Are they trying to take the "home" out of Homewood?

I agree with J.M. This is HOMEWOOD, not VEGASWOOD. They can research their options and I'll research mine.

Does this mean that if a casino doesn't work that something else could go in the larger shared space. I'm leaning against a casino option but like the idea of putting something there.

Did any of the trustees vote against it?

This is not what we need in this area!! There are already a lot of bad elements coming over to the stores, K-mart and Kohls are getting robbed all the time. I hope all of the decent residents in these communities will voice their opinions against this. Hofeld is always trying to pull the wool over our eyes with his shady schemes.

What I would like to know, is how much money are they going to waste "researching this", and how much of a kickback is Hofeld getting?

They all voted for it. I went to the meeting with an anti-casino sign, expecting a lot of my fellow Patch people who commented against the casino to be there, but there were only a handlful of people in the audience who might have been there to hear about the casino (based on who was still there when that came up). They claim they are going to have public hearings. Everyone who opposes this needs to actually get to the meetings and make it clear to the powers that be that we do not want this in our community.

Comments, comments, comments! We all have something to say. This is a topic that will open the doors to lots of discussion. Really, in today's struggling economy a casino would certainly help the bottom line for any municipality. How fortunate it would be for Homewood and East Hazel Crest to share the next casino license. It you don't like the idea of a casino then don't participate in casino gaming. Simple solution. I would think the overwhelming majority of participants will come from outside the Homewood or East Hazel Crest villages. When it comes down to it...Gov. Quinn will have the final word. Good Luck to both sides of this lively topic!

If i want entertainment i can go to the bowling alley on 183rd st and either get robbed or beat up in the parking lot or buy an assortmemt of drugs there, Homewoods not the same town i knew years ago, just talk a look at the downtown area with the empty buildings or all the foreclosed houses, kinda reminds me of Roseland last time i was there driving down the Ave, let Country Club Hills have the casino with all the crime thats going to come with it, take the $135.000 for legal fees and spend it on cleaning up the town!!!

I see the arguments for a casino, but the detractors don't seem to be offering much. Why not have a casino? What exactly is the fear? Casinos have been popping up all over the country in smaller community areas, surely there are studies that would affirm (or dissuade) whatever the arguments against it are. Anyone?

This is a note to the Mayor and Trustees of the Village of Homewood: I am very disappointed in the action you took on Tuesday night to pursue talks to bring a casino to Homewood. The citizens of this village have on numerous occasions let you know that we are not interested in bringing gambling to Homewood. Your opinion that you have to look at ways to bring in new revenue streams is not acceptable. For the life of me I can not understand why elected officials believe gambling will solve their budget problems, it won't. The only people who make money are the operators of the machines or casino. We are a family community, many of us believe a casino will change the character of our home town in ways that are unacceptable. We will attend your public hearings, in fact we will pack them. You may want to reserve a larger room than the council chambers. But more important, we will remember on election day that you are out of touch with what we want and it is time for you to go. Never underestimate the power of an empowered electorate. Is it too late to get on the ballot for the spring election?

The problem is the crime rate increases, as well as, vehicular accidents. The more alcohol served, the more risk for accidents. I-80 is notorious for accidents especially in the winter months. Halsted is a busier street & just a little further down the street are more bars & gentlemen's clubs that already have problems with crime. I don't have a problem with casinos, bars or gentlemen's clubs, but you might as well put a bullseye over that location for problems. They will be on top of each other. The busline is all the way down Halsted, as well, more people in an area losing & winning money is like sitting on a live grenade. How much money will be spent on security? Enough to keep everyone safe & allow them to have a good time or the bare minimum? Has everyone forgotten about Homewood Days & how it has changed so much because of crime? Home Sweet Homewood can bid on other things. Let Country Club Hills have the casino (the location is more contained) & let Homewood and East Hazel Crest have the outlet mall. The sales tax will generate money. Add a movie theater and there's more money.

