The opening of the Rivers Casino made last Sunday not a day of celebration but a day of grief for many citizens of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania who believe Act 71 of 2004, which legalized slot machines, was enacted unconstitutionally.
The not-so-grand opening of Pittsburgh's casino will rank among the sad moments remembered in the history of this city and nation. Addictions resulting from gambling initiatives lead only to one pathway: destruction of the family unit.
Blindly ignoring this fact and hoping money flushed through gambling activities will somehow reap wealth, happiness, good times and lower property taxes will lead many poor and even wealthy souls only to an empty wallet, great disappointment and an uncontrollable desire to gain back what they have lost.
Sadly, we are building a foundation of sand upon which Pittsburgh will be forced to rest. And in the future, without a change of direction, it will fall with great destruction.
There will be no winners! This casino is another monument to harm promoted by government leaders against the citizens of Pennsylvania. It is a direct offense against the democratic process of the United States of America.
Sharon Capretto
Mt. Washington
The writer is a representative of Casino Free Pittsburgh, an affiliate of Casino Free PA (casinofreepa.org).
