Palos Heights Alderman Jerry McGovern holds up fliers about helping local businesses during a special meeting regarding video gaming. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Palos Heights Alderman Jerry McGovern holds up fliers about helping local businesses during a special meeting regarding video gaming. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Palos Heights officials hear from both sides on video gaming

Spread the love

By Jeff Vorva

Palos Heights officials took the temperature of the community about video gaming Monday night.

It was very warm for both sides.

More than 80 people showed up at the Palos Heights Recreation Center’s Orchard Room for special meeting of the License, Permits and Franchise Committee for a chance to air their opinions.

For those scoring at home, 21 people spoke. There were 12 people against having video machines in local restaurants and bars, six for it and three that did not express their opinions but had some questions for the committee. Each speaker drew enthusiastic applause whether they were for or against it.

Committee chairman Brent Lewandowski said that in 30 emails he received in the past few weeks, there three out of every four was against video gaming coming to town.

HAYES

Palos Heights resident Karen Hayes said Monday night that video gaming is considered by some to be the ‘crack cocaine of gambling.’

So, what next?

“The purpose of this public hearing was to solicit feedback from the community,” Lewandowski said. “There is an ordinance in draft form for if that would come to a vote for the city council. It would have to come out of this committee.

“It would have to be worked on with the ‘t’s’ crossed and the ‘i’s’ dotted which takes some time. As of right now, this isn’t a one-time thing, and this isn’t your last shot to let us know how you feel. I don’t know what, if anything, will happen moving forward with this but I encourage everybody to continue to give us your feedback for or against or neutral.”

Although residents voted 3,319-2,522 in a nonbinding referendum in 2018 against video gaming, Alderman Jerry McGovern brought the issue back to the forefront in December 2020, when business owners were losing money because of the pandemic.

McGovern who insists that there will be no outside advertising for the machines at the establishments, continued to make his plea Monday for the bar and restaurant owners.

“These are businessmen putting their own monies up,” he said. “Some of them have been here a long, long time. They are just as hard working as you. As a matter-of-fact some of them are putting in 15, 16, 18 hours a day of work.

“I’m just asking you to give them a chance. Let them bring back some of these customers that they lose. Let them have the terminals. That’s all I’m asking.”

He held up a pair of fliers from the pandemic.

“Remember these signs?” he asked. “Support local business? We wanted to support our local businesses and do whatever we possibly can. I’m doing my part.”

Mayor Bob Straz was out of town and could not attend the meeting but Lewandowski read a statement from Straz.

“I’m opposed,” Straz said. “I oppose video gaming in Palos Heights. To me, it is a matter of image. As Palos Heights has been known for its fine restaurants…why would you want to add video gaming to that image?

“Restaurants have been successfully delivering their main product – food. I also feel it is not truly representing the people who, not more than one full election cycle, we are looking to go against a 57-43 referendum percentage vote not to. The fact that this ordinance comes with additional restrictions makes me feel like we are just trying to get something approved. Not for the residents, since we know their thoughts.”

Both sides were represented Monday.

For those against, arguments about gambling being addictive and causing an undesirable element to come to town to commit crimes were brought up.

Resident Karen Gates said that video gaming is referred to as the “crack cocaine” of gambling.

“It’s a highly addictive form of gambling,” she said. “Not too long ago we had signs all over the city welcoming students and parents to Trinity Christian College and inviting them to local businesses. At the same time, there was a proposal to bring in video gambling.

“Video gambling at the time was shown to target by marketing young adults. It’s a crazy decision to bring in video gambling when they market and target the very same people we are saying ‘come on in.’’’

Frank Costa, owner of the Rooftop Inn, said he has been losing business to other communities and so is the city.

“If they [customers] are here and they need gas, they can go to the station on 127th,” he said. “If they are in Crestwood and find out they need gas, they will go to their gas station.

“At some point, you have to draw a line in the sand. You are either going to be for businesses or against businesses. If so, put more nursing homes down Harlem and let’s get it over with.”

ROOFTOP scaled

Frank Costa, owner of the Rooftop Inn in Palos Heights, said Monday night that Palos Heights is losing money to other towns who have video gaming.

3 Comments

  1. Joann Trauscht on March 14, 2022 at 8:16 am

    Palos Heights needs to change their OLD ways, it is 2022. Bring video gaming to Palos Heights. If you go to a restaurant in Tinley or anywhere there is video gaming, that restaurant and town is more profitable than any restaurant/bar in Palos Heights.



  2. bob Busch on March 14, 2022 at 9:29 am

    Can you buy a Illinois lottery ticket in Palos Heights? If you can gambling is already allowed.



