Bingo, the VOTE and Our Future

I want to clarify a few issues regarding the Thursday night Bingo vote.

1. The staffs position was that Bingo would not be allowed in C-1 but would be allowed in C-2 thus a vote for the change to C-2 was a tacit vote to allow Bingo immediately.
2. I voted no as I believe that C-1 is fine for that area and we need more time as a City to investigate and regulate this form of gaming in our City.
3. If we decide to allow Bingo, the Zoning to me is a formality but I will always side on the most restrictive zoning to potential less desirable uses.
4. Our City has no ordinances or restrictions on Bingo as one has never been proposed in the City.
5. What appeared on the agenda and was noticed as a Zoning Hearing did NOT clearly identify to citizens that if this change was made the Bingo proposal would have no further hurdles to pass for opening a Bingo Parlor around their homes.
6. Many operational issues are still lingering...if 500 people show up on Friday night to play Bingo, where will they park. If you look at the site, it will not accommodate large crowds and the overflow parking will flow into the neighborhoods. That is unacceptable to me.

I do not oppose Bingo or gaming, in the right location or venue. My husband works with many gaming interests routinely in his business, they have their value and their proper place in a community. But I believe the citizens around the proposed site and throughout the City should have the opportunity to be presented with an open process of voicing their concerns ,having the developers answer questions as to traffic flow, hours of operation, parking, security and that logistical and regulatory issues associated with the development must be addressed PROACTIVELY not after they occur.

Finally, it saddens me to see our local economy fall to a level that we consider a Bingo parlor as economic development. We as a City are spending millions of dollars to build a rental car pavilion at the airport. I would hate to think that a visitors first impression of Pensacola to be a Bingo parlor as they head north from the airport out to 9th Avenue possibly on their way to Ellyson, GE or UWF.

As a citizen said " I just think at some point we have to get into the discussion about what we want our community to be in 20 years and perhaps that can serve to develop the filter for all decisions. You know the old saying "If you don't know where you want to go, any road will take you there."

Our Mayor wants Pensacola to go from good to great. I support him wholeheartedly. I just have reservations that Bingo in this location isn't moving us towards great.