Wednesday, October 31 – Officials Confirm Anti-Slots Stance In Md.

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and Council took a firm stance against slots at a work session Tuesday afternoon, with a majority vote to vehemently oppose slots in Maryland.

After a presentation from the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant-Association (OCHMRA) and the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, the City Council took a vote and officially adopted a position on the contentious slots issue.

The council voted four in favor with Council members Margaret Pillas and Jay Hancock abstaining, and Councilman Lloyd Martin absent, to oppose slots, to go to the hearing in Annapolis to make their position known and to immediately send a letter outlining the town’s position to the state.

“Nobody should be surprised by the position of our Mayor and Council. We have been steadfast in our opposition,” said Mayor Rick Meehan.

Meehan noted the importance of the Town of Ocean City and tourism, pointing out that the town alone contributes over $100 million per year in revenues to the state.

“I understand, and I think we all do, the position that the governor and the state is in with the deficit,” Meehan said, adding that although he can empathize with the state’s situation, he cannot find justification in supporting slots as a solution.

As for slots at Ocean Downs, Meehan voiced equal opposition, asking why anyone would want to put slots at the gateway to the biggest residential community in Worcester County.

Meehan also took a stance from a real estate point of view, noting that in his 20-plus years in real estate, he has never had a client buy in hopes that slots would someday come to the area. Meehan noted that it has been quite the opposite, with many buyers wary of the possibility of slots near their homes.

The Mayor and Council’s opposition to slots coincided with the stance heard Tuesday from the OCHMRA, the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Committee and the Economic Development Committee.

“We firmly believe that one of the things that slots does is create a transfer of wealth,” OCHMRA Executive Director Susan Jones said, pointing out that any transfer of spending in a resort area would have adverse affects on local businesses.

Support for opposition was also heard from the City Council, with Council member Nancy Howard questioning what slots had done for the State of Delaware. Howard noted that the schools, jobs, and projects such as the long delayed construction of the Indian River Bridge, had not seen any improvements as a result of slots.

“Casinos are built on the backs of poor people, not wealthy people,” said Council member Jim Hall, explaining that the average tourist or resident of Maryland would not be reaping the benefits of slots.

To read the full story, read The Dispatch on Friday or visit our website first thing Friday morning.