In 1996 Hofeld and the board voted against revenue sharing of casinos in the Chicago area, at the time I thought that was a huge mistake. They also didn’t jump on board in 2010 when there was talk of another casino going up in the south suburbs. Is Homewood part of the revenue sharing of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines or did we turn that down too?
I’m curious as to why they think gaming is a good idea now and what was their reasoning back then.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-03-01/news/9603010207_1_gaming-rosemont-capita-amount

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/south-suburban-mayors-consider-casino-revenue-sharing-agreement/article_094fc473-a492-50d7-bf7b-c270dca16df7.html

Hi everybody! Lets talk about the benifits. How about the millions of dollars being spent by Illinois residents going to Indiana. The tax dollars that wiilll benifit residential services of police and fire as well as schools. 500 to 1000 jobs that will hopefully have a preference for residents of both East Hazel Crest and Homewood. My preference is an entire entertainment complex with a theatre, hotels and resturants, Specialty stores and finaly a casino. People traveling will now have a reason to get off in East Hazel Crest and Homewood exit and visit nearby gas services resturants and retail stores. We have without a dought the absolute best location to draw those people that are now going to Indiana. These patrons will have little impact on the residential portions of both towns. We also have the advantage of a public transit with the IC elecric line nearby. People staying in Chicago could hop on a train and be here in 35 minutes. A shuttle could be set up from the train depots of both towns.

I wish people would 1) actually read the article they are commenting on 2) have informed opinions. One of the things that has kept me in the H/F area is the number of intelligent people who care deeply about this community.

Everyone's opinion should be heard at the public hearings, but please don't arrive and waste everyone's time spouting nonsense!

Gambling hurts poor people the most. Do we really want extra tax revenue made from the loss of poor people's money?

There's nothing wrong with examining every possibility and every opportunity, as one trustee explained. In fact, there is everything right about doing so. (I'm not a gambler, save for the occasional IL lottery ticket. I'm not opposed to a casino in place of a rundown hotel. I won't go to a casino, regardless of where it is, but I have no problem with there being new job opportunities and revenue in my Home Sweet Homewood. If the shoe fits, Homewood should wear it. I wish the decision makers all the best.)

I think the casino proposal is wonderful. The location is excellent -- both for Homewood and the State of Illinois. It's not near the residential parts of Homewood or the downtown and it's right after the merger of 80 & 294. I've lived in a city with casino and, even though I don't gamble much, I really enjoyed the opportunity to see entertainers (comedians, bands, etc.) and I knew people who had decent paying jobs as dealers and waitstaff (tips were good). I used to really be down on gambling expansion for many of the reasons people have stated in this discussion but my experience has led me to believe that most of the reservations are unfounded.

You may have noticed I've made comments and asked questions about this topic. I have no opinion on the viability or impact of a casino in our backyard. The reason? I've done no homework.

The only thing I know for sure is state government should stay out of the gambling regulation business (and regulation of business in general). Let private business decide where they want to invest for profitable returns.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/10/30/studies-casinos-bring-jobs-but-also-crime-bankruptcy-and-even-suicide/

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NW-Ind-mayor-wants-2-inland-casinos-for-region-4074104.php

http://www.freep.com/article/20120304/NEWS06/203040480/22-new-Michigan-casinos-planned-but-success-isn-t-a-sure-bet

Take a lesson from AK-SAR-BEN. It is simply a matter of supply and demand. We should learn from history and do the opposite of Dwight Welch. You can thank me for avoiding those consulting fees later and just send me a check for half. http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-24/sports/sp-19356_1_aksarben-races

I must admit I do not have enough information to form an educated opinion on the topic. Hopefully Patch or another local media outlet will do an article looking maybe at other similar communities that have gotten casinos in the last 10 years. I'd be curious to see what Des Plaines residents have to say particularly. I agree there are definitely a lot of potential negatives such as crime and just the negative stigma the community of Homewood could get by having one. There are positives though with the added revenue and the jobs it would bring, but is that enough to offset the negatives? It doesn't sound like that piece of property is suitable for much else, and my concern would be that even if Homewood says no, couldn't Hazel Crest still move forward and still put one up on just their land? Or Harvey right across 80? Then we would still get all the negatives (crime etc) with none of the revenue positives. I could go either way on this one so I look forward to hearing everyone's constructive opinions and hopefully some hard facts from other similar communities.