  3. Brian Howe on March 15, 2022 at 2:56 pm

    I have a question if you opened a business in a town that didn’t allow gambling machines and you believed that the best way to gain income, why didn’t you just open in a town that allowed gambling machines. Most business owners in towns that allow them will state more income is generated by gambling then what the business started out being, makes you think what will happen to the quality of the business. Money talks!



Local News

BVball Stagg kill 10 alt

Boys Volleyball | Stagg ends Marist Invite with win over Riverside-Brookfield

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jason Maholy Sports Editor Stagg outlasted Riverside-Brookfield in a marathon first set, winning 36-34, then followed that with a 25-20 clincher on March 23 to finish seventh in the Silver divison at the 20th Marist RedHawks Invitational. The Chargers went 2-3 in the tournament. They opened pool play on March 22 at…

Shepard senior Jake Klein goes up for the kill against two Lincoln-Way East players during a match on March 22. Photo by Jason Maholy

Boys Volleyball | Shepard finishes 4th in Bronze at Marist Invite

Spread the love

Spread the loveShepard served as one of three host sites for the 20th Marist RedHawks Invitational, and kicked off play in Palos Heights by facing Lincoln-Way East on March 22. The Griffins defeated the Astros, 25-10, 25-15. Marian Catholic beat Shepard, 25-23, 25-9, in the Astros’ second match of the day. The Astros fell to…

regional palos heights logo

Pool improvements advance in Palos Heights

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights aldermen last week approved contracts advancing improvements at the municipal pool. Alderman Jefry Key motioned for approval of a letter of agreement with the American Institute of Architects between Williams Architect and the City of Palos Heights for the pool improvement project. Since first proposing pool improvements in…

Palos Hills young people sang their hearts out for karaoke night at a neighborhood coffee house. (Photo by Nuha Abdessalam)

Teens enjoy Green Hills karaoke party

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Hills tweens and teens sang their hearts out for karaoke night at a neighborhood coffee house. Green Hills Library invited all tweens and teens for a karaoke night at Strange Brew Cafe on West 103rd Street and 87th Street on Feb. 22. Organized by Green Hill Library Youth Program…

Luis Garcia, of Oak Forest and the owner and chef of Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant #2, 12778 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights. (Photos by Kelly White)

Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant opens in Palos Heights

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White When choosing a location for his second business location, Luis Garcia knew he wanted it to be Palos Heights. “I absolutely love it here,” Luis Garcia, of Oak Forest and the owner and chef of Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant #2, said. “It’s a great area, nice clientele and I’m happy…

The corner of Crandall and Depot in Worth will be the future site of the Garden Center Services apartment complex. (Photo by Joe Boyle)

Worth Polar Plunge raises record amount

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The FOP Worth Polar Plunge has been deemed a major success and local officials said the amount raised has set a new record. The annual event, sponsored by the Worth Police Department, took place in a large swimming pool that was put up in the parking lot of the Marrs-Meyer…

Kris Sumner, Youth Programming Librarian at Green Hills Public Library, is responsible for organizing the Eid Clothing Bazaar at the library, 10331 Interlochen Dr., Palos Hills. (Supplied photos)

Green Hills Public Library hosts Eid Clothing Drive

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Islamic calendar has two major holidays each year: Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates an entire month of fasting, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of the sacrifice that occurs during the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage season. It takes place two lunar months after Ramadan.…

big PoliceLights1

Police Blotter

Spread the love

Spread the loveCHICAGO RIDGE DUI Orlando De La Rosa, 32, of Berwyn, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 2:29 a.m. March 8 in the 9200 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he failed field sobriety tests and refused to submit a breath sample. He was also…

Veronica Shaw

Sandburg welcomes new associate principal of instruction

Spread the love

Spread the loveConsolidated High School District 230 Board of Education is welcoming Dr. Veronica Shaw to Carl Sandburg High School as its new Associate Principal of Instruction. She begins July 1 and replaces Anita Huffman who was recently appointed as District 230’s Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. With ample education leadership experience, Shaw is currently…

Sheri Cannataro, of Cannataro Farms, demonstrates the gear she wears to extract honey from a bee hive for visitors who stopped by to see her products at the Hills Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Expo Saturday at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Residents warm up to Hills Chamber Business Expo

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Spring has arrived but winter continues to leave its calling card. However, that did not prevent the Hills Chamber of Commerce from holding its 10th annual Business and Community Expo Saturday at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills. While the temperatures were frigid and windy outside, the spirit inside…

Neighbors

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A panel of federal appellate judges on Thursday seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law. Bost’s late 2022…

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

By BETH HUNDSDORFER  Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.  Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…