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Bingo called again
Published Thursday, July 31, 2008
FERRIDAY — Three of the five Ferriday aldermen have called a special meeting to discuss electronic bingo tonight.
The meeting will be 6 p.m. at Ferriday Town Hall.
Signing the call for the special meeting were Aldermen Elijah “Steppers” Banks, Jerome Harris and Gloria Lloyd.
Alderman Johnny Brown did not sign the call, and the call notes Alderman Somer Lance did not approve it.
The agenda for the meeting includes introduction of an ordinance that would allow electronic bingo operations in Ferriday, to set a date for a public hearing regarding the ordinance and to vote on the ordinance.
Lance said she did not approve the call for the meeting because of feedback she received in her district.
“The majority of the people in my district are very, very opposed to it,” Lance said. “I feel it is gambling, and I don’t want to build business in Ferriday on the back of poor people gambling.”
On July 22, the town had a special meeting to allow public discussion about a proposed bingo hall by Big Bucks Bingo LLC.
Most of those present at the meeting voiced opposition, and one person expressed support for the proposal.
“I guess the aldermen want to revisit the issue,” Mayor Glen McGlothin said. “The last time we visited the issue, the opposition was pretty vehement, but I guess they heard something different than I heard.”
Because of a new law enacted this legislative session, all new bingo operations would have to be in place by Aug. 15, McGlothin said.
Comments
Posted by terrapin (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I for a long time have been reading this issue of gambling in Concordia Parish. I have one question for the residents: Is the lotto, or powerball gambling--Is selling raffle tickets for raising money for whatever a form of gambling??Do not all the schools, churches at times have raffles?? If a person wants to gamble they will do it whether it is in your parish or not, SOoooo why not let your parish reap the revenue. Why do you keep giving it away to other parishes or counties? Look at the revenue the video poker machines did for the riverfront. Where is all your thinking when it comes to letting a person do what they want with their own money?? I guess you would follow me to the grocery and tell me not to by junk or fatting foods it you could. I would think you would much rather see a bingo hall than a bar.
Posted by fonkeytowngirl (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you terrapin. I'm sick of them talking about the poor people in the town. These same poor people drive to Natchez to the casino or get transported to Marksville to the casino and spend their money. These same poor people go to the many stores around town that sell lotto tickets and purchase those. Gambling is gambling in whatever way it's done. And yes, I agree that selling raffle tickets is another form of gambling because with that you are still taking a chance of losing your money. This parish doesn't have anything here and I notice that each time someone tries to bring a new business and new revenue to the town, it's the silly people of the town that find a way to shoot it down. If they don't open here, then they'll go somewhere else and open and then that town will reap the benefits and it's more than likely the people here will travel there and still give this company their money. These places are for adults and I say that the adults know what their responsibilities are and should be responsible enough to know when they do or don't have the money to gamble with. Let them make the decision on whether or not they will frequent this place. If you don't like it, don't go there it's your choice but don't block the option of giving the next person somewhere close to home to go.
Posted by opinsab (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im glad some one else was reading my mind as i read this story!! Its about time we put money into our own communitites and This Electroinc Bingo will not hurt a darn thing!!(execpt maybe the Isle of Capri) Ferriday needs someplace for people to congerate other than in the middle of the darn street!! Man i thought the Garden Club in Natchez was Bad whats wrong with you people!!
Posted by babyblu2001 (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I play BINGO here in Gulfport, every Wed. night and it is so much fun! The people there need something to do....the mall is basically gone and the only other thing to do is go to the casino or to the run down bowling alley. There is no recreation there at all. There are festivals and things like that, but nothing to do on a weekly basis. And besides, people work for their own money, so if they want to use it to play BINGO let them. It won't hurt a thing. Why does every single thing have to be so political there? It's just BINGO...kids are taught how to play it in 2nd grade!!!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These hottie-totties of Ferriday might oughta follow their husbands down to the back room somewhere in Ferriday and watch them play their $500.00 a night Texas Hold'em card games. OOPPPS, did I just tell a secret?????. Gamblers are going to gamble, so for the benefit of the little town, which needs all the help it can get, bring the bingo in. The Catholic's have access to bingo whenever they want it, with all proceeds going to the church, not the town's treasury. A little bit dumb in my opinion when the town blocks it. Besides that, it would save a lot of gas traveling out of town to other bingo halls for all the bingo players.
Posted by lisa_smith (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not the Bingo our kids played in second grade this is a slot machine and a highly addictive one. The problem that we in Ferriday have is with those that would try to benifit financially of the backs of the already impoverished. When is the last time those of you that support this enterprise rode around our town. We have a community with enough addictive disorders that already don't feed or cloth their children because, yes, you are right they drive to Natchez (if they even own an automobile) or they spend it on crack cocaine.
No, I do not want to tell anyone how to spend their money,,what groceries to buy or what clothes to wear. However we have plenty that have innocent children going without proper food, shelter and clothing now due to their parents addictions. Sanction or allow another one in Ferriday? I don't think so. No, there are very many of us who feel strongly that is not going to happen in our town. Concerned citizens is what we prefer to consider ourselves. I am not sure what a hottie-tottie is.
Posted by PetticoatMaffia (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh! Wait!
Ferriday has some money left? This changes things.
Wouldn't you all really rather spend it touring our fine old houses, or eating at our fine restaurants, or filling up your car at our fine gas stations?
Don't buy crack. Buy something in Natchez.
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