POLL: Most Pennsylvanians (and Adams County) oppose the Gettysburg Casino ( with complete poll.)

[Susan Star Paddock]

http://www.civilwar.org/aboutus/news/news-releases/2011-news/gettys...

Civil War Trust commissioned this poll and released results. Since this has been largely ignored by news media. LaTorre does not want the media to mention it at all. I have added the entire poll at the bottom of this post, so you can judge for yourself.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 8, 2011 BY OVERWHELMING MARGINS, PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS OPPOSE GETTYSBURG CASINO PROPOSAL New poll finds that two-thirds of Pennsylvanians oppose plans for a casino just one-half mile from America’s most famous battleground (Gettysburg, Pa.) – On the eve of the sesquicentennial commemoration of the American Civil War, a public opinion poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research reveals that Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly oppose plans for a casino ½ mile from the historic Gettysburg Battlefield.  According to the poll, fully two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters actively oppose the idea of a casino at Gettysburg and nearly 60 percent favor pending legislation that would block future attempts at similar proposals.  Further, 57 percent state that, if approved, such a Gettysburg casino would be an embarrassment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The independent poll was commissioned by the Civil War Trust, an historic land preservation group, which also opposed a similar, unsuccessful proposal to bring gambling to Gettysburg in 2006.  The Trust has permanently protected more than 30,000 acres of hallowed ground nationwide, including 800 acres at Gettysburg.  “Despite attempts by casino investors to mask the true scope of public opposition to their plan, the people of Pennsylvania remain outraged by the idea of a Gettysburg casino,” said Civil War Trust president James Lighthizer. The numbers reinforce Lighthizer’s remarks; opposition to a Gettysburg casino is strong throughout the Commonwealth, in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as well as elsewhere in the state.  Opposition is most pronounced in Central and Western Pennsylvania, where nearly ¾ quarters of all voters (74 percent) expressed opposition for the casino proposal.  Statewide, just 17 percent of Pennsylvanians indicated they support the idea of a Gettysburg casino.  The numbers also indicated that voters understand that Gettysburg is a unique economic engine for the Pennsylvania economy.  “Eighty-eight percent of state voters, and nine out of ten of those who live near the battlefield, understand that Gettysburg is a priceless economic resource for the community and should not be jeopardized by such an ill-considered scheme,” said Lighthizer.  Although casino proponents have often and loudly declared that the majority of locals are eager for a casino in their midst, a separate, specific sampling of Adams County voters illustrates otherwise.  The community is deeply divided on the issue, with 45 percent opposing the casino and only 41 percent supporting it.  Opposition, however, is based on proximity to the battlefield rather than hostility toward gaming; were the chosen location further from the battlefield and national park, stated opposition falls to 35 percent of county voters. “These findings illustrate No Casino Gettysburg’s position since the project was first announced,” said Susan Star Paddock, chair of the local opposition group.  “Our objection is to the casino’s location — on the doorstep of the Gettysburg battlefield is simply no place for slots and table games.” Investors with Mason-Dixon Gaming, a company unrelated to the nationally recognized polling firm, are among four groups seeking a license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to operate a Category 3 resort casino.  If approved, their project would bring hundreds of slot machines and table games just ½ mile from the boundaries of Gettysburg National Military Park.  The Gaming Board has recently announced it will make a licensing decision on April 14, 2011. Since it was announced last year, the proposal has drawn immense opposition.  Tens of thousands of Americans signed petitions against the project and nearly 300 prominent historians wrote to the gaming board, urging its rejection, as did the national leadership of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and the American Legion.  