SilverMallard Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Wayne, it's pretty obvious from some of the uninformed comments being made that most have not been to Rockaway anytime in recent history and have had no interraction with the business and gov't leaders of the community...or the N Taney County area in general. I often hear about the "huge windfall" all the property owners will make on "over-valued" property sold to developers if Rockaway gets gambling. What a joke! Almost every business in the development zone is currently listed with a Branson REALTOR. And they are listed for fire sale prices and have been since before the last ballot...some for several years. A few have sold recently, and I have been amazed at how cheap they are. A waterfront resort and marina that the casino would take recently sold for $150k. That was about 3 times earnings...max. And the place is in GOOD shape for an old fishing resort. And I personally know several of the good folks of Rockaway who have spent a lot of their own money and virtually all of their spare time for the past several years trying to find an alternative to the casino. So folks making those kinds of ignorant comments really piss me off. Finally, I wish the Herschends would have spent the $6 million on revitalization of Rockaway also! But they DIDN'T...STILL HAVEN'T...WON'T. But they did pledge $10 million to fight it this time around right after the last election. Words are cheap. The Herschends are hypocrites...liars, if they said what you claim. (I've never heard that before) I'm sure that the good folks of Rockaway would welcome that $16 million spent wisely on a non-gambling competitive econ revitalization effort in their community that would provide yearround employment at above average wages and with benefits for 1,000 workers. Heck, I could go buy every commercial property in Rockaway Beach TODAY with way less than $16 million! I gotta throw the flag on that nonsense. SilverMallard "How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of - and which no other people on Earth enjoy." Thomas Jefferson (This disclaimer is to state that any posts of a questionable nature are to be interpreted by the reader at their own peril. The writer of this post in no way supports the claims made in this post, or takes resposibility for their interpretations or uses. It is at the discretion of the reader to wrestle through issues of sarcasm, condescension, snobbery, lunacy, left and or right wing conspiracies, lying, cheating, wisdom, enlightenment, or any form of subterfuge contained herein.)
gonefishin Posted July 28, 2006 Author Posted July 28, 2006 I go to Rockaway quiet regularly and I understand what Wayne is saying but I still don't believe gambling is the answer. I think the money that has been thrown in a black hole trying to get gambling in there would have gone a long ways into bringing positive and lasting changes to the community. For example they could have developed some land and donated it to a business who would bring X number of employees there, they could have hired more police/sherrif officers to clean up crime in the area and they could have started some community clean up and revitialazation projects. Once these goals were attained they could have done the same thing for another business and it would have been more attractive to new businesses so before long business would be wanting to come there. I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
crappiefisherman Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 mallard, rockaways a joke, has been , always will be.Its a dump.No revitalization to speak of, oh they got a fountain in a slough.Theyt need help but come on the residents down there arent gona get rich with jobs. They are hopin to sell their places and move.Ive seen the same stuff for 40 plus down there.Oh and only one casino ownership company interested? sounds like not gona have to worry about competative pricing huh. speakin of firesales have you priced the 2 acre lot on the west side of town. ha ha ha [ [
crappiefisherman Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 I think what thomas jefferson is trying to say is you dont know how good you got it so dont screw it up [ [
Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted July 28, 2006 Root Admin Posted July 28, 2006 Herschends - the money refered to by them was the money the trucker guy spent on the campaign. Alot of people said the same thing.
Bill Babler Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Guy's, I'm only going to have one comment on this. Take a look at Hilton's flag ship hotels, and convention centers, and tell me how many they have built for non-gaming in the last 10 years? You will find many hotels, and all are gaming. It's what they do. They are a multi-billion dollar corporation, and could care less about renting nightly rooms in Branson. They could care less about selling condo's, reguardless of price. They could care less about bringing in conventions to the Landing. They are after gaming dollars and that is why they are on the Branson River front. There would have been a million cheaper places to put a strip mall that dosen't utilize the water front. But, you must have the water for gaming in Missouri. This is the end of the story, and if you don't think it's going to happen, you are living in La La land. I have been told, it's progress. http://whiteriveroutfitters.com http://whiteriverlodgebb.com
Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted July 28, 2006 Root Admin Posted July 28, 2006 I hope you're wrong buddy.
crappiefisherman Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 you mean hilton aint there for the shoes????? [ [
Wayne SW/MO Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 I've heard many of the same rumors Bill. One of them was that the powers that be didn't want RB or Hollister to get a foot in on a casino because they thought there was only room for one. Any place to be successful for a convention center needs to be versatile, and Branson doesn't have 100% of the pieces. I don't have any stake in a casino, or the future of RB, but I know the population doesn't fit the mold many believe they do. While many of the resorts are outdated, they aren't falling down. Today's release is tomorrows gift to another fisherman.
strangercreek Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 hitting on Gonefishin's comment about being sneaky putting it on a statewide ballot. This is a good point. I was down that way last weekend and recall a billboard that read "We voted for yours, now vote for ours". I assume this is geared to the Missouri side KC crowd....
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