Baltimore City Council wants to move ahead on slot

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- As reported by The (Baltimore) Sun: "Baltimore City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake asked the Dixon administration today to introduce zoning legislation needed for a gambling parlor and said she is 'urging the city to move forward on slots.'

"Rawlings-Blake made the request in a letter to Baltimore Development Corp. President M.J. 'Jay' Brodie, saying that a delay in bringing slots to the city would 'disregard the will of the people' after last fall's statewide referendum authorized expanded gambling in Baltimore and four other locations.

"City officials must approve a slots facility, and Dixon has hinted at recent public appearances that she would walk away from a deal that does not produce enough money to provide a 'significant' reduction in property taxes.

"Only one bidder submitted a plan this month to build a slots parlor in Baltimore. The proposal fell short of city and state expectations, calling for 500 machines in Baltimore rather than the permitted 3,750. The proposal fueled fears that the bidder, Baltimore City Entertainment Group, would not be able to generate the revenue needed to fund a property tax cut for city residents..."