Walking along Las Vegas Boulevard chugging sipping a Sapporo my mind turned to Chicago and the loss of our Olympic bid. It is one thing for Chicagoans to be divided on the issue but for the IOC to dismiss us like they did… that hurt my Windy City pride.

So what’s next? We have no large capital improvement plan to replace the Olympic project and the local schools, hospitals and transportation still need improving. Then it dawned on me. Walking along the strip with the lights flickering all around me and new construction continuing in these economic times I realized we don’t need a new plan we need to implement an old one. Legalize full scale gambling casinos in Illinois! I’ll give you a moment to finish cringing.

Alright, explain to me why Chicago could not become known as the entertainment and resort destination of the Midwest if not the nation? I envision hotel and casino developments surrounding one of our beautiful public park spaces like Garfield or Jackson Park. The open space would provide recreation for locals and tourists alike while providing a beautifully landscaped midway for the new entertainment development. Not to mention the much needed new revenue stream and infusion to the tax base. If lining up casinos around one of the parks wouldn’t work for you how about a casino in the old main post office. Come on, I know I’m not the only one that has imagined that.

I know the same arguments against the Olympic bid would apply to this sort of development plan. People would potentially be displaced, there is the fear of organized crime moving in and there would be an opportunity for insiders to make money on the plan. However, these pitfalls will be a risk in any plan moving forward and I am tired of the Chicken Little types coming out against progress with no plan of their own. Someone needs to take the lead to move Chicago forward and I would support any local and/or state candidates that would bring real gambling real revenue and real progress to Illinois.

I appreciate your time taken to read this post and as always, your positive feedback is appreciated.