I know a lot of readers comment on the number of sweepstakes places in town, so I wanted to point out an upcoming vote that would allow more Electronic Gaming Operations in the city.
The ordinance proposed states: “In June of 2010, Section 670B was added to the Zoning Ordinance to allow electronic gaming operations. The current language requires an operation to be 750 feet from of another electronic gaming operation, any school, church, daycare center, library, or public park. They must be 250 feet from any residential zoning district or residence. There must be a 50-foot distance requirement from any room in which “on premises” alcohol is consumed.
This requirement eliminates the use of several shopping centers or unified business developments in town. These operations have had the desire to locate in such business developments. The Planning Board unanimously recommends this amendment.”
The council will vote to add the following statement to the existing ordinance: “provided however, that there shall be no distance regulations relative to Electronic Gaming Operations located within a Unified Business Development.”
The Proposed ordinance would then read:
“No electronic gaming operations shall be located within 750 feet of any other electronic gaming operation, nor within 750 hundred feet of any school or church, daycare center, library, public park or within 250 feet of any residential zoning district or residence. Electronic gaming operations are prohibited from being in or as a part of any establishment whose primary us is
check cashing or loans, and cannot be located within 50 feet of any room in which “on-premises” alcohol is consumed; provided however, that there shall be no distance regulations relative to Electronic Gaming Operations located within a Unified Business Development.”
If you want to have your say in this matter, and this will be your last chance to have a say as the planning board meeting June 11th already gave the public a chance to say, but no one showed up to say anything, you must go to the city council meeting Monday night, June 25, 2012 at 6pm and voice your opinion. You must sign up to speak before the meeting, so get there early.
There doesn’t need to be any more electronic gaming establishments in Henderson–period. This City Council is embarassing.
Forget showing up at the meeting–they have already decided.
I am right there with you, Prudence. Henderson does not need more of these “gaming establishments”. Just like we do not need another place to buy fake hair. Pathetic.
Instead of a coffee house, bakery or tapas bar we get to use the available real estate to open more of the same. How many do we have already? 4?
Has anyone driven through the parking lot of one of these places the day after? Filthy. We do not need to breed more trash in Henderson. If we keep allowing businesses like this to operate in town, then we will not get the ones who will provide long-standing tax dollars. Not to mention the influx of professionals and their families that will be spawned from positive development.
Nothing but businesses catering to Section 8…that’s all we get. There goes what little is left of property value.
You are rught Prudence, since a very promnenet business man is involved in the operations, it has already passed; and beside too much tax money is at risk
Whoa here people. You did nothing to make any change in city council leadership at the poles in May. Your complaints about video parlors are not heard by those re-elected. Those re-elected know who is pulling their stings and it ain’t you. Go stand in front of a mirror and complain to the one who brought to the dance.
And the vast majority of those who attend these cafes are running over to Social Services after they lose their $$$ and the others are already sucking off the public $$$.
So much child support and the like gets spent at places like this. People are letting their water get turned off, but we are sure they aren’t missing a night gambling away.
Henderson, please don’t allow any more of these places. We have plenty.
I do not have to go to a council or commissioners meeting to have those elected understand my opinion on their positions. Not everything is a fight, that’s why you’re supposed to pick and choose your battles. Involved? Very much so. Content? Not at all. It will take a generation to turn things around so in the mean time we have to take to the ground and keep on digging.
Mojo you are either one of those in a position to cause a change and do not care enough to make a change; or you are just thumbing your hollow chest. My bet is you could make a difference except you fear losing yourself importance. Through the ages tyranny has flourished in the hands of those who could make a change don’t.
Losing self importance? Hollow chest? I admire your angle on this thread. It’s fresh for what’s typically around these parts but you have the wrong person.
Change is not something that is quick and easy. For example, we are discussing new business in Henderson. Now, it’s not the kind of business we would prefer or need but it is revenue. Two years ago the only thing coming down the line was Sheets. Before that happened, what was there? So now we squeeze tighter.
Out in Left Field, tell me please. What are the major problems you see in Henderson and how do we fix them? I am not asking or writing this post with ill intent. I welcome the discourse.
One Voice, no it didnt pass, Council had questions and concerns. Mojo Risin, fresh? discourse? well said!
Mojo Risin, I have not a clue what OLF would want to see, I personally see little real economic development in video gaming. According to an NPR story this morning about the new casino opening in Maryland, gaming is economic development with live dealers.
I attended last night’s City Council meeting and for the first time read the proposed ordinance. The ordinance says expanding the number of gaming tables will add jobs. I wondered how many jobs and what kind of jobs. Sheets did add jobs, real wage jobs.
Maybe we two plus other posters on HiH would be willing to met publically and discuss options that would stimulate economic growth in this area. Two restrictions to such a meeting, those attending must not reveal their pseudonym on HiH and elected officials may only observe and not speak. The County paid a lot of money back in 2005 for an economic study that rests on the shelf in the library. (I did borrow it long enough to have it scanned and posted in HiH.)
I am not deluded enough to think I have the answer or an answer to our economic plight. I do think the political and de’facto leadership of Vance County and Henderson behave as Scratch and Sniff in the book Who Moved My Cheese. We need to encourage Hurry and Scurry. The cheese has moved and so many want to think it will come back downtown.
