Still no casino for Youngstown

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House has signed off on a ballot issue that would change the location of a Columbus casino, over the objections of Youngstown lawmakers pushing for a casino in their community.

“I don’t really care [where the Columbus casino ends up locating],” Rep. Ronald Gerberry, a Democrat from Austintown,, said during the floor debate on the issue. “Neither does anyone in the Mahoning Valley. But I can tell you one thing: The people of the Mahoning Valley deserve the opportunity to have a casino just as much as anyone else.”

He added, “We need help now, and we have been told long enough we’ll get you the next time. Next time is now.”

The final vote on the resolution was 71-26, and the issue will appear on the May primary ballot, but with no provision for a casino in Youngstown.

For more on this story, see Thursday’s Vindicator or vindy.com