Keetoowah Cherokee tribe wants to build Arkansas' first casino in Fort Smith

[mcheiss]

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Ft. Smith is a conservative city, it's always been. I personally think that a lot of the residents don't want to see the city change, they like the slow growth and the community as it is. I myself would like to see legalized gambeling in Arkansas, but I hate the designs of these casinos. Of course it would draw people from all over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, etc into the area, creating jobs and pumping millions into local economies. Many just see this as a source of more crime, higher poverty rates, and worse social-economic factors.

[Mith242]

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Ft. Smith is a conservative city, it's always been. I personally think that a lot of the residents don't want to see the city change, they like the slow growth and the community as it is. I myself would like to see legalized gambeling in Arkansas, but I hate the designs of these casinos. Of course it would draw people from all over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, etc into the area, creating jobs and pumping millions into local economies. Many just see this as a source of more crime, higher poverty rates, and worse social-economic factors.

I can understand that to a certain degree, but what really gets me is the fact is there's a Cherokee casino not too far across the border on I-40. How can anybody tell me the bad social-economic factors stop right at the border.

[bchris02]

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Ft. Smith is a conservative city, it's always been. I personally think that a lot of the residents don't want to see the city change, they like the slow growth and the community as it is. I myself would like to see legalized gambeling in Arkansas, but I hate the designs of these casinos. Of course it would draw people from all over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, etc into the area, creating jobs and pumping millions into local economies. Many just see this as a source of more crime, higher poverty rates, and worse social-economic factors.

The chamber of commerce's decision to endorse this makes me think that maybe some of the city leaders are starting to understand that some changes are going to have to be made if they want Fort Smith to have a future.

It really suprised me they approved of this, especially after everything else they've fought to keep out of the city that would have been even better than the casino. Fort Smith is a lot about tradition and family values. They want to preserve the city exactly the way they knew it growing up and as their parents and even grandparents knew it. They have done well, as many people from outside describe the city as a trip back in time, and not in a good way.

[Mith242]

The chamber of commerce's decision to endorse this makes me think that maybe some of the city leaders are starting to understand that some changes are going to have to be made if they want Fort Smith to have a future.

It really suprised me they approved of this, especially after everything else they've fought to keep out of the city that would have been even better than the casino. Fort Smith is a lot about tradition and family values. They want to preserve the city exactly the way they knew it growing up and as their parents and even grandparents knew it. They have done well, as many people from outside describe the city as a trip back in time, and not in a good way.

The Chamber is going to endorse this? I don't think I've heard that yet. But I still get the feeling this is going to be an uphill battle. Isn't the mayor extremely opposed to it?