoot]

What were the arguments for/against this other than "I WANT A CASINO HERE"/"NO HERE"?

The major "yes" arguments were a smattering of new jobs and the promise that the millions that Ohioans currently spend on out of state casinos will instead be spent here and then we can collect the taxes from those millions.

The "no" vote consisted of an extremely diverse coalition of people morally opposed to gambling and the "blight" it brings, other gambling interests who fear competition for Ohio dollars, people opposed to creating what amounts to a monopoly in our state constitution, and others opposed to the absolutely abhorrent language of the amendment.

I'm more than willing to bet that Franklin County (and Columbus) voted no for two major reasons.  #1. the local paper came out strongly against the amendment #2 unlike the other major cities receiving casinos, Columbus has a really nice thing going on in our Downtown "Arena District" and most people here fear that a casino will ruin the family friendly entertainment atmosphere that's been established.  I doubt the casino developer is going to have an easy time of getting their casino built here in Columbus.  We're fighting it tooth and nail.

[Joe Republic]

It's probably quite ironic that while people back home were voting on this oh-so-important "issue", I was in Vegas.

[JSojourner]

Joe, thanks.  Very interesting.

[Badger]

What were the arguments for/against this other than "I WANT A CASINO HERE"/"NO HERE"?

The major "yes" arguments were a smattering of new jobs and the promise that the millions that Ohioans currently spend on out of state casinos will instead be spent here and then we can collect the taxes from those millions.

The "no" vote consisted of an extremely diverse coalition of people morally opposed to gambling and the "blight" it brings, other gambling interests who fear competition for Ohio dollars, people opposed to creating what amounts to a monopoly in our state constitution, and others opposed to the absolutely abhorrent language of the amendment.

I'm more than willing to bet that Franklin County (and Columbus) voted no for two major reasons.  #1. the local paper came out strongly against the amendment #2 unlike the other major cities receiving casinos, Columbus has a really nice thing going on in our Downtown "Arena District" and most people here fear that a casino will ruin the family friendly entertainment atmosphere that's been established.  I doubt the casino developer is going to have an easy time of getting their casino built here in Columbus.  We're fighting it tooth and nail.

About sums it up. Columbus is the only large city in Ohio that's actually growing and his a vibrant downtown. Also the Dispatch holds more sway over voters with their endorsement than most big city papers. Not to mention there were some progressives who actually opposed the measure (though I sure wasn't one of them).