Other prominent Americans who lent their name to the campaign to protect Gettysburg include Susan Eisenhower, Emmy-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough, Medal of Honor recipient Paul W. Bucha, renowned composer John Williams and entertainers Matthew Broderick, Stephen Lang and Sam Waterston. Mindy Crawford, executive director of Preservation Pennsylvania — a statewide preservation advocacy group — said that the poll demonstrates the high regard with which Pennsylvanians regard their historic treasures. “The poll’s finding that 71 percent of voters statewide have a personal interest in history aligns with the outpouring of resistance I have seen to this proposal,” said Crawford.  “And it’s more than just a passing interest — almost 40 percent of Pennsylvanians plan to visit at least one Civil War-related site during the conflict’s 150th anniversary commemoration.” Aware of widespread opposition to the controversial proposal, Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks County), a member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Oversight Committee, last month introduced House Bill 1179, which would amend the state’s Gaming Act to create a 10-mile buffer around Gettysburg national Military Park.  Upon introduction, the legislation had gathered 23 bipartisan cosponsors from districts across the state. “As both an elected official and a proud U.S. Army veteran, I believe it is my duty to stand up on behalf of my comrades in arms, even if their service occurred a century before mine, and do what I can to prevent the solemnity of the Gettysburg battlefield from being compromised,” said Clymer.  “I certainly count myself among those who feel that allowing gaming so close to the bloodiest battlefield of the American Civil War would be a distraction from the true meaning of Gettysburg.” Clymer said he was unsurprised by the strong support for his actions expressed in the poll; 59 percent of Pennsylvanians and 64 percent of central Pennsylvania voters expressed support for the bill.  Ninety-four percent of respondents said elected officials like Clymer have a responsibility to protect the state’s significant historic resources, including Gettysburg. Mason-Dixon Polling and Research is well known as one of the most credible and accurate independent polling firms in the nation.  Mason-Dixon conducted the poll from April 4–6, 2011.  For the statewide sampling, a total of 625 registered voters were interviewed by telephone, with an additional sample of 400 registered voters in Adams County.  The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points on statewide questions and +/- 5 percentage points for Adams County. The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States.  Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism.  To date, the Trust has preserved more than 30,000 acres of battlefield land in 20 states, including 800 acres at Gettysburg.  Learn more at www.civilwar.org. THE POLL ITSELF   1Mason Dixon Polling and Research http://www.mason-dixon.com/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=About.Home CWT PENNSYLVANIA POLL – APRIL 2011 625 registered Pennsylvania voters were interviewed statewide by telephone April 4-6, 2011 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C. Margin for error is plus or minus 4%. QUESTION: A group of investors has proposed a casino complex with slots and table games less than one mile from Gettysburg National Military Park. Do you support or oppose building a casino near the National Park? SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED STATE 17% 66% 17% REGION SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED Philadelphia Metro 20% 60% 20% Northeast PA 17% 65% 18% Central PA 16% 74% 10% Western PA 15% 74% 11% Pittsburgh/Southwest 15% 64% 21% SEX SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED Men 19% 64% 17% Women 16% 67% 17% PARTY REG SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED Democrat 17% 65% 18% Republican 15% 69% 16% Independent 23% 58% 19% 2 QUESTION: Legislation that would prevent the establishment of a casino near the Gettysburg Battlefield was recently introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Do you support or oppose this legislation? SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED STATE 59% 24% 17% REGION SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED Philadelphia Metro 57% 22% 21% Northeast PA 62% 25% 13% Central PA 64% 23% 13% Western PA 62% 20% 18% Pittsburgh/Southwest 53% 31% 16% SEX SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED Men 57% 27% 16% Women 61% 22% 17% PARTY REG SUPPORT OPPOSE UNDECIDED Democrat 58% 22% 20% Republican 61% 27% 12% Independent 56% 23% 