Chronicle
10/13/2013
local government
aid.
Existing casino jobs in the Greater Rochester
area will be protected because none of the new resorts will open nearby. Monroe County alone would
see $15.5 million each year.
We understand
and appreciate that some people
DemocratandChronicle.com
still have concerns about expanding gaming. But
strict new measures to provide unprecedented oversight protections are also included as part of this
act.
Heather C. Briccetti is president and CEO of the
Business Council of New York State. Mario Cilento is
president of the New York State AFL-CIO.
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fit letter
is a serious enough matter to justify at least one
public event in which the top official seeking the
change is obliged to give reasons, present evidence
and answer basic questions.
Do we need a string of new casinos across New
York? No. I think we need policies that create
wealth rather than redistribute it from the havenots to the haves. I think we need policies that
bring us together into one New York family rather
than a policy that would divide us into the people
doing the fleecing and the people being fleeced.
David Blankenhorn is the president of the Institute
for American Values, based in New York City.
GUEST ESSAYS: CASINO GAMBLING FACE OFF
Letters to the editor: All submissions must include your name,
address and daytime telephone number.
Limit letters to fewer than 175 words. Send to Letters to the Editor, Democrat and Chronicle, 55 Exchange Blvd.,
Sunday,
October
13, 2013 Page 33A
Rochester, NY 14614;
email
[email protected].
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Submit to [email protected].
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Give juvenile offenders the second chance that they deserve
Have your children ever made a
mistake? And if so, have they had the
chance to learn from it?
As a pediatrician and
child advocate with The
Children’s Agenda, much
of my life’s work has been
to ensure the best possible
developmental paths for
our children. In this spirit,
we are proud to support
New York’s “Raise the
Age” campaign.
Kaczorowski
Currently, New York
is one of only two states that prosecute
youths younger than 18 in the adult
criminal justice system. Each year,
almost 50,000 16- and 17-year-olds are
arrested. In 2010, nearly 2,200 of these
arrests were in the Rochester metropolitan area.
So who are these kids? Mostly nonviolent offenders: Here in Rochester, 88
percent are arrested for misdemeanors
and nonviolent offenses. This is likely
their first big mistake. And they are
young.
The adult system isn’t the place for
them.
As a doctor, I am interested in the
brain science behind this. At 16 or 17,
the adolescent brain is still developing
and will continue to do so until age 25.
Research shows that teens are both
Pope isn’t changing was fortunate enough to
be raised and to know
Catholic doctrine
quitepeople
well the
Greatest
more impulsive and less aware of the
tinue. Young
placed
in the adult
Generation
fromare
my rearrested
In regard
has
consequences of their behavior.
(Any to what
criminal
justice system
grandparents,
father,
been
written concerning
parent can attest to this.) But
young
at a rate 34
percent higher
than youths
mother
and my
aunts system.
comments
by Poperetained
Fran- in
brains are also more flexible
than ours,
the youth
justice
and uncles.
make
no mistake
— percent
more receptive to change. cis,
Youths
are
Eighty
of youths released by
It’s a shame that we
he is not moving the
more likely to grow out of delinquent
adult prisons
will
often for
cannot
tellreoffend,
our true feel“goal posts” on Catholic
behavior with the right kinds
of in-or doctrine.
more serious
crimes.
The
adult system
ings when
being
interteaching
terventions.
doesn’t
children
viewed
withoutout
theof a “life of
As always, there
are scare
This is exactly what ourthose
juvenile
crime” —newspapers
it preparessaying
them that
for it.
in the secular
justice system is there for:media
to actwho
as aseek to show
There’s
a clear
alternative
to the
there
is a possible
worldwake-up call and to give children
theand misdireccurrent model.
It’s gaining
wide boycott.
If the momentum
gay
confusion
community
doesanot
by to
taking the here
holy in New
support and resources theytion
need
York, with
broad coaliwantintosupport.
eat Barilla’s
father’s
of already
“break the cycle.” Some teens
willwords
need outtion
Let’s raise the
context.
treatment options, and others
mayHe
endisn’t saying
age to 18.pasta, that’s their loss.
anything different than
RONALD J. PASSERO
up incarcerated.
John
Paul
II
or
Benedict
ROCHESTER
But dumping them in the adult sysJeff Kaczorowski is president
of The
XVI.
tem only ensures the cycle will
conChildren’s
Agenda,
based
in Rochester.
Pope Francis is saySunday was well
ing it in his own way, as
spent with the RPO
ocrat and Chronicle 10/13/2013
one who was raised in a
different culture and
time than our previous
popes. His Jesuit education adds to it also, I
believe.
His call of mercy,
forgiveness and compassion has been a hallmark
of a church that for
centuries has established its charitable
organizations all over
the world. If it seems to
some that the church is
flawed or has failed at
times, it is because of
those of us who are
flawed and failed her,
not the other way
around.
