People are continuing to express their opposition to a proposed casino at Islands Highway and east of the I-95 Exit 76 corridor.
The topic is on the Feb. 18, County Commission agenda where State Representative Al Williams (D-Midway) is expected to speak on behalf of the casino. Williams is a co-sponsor of H.B. 30.
Williams told local news stations that 70 percent of people in the state and also in Liberty County were in support of the measure. But folks are asking just how he came about those numbers and why does this whole matter suddenly feel rushed and done.
People are upset that, due to limited time, they weren’t able to sign up and speak against the proposed casino at the meeting and due to COVID-19 protocols, they can’t attend the meeting in person. Thursday’s meeting will be livestreamed on the County’s Facebook Page.
But people are speaking out.
“I couldn’t be more against a casino opening in Midway or anywhere in southeast Georgia, for that matter,” Mike Eldridge said. Eldridge currently lives in Midway, but worked at two casinos, one in Detroit, another in St Louis. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Hotel & Gaming Administration. “The huge majority of the clientele this casino will see will be local residents, which means they’ll be doing little else but taking from the poor to give to the rich. I’ve witnessed it first-hand. People would start out playing at the $50 / hand tables and then a year or two later, they’re living at the $5 / hand table. And when I say living, I mean they’re there when I started my shift on day 1 and still there when I started my shift on day 2. The small number of added jobs is paltry when compared to the large number of ruined families that will come from this.”
“I live on Islands Highway, just a two minute drive away from this proposed site,” Martha Dykes said. “I can’t even begin to imagine the traffic, the noise, the total destruction of the reason I moved here some 20 plus years ago. And what about my property taxes? Can someone tell me in advance how this will affect the value?
As of now, Century Link will not replace underground lines to my home because it doesn’t benefit them. It doesn’t matter to them that I am paying for services that they are not providing. So how will this affect not only my needs, but the needs of my neighbors who are dealing with the same problems? If we can’t receive needed services, how can a proposed project such as this be given the services ahead of us who have waited years?”
“The stress this kind of growth would put on our environment, coastal areas, rivers, and wildlife, could be devastating,” Michelle Coursey said. “There are articles, studies, and many people who can attest to the potential problems a casino can bring to our community. Gambling in itself is something a lot of citizens do not want in this area. We do not want to see the potential problems gambling can bring to our city, like increased drug use, increased DUIs, increased crime, and potential decrease in our house values.”
“I grew up in a town bordering Ledyard, CT where the first of two casinos where approved and built in the mid 90’s,” said Erica Piekarski in a lengthy and concise response to the Courier. “Ledyard had restaurants, farms, stores and beautiful houses. Within a few years, the stores were boarded up, the restaurants were closed, and a large percentage of the homes were foreclosed on. The property values had decreased, people abandoned their homes and hotels snagged up the properties and put in hotels and the casino extended its reach and put in more and more parking lots and their own highway.”
Piekarski provided several examples and references showing how the casinos led to an increase in crime, drugs, prostitution suicide rates and even an increase in rape.
Others don’t oppose the casinos but prefer they be located elsewhere. A few have suggested the primarily abandoned outlet mall off I-95 in Darien.
Liberty County Administrator Joey Brown said the only action taken by the Board of Commissioners in reference to the matter, to date, was adopting a Resolution encouraging the State to allow the citizens the right to vote on it in a statewide referendum. The Resolution did not identify Liberty County as a specific site, Brown said. The same action was taken in Midway, according to Williams and Liberty County Development Authority Director Ron Tolley. Both have said the City has endorsed the idea, should the State pass the bill.
Coastal Solar owner Clay Sikes is a life-long friend of Williams. He said he was Williams’ best man at his wedding. They have their difference when it comes to political matters but Sikes said the sudden push to place the casino near the pristine eastern coastline of Liberty County is worrisome.
Williams and Sikes are jointly hosting a hearing regarding the proposed casino at Dorchester Academy at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Dorchester Academy, 878 E Oglethorpe Highway in Midway. All COVID protocols will be followed and seating will be limited, so arrive early to ensure a seat.
A list of the full responses opposing the casino can be downloaded below.