21% 3 QUESTION: Would you consider a casino within a mile of Gettysburg National Military Park to be an embarrassment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or not? YES NO NOT SURE STATE 57% 37% 6% REGION YES NO NOT SURE Philadelphia Metro 54% 41% 5% Northeast PA 61% 31% 8% Central PA 60% 34% 6% Western PA 59% 36% 5% Pittsburgh/Southwest 54% 40% 6% SEX YES NO NOT SURE Men 55% 37% 8% Women 58% 37% 5% PARTY REG YES NO NOT SURE Democrat 58% 38% 4% Republican 57% 36% 7% Independent 55% 34% 11% 4 QUESTION: Do you believe that the Gettysburg Battlefield and other tourist sites in Pennsylvania are valuable economic resources for the community, or not? YES NO NOT SURE STATE 88% 5% 7% REGION YES NO NOT SURE Philadelphia Metro 87% 4% 9% Northeast PA 85% 6% 9% Central PA 90% 7% 3% Western PA 90% 7% 3% Pittsburgh/Southwest 89% 3% 8% SEX YES NO NOT SURE Men 89% 4% 7% Women 87% 6% 7% PARTY REG YES NO NOT SURE Democrat 87% 6% 7% Republican 91% 3% 6% Independent 85% 6% 9% 5 QUESTION: Do you believe that government officials have a responsibility to protect the Gettysburg Battlefield and other historic resources in the state, or not? YES NO NOT SURE STATE 94% 4% 2% REGION YES NO NOT SURE Philadelphia Metro 96% 2% 2% Northeast PA 96% 3% 1% Central PA 91% 6% 3% Western PA 95% 4% 1% Pittsburgh/Southwest 90% 7% 3% SEX YES NO NOT SURE Men 97% 2% 1% Women 92% 5% 3% PARTY REG YES NO NOT SURE Democrat 91% 6% 3% Republican 97% 1% 2% Independent 93% 5% 2% 6 QUESTION: Are you personally interested in the Civil War and historical events that occurred in Pennsylvania, or not? YES 71% NO 29% QUESTION: This year marks the beginning of a four-year commemoration of the 150 to you think you will visit this year? (NOT READ) th anniversary of the Civil War. How many Civil War sites None 48% One 23% Two or Three 9% More than Three 5% Not Sure 15% DEMOGRAPHICS: SEX: Men 309 (49%) Women 316 (51%) AGE: 18-34 85 (14%) 35-49 168 (27%) 50-64 196 (31%) 65+ 174 (28%) Refused 2 1 CWT ADAMS COUNTY POLL – APRIL 2011 400 registered voters in Adams County, Pennsylvania interviewed April 4-5, 2011 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C. Margin for error is plus or minus 5%. QUESTION: A group of investors has proposed a casino complex with slots and table games less than one mile from Gettysburg National Military Park. Do you support or oppose building a casino near the National Park? COUNTY MEN WOMEN DEMS REPS INDS SUPPORT 41% 44% 37% 43% 39% 45% OPPOSE 45% 42% 49% 44% 47% 41% UNDECIDED 14% 14% 14% 13% 14% 14% QUESTION: Would you support or oppose establishment of a casino in Adams County, if it were located further from the battlefield and National Military Park? COUNTY MEN WOMEN DEMS REPS INDS SUPPORT 49% 51% 48% 54% 45% 49% OPPOSE 35% 32% 37% 31% 38% 34% UNDECIDED 16% 17% 15% 15% 17% 17% QUESTION: Do you believe that the Gettysburg Battlefield and other tourist sites in Adams County are valuable economic resources for the community, or not? COUNTY MEN WOMEN DEMS REPS INDS YES 91% 88% 93% 94% 89% 93% NO 5% 8% 3% 4% 6% 5% NOT SURE 4% 4% 4% 2% 5% 2% 2 QUESTION: Do you believe that government officials have a responsibility to protect the Gettysburg Battlefield and other historic resources in the county, or not? COUNTY MEN WOMEN DEMS REPS INDS YES 83% 80% 86% 85% 81% 84% NO 11% 12% 10% 11% 12% 10% NOT SURE 6% 8% 4% 4% 7% 6% QUESTION: Are you personally interested in the Civil War and historical events that occurred in Gettysburg, or not? YES 76% NO 24% QUESTION: This year marks the beginning of a four-year commemoration of the 150 to you think you will visit this year? (NOT READ) th anniversary of the Civil War. How many Civil War sites None 28% One 22% Two or Three 19% More than Three 16% Not Sure 15% DEMOGRAPHICS: AGE: 18-34 63 (16%) 35-49 114 (29%) 50-64 121 (30%) 65+ 101 (25%) Refused 1 SEX: Male 193 (48%) Female 207 (52%)

[Tony Zaffuto]

Out here in Western Pennsylvania, there is virtually no opposition to the proposed license for Nemacolin.  Further, in contrast to the Eisenhower application, Nemacolin is a TRUE, well-established resort, not some pipe dream like Eisenhower that needs infrastructure well beyond the casino proper.  

Gambling has been made legal in Pennsylvania but that does not mean the PGCB can ignore the local impact imposed by their decision.  To permit gambling in the Gettysburg area will strike at the heart of the existing tourism and what we all know Gettysburg to be.  Gettysburg is not an area to be experimented with.  

Beyond that, it is a travesty for the PGCB to even have a category such as a "resort license", as none would remain as first licensed.