Pflugerville's Racetrack

News8Austin: County Commissioners opposed to racetrack

Jody Brockhausen and the owners of the Manor Downs Racetrack met at a Travis County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday.

Together they hope to make sure a racetrack proposed by the owners of the Retama Racetrack in San Antonio never comes to Pflugerville.

"A racetrack just doesn't fit in a community of children," Brockhausen said.

A more apt description of the people opposing this I will not try to create.

The Pflugerville Pfamiles Pfirst anti-racetrack group didn't have to try very hard to win over Travis County Commissioners.

Commissioner Karen Sonleitner, whose precinct includes Pflugerville, is already against it, but for different reasons.

"They have not addressed the issue of the roadway and the traffic," Sonleitner said.

Ideally, this issue belongs in the hands of those property owners involved, not a county commission.

The opposition from Commissioner Ron Davis falls more in line with the Manor Downs. Manor is in his precinct.

"I don't think economically speaking it's a wise thing to do to have two competing racetracks in such close proximity," Davis said.

Ha, that's wonderful because it isn't your fucking decision to make! Jesus, this statement is a red flag of central planning.

"It will take about $3.5 million to take care of the social problems of just 1 percent of the people being addicted pathologically or problem addiction to gambling. That's just 1 percent," Mike Northen of the First Baptist Church in Pflugerville.

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The implication, of course, is that some community would necessarily be saddled with these expenses. Why? How does the county, a city, or a business (and by extension the individuals within those collectives) become responsible for the excesses of a few people? Why impose those costs on people who are not responsible for them? Gamblers with addiction problems should get help, but they should take care of it either on their own or with the voluntary aid of others.

Austin-American Statesman: Travis County to oppose proposed horse track (link will rot)

The tone at Tuesday's commissioners meeting was decidedly matter-of-fact. Unlike the recent council meeting, there was little of the impassioned talk about gambling, prostitution and organized crime.

"I would rather not make calls based on morals," Commissioner Gerald Daugherty said.

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What is moral about decided what should happen to another person's property without their consent?

Allow the racetrack to be built.

Posted by Drizzten at November 17, 2004 10:18 AM