I think that they should put a gym or a resturant or something other than a casino.

Downtown Joliet and the whole city of Joliet have reaped the benefits of casinos. The casino's sponsor many events throughout the year as well. A once bleak downtown area is now bustling with upscale dining and shops. Think of the jobs a casino will bring in! The residents of Homewood will benefit from the tax revenue. The casinos have strict security measures in place too. With the extra tax dollars, your town can hire more police if needed. Heck Harrah's in Joliet recently opened a Paul Dean's. Maybe you people should get your questions and fears together and attend the village board meetings for answers. Wouldn't you rather see residents spend money in Homewood rather than drive to Joliet, Aurora or Indiana?

Yes. I was at the Rialto in Oct. to see Cheech & Chong and ate dinner at Harrah's. Like downtown Homewood is hopping every night too and there are no creepy areas? Ever been around after Lassen's closes? Not too much hopping going on after last call. The Jewel and K-Mart parking lots on Halsted can be creepy too. This link will show you some of the benefits: http://www.illinoiscasinogaming.org/impact_files/harrah-joliet.htm
"Your" is merely a typo...neighbor. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this matter regardless of where they live. It impacts all the surrounding towns. No need to be condescending.

I guess we better pay more attention the next time Homewood buys property...
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-03/news/ct-tl-1004-homewood-property-20121003_1_vacant-properties-village-board-homewood-plans

The site selected for the Casino 30 some years ago was noted for it's thoroughbred and later Harness racing. Jobs were plenty at the track and around it part and full time, and there was no serious crime and or make believe problems,a few years ago the same hysteria was being waged when a off track parlor was opened where Bagio's is now and closed because of a bad location for off track and decline in racing nationwide.
The same protestors concerns on schools and boogeymen, exact same hysteria and hand wringing by the phonies of Homewodd.
A Casino on Halsted would be like hitting the lotto for the 2 towns, this has location and the best Police Dept in the So burbs which will be bigger and better with the needed revenue and like Joliet will have the resources to rebuild a aging infrastructure and add new great ideas, remember the abandoned plans for new housing at G-L BANK downtown back in the BUSH years?
Wake up Homewood the water rates are going to keep climbing what other Business will bring this scale of jobs and resources so badly needed to your village? Who in this time will settle in Homewood due to the rising costs and demand for water in a time of drought and low lake levels especially.
The Mayors and council who have proposed this should be honored, can u imagine what Dwight Welch would do with a location on 1-80-294 & Halsted?
What a bunch of rhubarbs and phonies these new HOMEWODD people are!

Ryan, I attended the Village Board meeting as an observer for the HF Area League of Women Voters. Thank you for a fair and accurate article. Karen Maurer

I am a member/reader of Patch. See my comment above and submit it. Thank you.

Back in the day Homewood was a largely blue collar town that was recovering like everywhere from WWII and KOREA the golden age of thoroughbred racing featured a match race of two of the most outstanding horses of racing at WASHINGTON PARK the site of the casino, people back then were realistic and did not act like the moral majority the puritans on this Blog think they with their concerned voters and usual anti progress all of it based on fear mongering and false equivalency such as TOYOTA PARK and Bridge view and HW - Casino, make a real comparison between Joliet s Casinos and this one been made, Joliet has rebuilt their infrastructure and downtown, built a Baseball Stadium refurbished the Rialto Theater and upgraded their Municipal offices and Courts for starters and none of the jobs the Casino's created were the usual misinfo on min wage, the Casinos did not drive a single established businesses out but brought more in with decent paying jobs as well, stop the hoity- toidy nonsense it is all a anti progress agenda, this town is no longer in a position to attract more big box stores or gymnasiums or even restaurants the last two on 175th are gone for good the added police concerns are real and will be more so if this village does nothing and watches this property decay as the Glen wood mall down the street has do you serious think there are potential developers lining up to create some new mall or restaurant or gymnasium on this PROPERTY?