Mind change about bringing gambling to Chicago

By Andy Shaw April 6, 2005 — Mayor Daley is shuffling the deck when it comes to new sources of revenue for the city. He says he will no longer push for a casino in Chicago. The mayor is folding his hand in the face of relentless opposition from Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is threatening to veto any bill that includes new casinos in Chicago or anywhere else. Daley is saying for the first time a Chicago casino is no longer a priority or even something he cares much about. He is focusing his efforts on getting more money in virtually any other way for the CTA and the public schools. "I want education and public transportation. That's all we want. We want money for transportation and public education. Simple as that. If I don't get a casino, so be it," said Mayor Richard Daley. The mayor's dream of a casino in Chicago, promising a financial jackpot for the city and the state, became a nightmare when Governor Blagojevich repeatedly rejected the idea. Daley is taking his casino cards off the table and putting his political chips on a different game that includes a lobbying campaign in Springfield -- along with suburban mayors -- to save the CTA and its riders from higher fares and drastic cuts in service. "It is essential, it's not a desire, but it's a must," said Mayor Lorraine Morton, Evanston. "I'm delighted to see the mayor and his colleagues and counterparts in suburban areas calling for increased money for transit. That is very important and great news," said Frank Kruesi, CTA president Daley's also willing to support virtually anything that will give the public schools more cash, including higher taxes or the governor's plan to double the amount of gaming in the existing casinos to generate another $300 million this year. "That would be up to him. He has to pass that. It's a great idea. Everybody knew, nothing wrong with that. I mean, OK, he's going to tax it. You know, just to get the money for education, public transportation, that's what we want. Forget everything else," said Daley. Daley's decision to stop pushing for a Chicago casino is bitterly disappointing to his partners in the lobbying effort. Jerry Roper from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce says you have to swing for the fences if you want to hit a home run on the tough issues. Dennis Gannon from the Chicago Federation of Labor says the mayor should have had the courtesy to let him know he was pulling the plug. In Springfield, Senate President Emil Jones is planning to push for a Chicago casino with or without the mayor's help.