Vote yes on state Issue 2

Vote yes on state Issue 2

The City of Columbus is going to have a casino, whether it wanted one or not. And last fall, when the entire state voted to allow four casinos — one each for Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo — Franklin County voters said “no thanks.”

Nonetheless, strong pro-casino voting in Cuyahoga and Hamilton counties, especially, put the issue over the top statewide.

Now Columbus is seeking to at least have a say in where the casino will go, and thus all Ohio voters are being asked to approve Issue 2, an amendment to last fall’s issue. It will allow the site of the Columbus casinos to be moved from the Arena area south of the city to an abandoned General Motors plant west of the city.

We urge voters to give Columbus area residents the flexibility they are seeking and to approve state Issue 2.

The new site is larger and has much better highway access to accommodate the casino owners’ estimate of up to 10,000 visitors a day. It also has the approval of civic, business and governmental entities, including the trustees of the two townships that will be most affected by a relocation, Prairie and Franklin.

In effect, Ohio voters imposed this casino on Columbus as part of a package deal. The least the voters can now do is give the residents of the Columbus area the last grab at self-determination they will have.

Vote yes on Issue 2.