Everyone can agree that Marysville desperately needs funding for schools, the police, fire department and traffic revisions. It is also indisputable that Marysville has a weak tax base and has insufficient resources to support the massive growth that has occurred in the last decade. That is why I do not understand why Marysville does not designate an area away from residential neighborhoods to allow a casino to open and help generate much needed revenue for the city instead of shifting the burden onto taxpayers. Those who oppose gambling in Marysville need to open their eyes and look around.
Convenience stores sell Lotto tickets, pull-tabs are present in bars, people gamble via the Internet from home, and of course, one could throw a rock across I-5 and hit the Tulalip Casino. To say there is no gambling in Marysville is like saying it never rains in Seattle.
Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Everett and Lake Stevens all have casinos that have helped bring in a much needed revenue stream. I would encourage anyone who opposes casinos to call cities with casinos and ask them if their crime rate has gone up. The reality is that people are going to gamble and if they can’t do it in Marysville, they are going to gamble elsewhere and create revenue for another city or tribe.
Conservative opposition must understand that Marysville needs help and bake sales and car washes are not going to create revenue. I will sleep fine at night knowing a casino is near my house if I could pay less taxes and have steady funding for police, fire, etc.
DALE HOLMES
Marysville
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