STATESIDE


hotel and entertainment complex near Michigan Avenue. Anyone familiar with the downtown knows that the six-block


section of Michigan Avenue, called the “Magnificent Mile,” is the crown jewel of Chicago. More than 450 retailers, tourist attractions, upscale restaurants, major department stores and international designers and boutiques call it home. On a Saturday night last month, hundreds of rioting teens


descended on the Magnificent Mile after social media advertised this “event.” They smashed store windows, destroyed cars, assaulted visitors and stole merchandise. Police had to escort tourists to safety. Many were arrested, but are legally juveniles who may face few consequences. So, dear readers, just imagine if your city’s premiere shopping,


dining, tourist and entertainment thoroughfare faced an impromptu mob of hundreds of teens. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, taking office on May 15,


downplayed the damage, physical harm and potential economic effects of this criminal conduct. He described the riot as basically immature kids making bad choices. “In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the


Loop and lakefront this weekend. It is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities,” said Johnson. Really? Johnson doesn’t personally know these kids. Even if


these are disadvantaged young people, where are their parents? I hardly think anyone whose business or personal safety has been upended cares about their backstories. Soon-to-be-former Mayor Lori Lightfoot condemned the behavior,


but would not call it “mayhem.” How would she describe the scene since it also happened repeatedly on her watch? My suggestion? The New York City license battle winner, and


projections estimate a new casino could boost Broadway’s sales with seven million more visitors annually. Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg recently stated, “At the core


of our vision for this project is the idea that our guests will flow directly from our five-star boutique hotel, gaming floor, sportsbook and entertainment destination into the existing vibrant entertainment and culinary community in and around Times Square.” Compared to the wide Las Vegas Strip, with plenty of walking space


between dozens of casinos, the compact 42nd Street/Times Square area “squishes” people together on the narrow streets. If you have never visited New York City, think about the televised annual New Year’s Eve ball drop from the heights of Times Square. The million-plus who crowd in there have no place to go once they are in the mix. This controversy is speculative because the three “downstate” New


York licenses are supposed to balance out those already in place in upstate New York. And, unlike other jurisdictions, New York City’s four other boroughs with their own huge populations- Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island-are also eligible for the casino license. The application process should ultimately generate billions in


revenues. Each application has a minimum $500 million license fee. Representatives of NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, the local Assembly member, senator, City Council representative and borough president will comprise a selection committee and hear local input. Four or more members must support the particular bid. Time will tell. Chicago is the second issue. Hundreds of miles away, Bally’s is developing its downtown 30-acre $1.7 billion Bally’s Chicago casino,


10 MAY 2023


future Bally’s in Chicago, must demand full police protection and strong law enforcement. Visitors and tourists will never come when feeling unsafe, especially if they leave the casinos with winnings. After spending hundreds of millions on licenses and paying enormous taxes, it is the least they can expect.


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