The Coquille Tribe wishes to install a gambling casino in Medford. The tribe's plans include excluding the land on which it is proposed to be installed from city, county and state jurisdiction, and operate the facility with what it calls sovereign nation status. The tribe's articulate advocates state that 233 jobs would be created and local suppliers would gross $6 million the first year. The tribe also speaks of the many other benefits the casino brings to the community, which is employment benefitting the purveyance of gambling. The tribe does not talk about the social and human damage that a commercial gambling business brings to the community. Such a facility impedes the ability of addictive gamblers to bring order to their lives, and it disrupts the financial stability of nonaddictive gamblers, and creates financial and marital discord within families who are struggling to make ends meet. How much can society endure debauchment of our community?Get the Story:
William A. Mansfield and Joel Marks: Casino plan a 'toxic product' that should be opposed (The Medford Mail Tribune 5/19)
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