All, here is Michael Bobbitt’s notes from his attendance of this meeting. http://homeinhenderson.com/2012/06/26/michael-bobbitt-notes-from-the-peanut-gallery-city-council-june-25th-2012/
And here is the economic plan I think Michael is referring to from 2003: http://homeinhenderson.com/2011/10/07/vance-county-economic-and-demographic-report-february-20-2003/
And an older one from 1990: http://homeinhenderson.com/2011/10/05/1990-advance-commission-strategic-plan/
These “internet cafes” as they are advertised don’t employ more than 3-4 people and I’m sure they make minimum wage. I think that some of them are breaking the law b/c if what I read is correct you are supposed to “gain” so much internet time depending on how much $$ you spend. The 2 that are on NC39 in the Crossroads Shopping Centers don’t offer internet time. They have a couple of quick pop-ups that come onto the screen that makes the player click AGREE or they won’t be able to reach the games. This is somewhat misleading as they are being advertised as being “Internet Cafes” when in reality neither of the 2 businesses offers any internet surfing. Trust me, I went and found out firsthand. I think the elected officials need to come out and see what really is happening in these businesses b/c the “USER FEE/TAX” that these businesses is nothing compared to the amount of revenue they create. The city/county may think that they are gaining when these places open when in reality they are paying on the backside 2-3 times as much because John/Jane Doe has become addicted to these places and can’t pay his light bill or can’t put food on the table. I called 911 the other day b/c this lady went inside one of these locations and left a child(younger than 3) in the car with the windows rolled down..and the car was off. The child was sleeping but it was 94 degrees outside. By the time I realized what was going on the HPD had arrived but the lady had just slipped out w/o me getting the tag # but I did get a description of the car and gave it to the officer. If only we would put this much Focus/Concern into our kids education then maybe we can teach them that Govt. Assistance isn’t a way of life although it seems to be so for so many in the Henderson/Vance area.
As you think about your financial situation, ask yourself what has Elected Official “x” done to better the Henderson/Vance area. I think you will find that the majority or the elected officials are either 1. self-serving or 2. dumb as a rock!!!!!!!!!!!! The county commissioners have 2 that fit into category 2 and the city council has 2(maybe 3) that fit into category 2. The vast majority are self-serving…i.e. Apartments Downtown where councilman Inscoe’s daughters own some or made $$ off the project. That’s one example of those who fit category 1…..you want more?
You also have a female council member who only got the seat b/c of an ex-attorney didn’t have sense to run his office and she promised to shed light onto the corruption within city hall if elected. She won by default and has become nothing more than a puppet in the show. Nice job….wonder how the elected officials in the area can honestly get a good nights rest? You also have a county commissioner who calls into WIZS 1450 Town Talk every so often and spews ignorance. Just the other day he called and said that the citizens of the USA were better off b/c of President Obama and his policies. What planet he lives on I’m not quite sure but I think the follow-up caller summed it up when he said that if you are better off with this President it’s because you are receiving some kind of Govt. Assistance. Wonder if he knew that commissioner b/c if I’m not mistaken he does receive Govt. Assistance in the form of Disability Payments every month.
Sorry so long-winded but I sit back and laugh at the idiots that are running Henderson/Vance area into the ground. Good Job Slum Lords too b/c you pay an integral part in the blight as well.
Extremely well said, Deception
Phil, thanks for the links!
Deception, great post!!!
No one is better for living off the government. Assistance should be temporary, not permanent.
Deception, my hat is off to you for your great post. Thank you for saying so much on this very important topic.
Basically, almost any kind of business gets a free pass to operate so long as somewhere in the application is the phrase to create jobs.
Thanks again Deception for your great post.
Ain’t no hand….like 1st hand info. For anyone interested in seeing how these internet cafes work and the customers who frequent them all you have to do is go in with a picture I.D. and see for yourself…..1st hand. I will even pay for any elected official who wants to ‘visit’ one of the many locations within the city. All they gotta do is say when…..and where. I say this tongue in cheek b/c I know that none of them come out of their sheltered enviroments and ‘get dirty’…..most of them are already dirty though.
Good idea Deception. Maybe more people need to know how these businesses work. Saw on the news today where NC legislature was looking at taxing these businesses, and then possibly replacing other taxes with it. One representative said that it wasn’t really gambling, cause its pre-determined that you are going to lose! I think I will go sit down in one this week and give my local representatives a call about what i find out.
I disagree Mr Bobbitt, sweepstakes and Section 8 should not get any ‘free’ passes for any reason, because the damage done by these businesses far outweigh the one or two jobs created.
Mr. Mojo Risin, (post 10)
Excuse me for my delay in answering your question. I think others here have pointed you to the answer to your question.
The number one industry in this county is government subsidized housing. Fixing this problem sadly takes more effort and backbone than the county and city politicians together have collectively.
Betterworld, I agree with you.
I was not clear in what I was saying. If a business owner needs city or county government approval to open or expand their particular business so long as the application for the business includes the phrase ‘creates jobs’ that business owner is given a free pass. The elected never ask for some specific details from the business owner to validate the phrase ‘creates jobs’. Case in point, not one council person asked how many new jobs would be added when a gaming parlor is allowed to expand. That is what I meant by a free pass. I hope that clarifies the confusion I created. In my narrow view of the world gaming parlors have few if any positive values.
Ok thank you for the clarification, Mr. Bobbitt
Out in Left Field,
I knew we were on the same page. Thank you for the clarity my friend.