Ald. Devon Reid’s plan to put slot machines in Evanston restaurants cleared the Human Services Committee Monday night, but just barely.
Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th), citing a guest essay on the problems caused by video gaming published by Evanston Now and reports on how much gamblers would have to lose for the city to gain modest additional revenue, said she was opposed to the plan.
And both Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) and Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) voiced reservations about the proposal, although they voted to let it advance to the full City Council.
“I don’t know how I’m going to vote on this at Council,” Burns said.
But noting that several restaurant owners who hope to profit from installing the machines in their establishments had showed up at the committee meeting, he added that he wanted to give them “an audience with the full council.”
And he added that he doesn’t think the gaming terminals “will lead to an increase in gambling.”
Harris said she sees restaurants and other businesses struggling, “but the feedback from residents in the 2nd Ward has been against it at this point.”
“I have no issue moving it forward,” Harris added, “but I am still conflicted about it.”
Reid, elected to represent the city’s 8th Ward in 2021, said he’d been urged to propose lifting the city’s ban on video gaming by Rob Bady, an 8th Ward resident who nearly defeated then incumbent Ald. Ann Rainey in the 2017 aldermanic election.
Bady now works for a distributor of video gaming equipment.
Reid suggested that with the current availability of sports betting and video gambling on cell phones there’s no point in trying to discourage such gambling in public places.
“I’m not supportive of gambling,” Reid claimed. But he suggested that it would be better to have people gamble out in the community, in a place where they can get some food and have a drink, rather than gambling alone at home.
Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th) said he favored having video gambling in Evanston rather than sending people to other suburbs like Morton Grove where it’s already legal. “To me this is more support of small businesses,” he said.
Reid wants it to be a community problem (gamble together)? And he’s listening to the guy selling the machines as someone who can be trusted (stands to gain $$$ by demoralizing Evanston).
This man is a menace to Evanston and is unfit for public office.
Geracaris’ position is that it’s good for small business? Perhaps for a few business owners but these machines don’t create more jobs they create $$$ for the owners only at the price of the downgrade of an entire city and adds to the problem of gambling addiction.
These folks are unfit for office and I suspect have back door deals where they will make $$$ for their votes.
Horrible leadership’s from our Alders. If you’re on the fence the answer is NO.
“Reid suggested that with the current availability of sports betting and video gambling on cell phones there’s no point in trying to discourage such gambling in public places.
My take: porno is available online, so why not in restaurants? Bars are available in other communities, why not open bars here?
“Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th) said he favored having video gambling in Evanston rather than sending people to other suburbs like Morton Grove where it’s already legal. “To me this is more support of small businesses,” he said.”
My take: Indeed, gambling doesn’t send people anywhere it merely enables gambling in businesses which otherwise should manage themselves. Worse, it introduces more people to the fool’s gold of instant money.
It is truly saddening to see the devolution of Evanston which was once a wonderful, thriving suburb. IMO, it is now a withering community with the “what’s in it for me?” mindset of its City Council (e.g. – have citizens help pay for mayoral election). The CC should be laser-focused on the well-being of its citizenry & enabling gambling does not focus on Evanstonians.
Agree 100%, and I have a hard time understanding why we are passing a ban on flavored Tobacco, and having the ban on electric leaf blowers (thus raising the standard of living in Evanston), while the city council is trying to pass this regressive allowance for gambling which undos all the work we have done to make Evanston a healthier, more equitable place for all.
Agree with both of the comments. The actions and seeming lack of curiosity by our Alders on the actual impact on our citizens/kids versus the needs of a few small bars and convenience store owners leaves me commentless.
“I don’t know how I’m going to vote on this at Council,” Burns said.
And he added that he doesn’t think the gaming terminals “will lead to an increase in gambling.”
HUH??? Gambling terminals won’t lead to an increase in gambling? These are not gaming terminals, like Ms. Pacman. These are SLOT MACHINES and yes, the comment by CM Burns is just wrongheaded and he does not have the facts to back up his empty , uneducated assertion.
Agree with all the three commenters above.. And nearly unbelievable that an alder would consider a salesman of these machines an objective or reliable resource. It does shout payola.
I hope we actually look at the outcomes of many of these poor communities who have let the fruits of short lived profits and happiness that the gambling may have brought initially. After the magic wears off, we see and reflect on how gambling has such a detrimental effect on the fortitude and class of a community. Instead of passing a regressive move, that will make the city money off the backs of Evanstonians, how about we pass legislation that actually makes Evanston as a more desirable place for people to come and spend their money in, leading to more tax $$$ instead of passing this gambling act which will further degrade our image as a community.
OMG, rather than making it even easier to access gaming & gambling addictions, how about discouraging these behaviors???
Not only has Reid proven to understand nothing about simple economics, he now is also actively proving he understands nothing about human behavior and motivations. How our ward ever elected him is beyond me and saddens me incredibly.
Furthermore, Reid is Bady’s buddy, and Bady profits off of the gaming industry.
Reid & Bady’s wrong-minded attitudes say it all:
“Reid, elected to represent the city’s 8th Ward in 2021, said he’d been urged to propose lifting the city’s ban on video gaming by Rob Bady, an 8th Ward resident who nearly defeated then incumbent Ald. Ann Rainey in the 2017 aldermanic election.
“Bady now works for a distributor of video gaming equipment.
“Reid suggested that with the current availability of sports betting and video gambling on cell phones there’s no point in trying to discourage such gambling in public places.
” ‘I’m not supportive of gambling,’ Reid claimed. But he suggested that it would be better to have people gamble out in the community, in a place where they can get some food and have a drink, rather than gambling alone at home.”
IF YOU’RE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF GAMBLING, DO NOT ALLOW IT!!!!!!!
Sounds like Reid is supportive of his buddy Bady…
Pathetic.