The continual and seemingly never ending quest for a casino in Rockaway Beach is trying at best, disgusting at worst.
The people of the state and community have spoken. We do NOT want gambling in Taney County and that is that. The proponents delight in deception and harping about job creation and revitalization is a weak case made poorly.
Casinos do in FACT bring increases in family problems, financial problems and criminal involvement in a community.
But rather than repeat all of the arguments of the past, one needs to ask the question that if they truly want revitalization and job growth, why is a casino the only way to do it? We hear nothing of an industrial development effort to bring in light industry or other significant non gambling attractions.
In the last three years or so a gentleman from Hollister was interested in building a Winston Cup class, national class race track for the automotive sports. He was turned down by the City of Hollister I believe due to location and possible noise concerns of a couple of neighbors to his proposed location. The folks in Rockaway should have been on his doorstep to entice his plan to the Rockaway Beach area but we don’t hear of that either, do we? Such a development would have created untold spin off opportunities.
But all we hear from Rockaway is more crowing about casinos. Maybe there is more than may meet the eye here. Maybe there IS a reason after all that the "developers" of the lake front shopping mall have purchased the Lake Queen paddle wheeler and have it mothballed for future use. Maybe the water on Taneycomo is navigable all the way from Branson to the proposed casino site. hmmmmm??????
Rockaway Beach is not having problems because of Branson’s success but rather in spite of Bransons’ success. The city government and business leaders did not keep pace with the rest of this area and allowed the community to degrade. It is now time to grow up, solve your internal city government infighting and examine viable, well grounded growth solutions for your community. And please, quit the whining. [Tom, Branson]