Rallying for, against Issue 3

TOLEDO, Ohio - With election on Tuesday, many people are urging registered voters to cast either a Yes or No vote on Issue 3.

If the state-wide issue passes, four casinos will be built throughout the state - in Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Some believe if Issue 3 passes, casinos will only bring trouble to surrounding areas.

East of the Maumee River in Rossford, a group of ministers and others who are against Issue 3 explained how casinos can harm the community and area families.

Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, though, reenforced his endorsement of the proposed amendment saying Issue 3 will be beneficial to the Glass City and the region.

In Rossford, though, Rev. Stephen Anthony said the house always wins, meaning the company that will own all four Ohio casinos, Penn National Gaming, will walk away with millions each year of Ohio dollars.

Rev. Anthony, the executive director of Toledo area ministries, expressed his disapproval at the United Methodist Church, urging voters to vote against it.

"If they take the little that they have and gamble their hopes, that they can get a little more then they end up bankrupt they end up knocking on the doors of churches, they end up calling ministries or social services because they may have gambled away there light bill or gas bill," he said.

On the steps of One Government Center in Downtown Toledo, Mr. Finkbeiner reinforced his support for the casino issue. Also backing the mayor were representatives from several labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, Local 92, NAACP, and both the Republican and Democratic local parties.

Mayor Finkbeiner said building a casino in the Glass City will not solve all problems in the region, nor will it become the Las Vegas of the Midwest. He stressed it will bring hundreds of jobs, and it will give residents the opportunity to spend a few hours on a game of chance.

"This will be a real center piece in the Midwest," Mayor Finkbeiner said. "One more fun thing to for people will be a casino in place on a beautiful campus looking out over Maumee River.

Those in Rossford had their concerns earlier this week about the casino site sitting on the border with Toledo. Some expressed concerns over things like traffic and emergency responsibilities, but Penn National Gaming said they will work with Rossford on those issues.