To all those who fled
the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Sunday
Matinee series at Hochstein for whatever reason, c’mon back! I did
Sunday and was thrilled
with what I heard and
saw. The RPO, led by
Michael Butterman, has
reimagined Sunday
afternoons to present
Musical Connections.
There are excitement,
multimedia expressions
of art, new ways of
learning, focus on the
relationship of music to
the other arts, and, of
course, the RPO sound
cannot be beat — pardon
the pun.
Sunday’s guest was
David Chamberlain,
sculptor and painter,
who painted his interpretation of Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture
while the RPO played.
The resulting prints
were superb and will be
available to the RPO
family.
Treat yourself to a
new experience. Come
home to Sunday afternoons with the RPO.
You’ll be glad you did.
October 14, 2013 2:22
Las Vegas-style casinos like this one would be legal in New York state if Proposition 1 is adopted by voters in next
month’s general election. KIN CHEUNG/AP
More casinos in N.Y.?
Monroe County could
see $15 million windfall
Expanding gambling
is a divisive policy
T
I
he two of us represent business and labor;
’ve followed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to
we don’t always agree, but we’re working
change our constitution so that he can spread
together in a group called NY Jobs Now to
commercial casinos across our state. I distalk to New Yorkers about Proposition 1
agree with him on this issue, and I’ve written
this November to authorize limited new
a book, New York’s Promise, explaining why.
gaming in our state.
Before the voters decide this question on Nov. 5,
Should New York get in the gaming business? In
I would like the governor to debate this question
reality, we’re already in — and have been for years.
with me, at a time and public place of
But New Yorkers have been missing
his choosing, and with a moderator
out on the opportunities and benefits
and format agreeable to him. The
that come with it.
debate would help New Yorkers
While New York has “racinos” —
reach an informed decision on this
limited electronic lottery games adimportant question of public policy.
jacent to horse racetracks — and five
To date, Cuomo has not said or
Indian tribal casinos, we’re the only
communicated anything of substance
major state in the Northeast without
on this issue. In public comments
commercial casino gaming.
advocating casino gambling, he has
Blankenhorn
Meanwhile, our neighbors in Pennnot cited a single study or research
Briccetti
sylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and
finding. He has said gambling will be good for New
Massachusetts have been capitalizing
York’s economy, but he has not shared with us a
on the jobs and tax revenue from full
single independent economic projection or costcasino gaming. Last year, Pennsylvabenefit analysis to justify this assertion. Since
nia’s gaming revenue
announcing the plan in January 2012,
totaled a record $1.5
he has not given a single serious
billion.
speech explaining reasons for supGET SOCIAL!
We can turn this
porting state-sponsored casinos.
around by voting yes
Even though our constitution is at
Join Monday’s Live Faceon Proposition 1 to
stake, there has not been a single
Cilento
book Chat at 12:30 p.m.
permit four new despublic hearing on this topic.
with the acting executive
tination gaming resorts. This alone
If I were a cynical man, I might
director of New York’s
would create 10,000 construction
suspect Cuomo wants it this way. I
Gaming Commission. The
and permanent jobs — the develmight worry that he wants us to
subject: Legalizing casino
opment of an industry that builds a
change our constitution, but that for
gambling. Go to www.
foundation for success.
some reason he can’t be bothered to
Facebook.com/
And Proposition 1 shares the
tell us why, and that he actually exDandCopinion.
revenue from these resorts with
pects us to endorse a major new
On Wednesday at noon,
GAIL BRYANT
GREECE
Praying in the
dentist’s chair
I read an article that
stated, “The pope prays
in the dentist’s chair.”
Who doesn’t?
JANET MOWERS
KENDALL, ORLEANS COUNTY
U.S. must protect its
most vulnerable
To Republican members of Congress, especially House Tea Partiers: Wake up and smell
the coffee! The true
mark of a great nation is
how it treats its most
vulnerable citizens (elderly, disabled, children). Obamacare is for
them. Your alternative
— nothing — is not, and
never will be.
LAWRENCE REINHARDT
GREECE
Barilla has a right
to an opinion
I read your article
regarding the radio
interview with Guido
Barilla, chairman of
Barilla. I fail to see what
Barilla said in his interview that would make
the homosexual community upset.
DEANNE MOLINARI
FAIRPORT
PAT ON THE BACK
Kind acts marked
my parents’ stay
I would like to send a
shout-out to all those
who aided my elderly
parents this past weekend during their stay at
the Hampton Inn in
Brockport — from the
woman at the registration desk, to Giuseppe from the college,
who shlepped them
around from the hotel to
the college and back
again, to the “very nice
looking” sheriff’s deputy
who made sure they
made it across the street
to CVS and back to the