DelawarePolitics.net

Sep 23rd, 2009 by David Anderson

Sussex County – The Indian River School Board last night voted 6 to 2 to pass a non-binding resolution opposing the proposed Del Pointe racino. The Delaware Family Policy Council, a statewide organization whose purpose is to advance public policy that supports strong families, applauds the common sense resolution to protect school children from the damaging impact of gambling.

Jordan Warfel, public policy analyst for the Delaware Family Policy Council, made the following comments.

“Gambling is not just a financial and budget issue, it has profound implications for marriage and families that must be considered. The Indian River School Board deserves praise for bringing the best interest of its students to the center of the Del Pointe debate.”

“There is overwhelming precedent for public policy that protects school children from negative influences by eliminating those negative influences, such as illegal drugs, weapons and sexually oriented businesses, within close proximity of schools. The Indian River School Board’s resolution to shield its students from the negative influences of gambling is a breath of fresh air in the Del Pointe controversy.”

Nicole Theis, Executive Director of the Delaware Family Policy Council added the following statement.

“The perceived economic and fiscal merits of Del Pointe have been the center of discussion as if all the facts about long term affects and how gambling hurts children and families does not exist. The evidence is clear and overwhelming that gambling devastates young people. We applaud the Indian River School Board’s resolution, it demonstrates their stand to protect the families they serve.”

The Wilson Resolution that passed this evening is as follows:

1. Whereas the proposed racino planned to be built is in close proximity and adjacent to the Sussex Central High School campus.

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Indian River School Board does not support and is not in favor of a gambling racino being built within close proximity and/or adjacent to any of its school campuses.

***END***

Posted in Stuff

9 Responses to “Delaware Family Policy Council Praises School Board Vote”

on 23 Sep 2009 at 12:021FYI

The vote was 6 yes 2 no with 2 not voting. It’s non binding and the IRSD has no decision in land use policy. One monkey won’t stop the circus.
on 23 Sep 2009 at 14:372Tim Pancoast

Good for Indian River. I totally approve of their choice. I recognize that the district doesn’t have any control over what happens with the Racino, however they do have a big voice with the community. I can only hope that other voices may follow their lead. The choice for locating a casino next to a high school seems like a very poor one to me. It indicates that the best interests of the citizens are not the priority of the people pushing this project.
on 23 Sep 2009 at 15:073FYI

How close is close? According to the site plan the school and proposed racino are 1.5 miles apart. Would 2 miles make them feel better, how about 4? Thats my point.
on 23 Sep 2009 at 22:394Art Downs

I am always amused by the redundancy ‘close proximity’. What other proximity is there?

This is as silly as ‘rice paddy’ and ‘shrimp scampi’, a pair of phrases where the English word is matched with the foreign equivalent.

‘Paddy fields’ is the proper way of describing where paddy (rice) is grown.
on 24 Sep 2009 at 06:105Art Downs

If only school boards would do more to promote knowledge-based education rather than pushing trendiness.

The fourth-rate hacks who infest such boards are often a big part of the problem and this is not a fault that is confined to one state or region.
on 24 Sep 2009 at 10:076Rick

The racino would mean good jobs for Delaware grads…just like Rehoboth restaurants and bars.
on 24 Sep 2009 at 16:567Badmon3333

This isn’t the only racino proposal for the Georgetown area. A second group wants to restore the old harness track on Route 9 east of town and turn it into a racino: http://www.sussexcountian.com/news/x1101620827/Investor-group-looks-to-revive-harness-racing-in-Georgetown
on 24 Sep 2009 at 19:348David

According to the school board and other sources the properties are ajoining. There have been problems with AC in that regard. Whether or not those same problems would exist here is unknown. There can be different controls. The key is that we can not pretend they don’t exist.

What will kill the Del Point facility is the PA budget negotiations. If PA adds table games, there will be no financing.
on 04 Oct 2009 at 17:399meatball

The properties share a common border.