VOTE: July 31st State Primary &
Regional Transportation SPLOST
Regional Transportation SPLOST
This is NOT the PERSONAL calendar of State Senator Curt B. Thompson
My Latest Blog
OFA 5/12/12 Training Session with volunteers
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Our famous Georgia summer is now upon us, and I, for one, am going to be searching for a lot more shade from now on! This time of year really is a welcome lull in the campaign season, however, with the Republican Primary wrapping up and Qualifying for Georgia elections still not yet arrived. With that in mind, I'd like to focus on something more local this month.
While much of the Georgia blogosphere, including myself, usually focuses on national politics or the various soap operas playing out in our state government, I did want to bring up an issue that will have an unfortunate impact on our district here in Gwinnett County. Last Thursday, a proposed lottery gaming complex proposed for the OFS site in the Gwinnett Village portion of our district was blocked by the Georgia Lottery Board. Not only would this have created a huge tourist destination in our area and finally redeveloped the mostly abandoned and unused OFS site at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Interstate 85, it would have also created the largest lottery retailer in the region. This would provide a much needed infusion of dollars into our economy, as well as into the rapidly vanishing HOPE scholarship.
Replacing the old OFS plant, the facility was going to cost about one billion dollars and include, along with video lottery terminals, a hotel, restaurants, and even a concert amphitheater. The positives were easy to see: about $350 million going towards HOPE lottery funds, and 2500 new, permanent jobs, not counting the construction and off-site jobs from economic growth in the air. 9 other states, including Delaware, successfully operate these types of gaming facilities (and yes, they look like casinos, but all the games would be lottery based with no "high stakes poker tables" and the like). If implemented properly, this would have been an overall net gain for folks in the 5th District, in Gwinnett, and in Georgia as a whole. Having a diversified economy is an important investment for any county, and the complex would have been the perfect tourism boost. Additional money to cover the shortfalls in our vanishing HOPE program would be welcome and, to be frank, are sorely needed.
However, with this refusal, the signs don't look good for expanding the lottery in Georgia. Governor Deal signaled his opposition earlier in the year stating he opposed “increasing the gambling options in Georgia", when asked about this particular project. Governor Deal has additionally opposed other gaming proposals, such as horse racing and pari-mutuel betting, which would also generate tourism, jobs, and revenue for our states. While the Georgia Lottery Board is technically an independent body, all seven members are appointed by Governor Deal and they clearly got the message. So, it was no surprise that the Lottery Board has refused to have a vote on expanding our lottery to the video terminals that this proposed casino would need.
Current 5th District Happenings
Citizen Advisory Forum Monthly on 3rd Saturdays
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Cafe 45 South. ( formerly Northern Star) address 45 Peachtree Norcross, GA 30071
Next Meeting
June 16, 2012
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Cafe 45 South. ( formerly Northern Star) address 45 Peachtree Norcross, GA 30071
Next Meeting
June 16, 2012
Stay Connected
While here at the virtual office, you can read important news clippings from the local press as well as my regular reports. You can sign up for my email newsletter or check the calendar of local events. We have a list of important phone numbers and even a map of the district. Plus - perhaps most important - you can contact me through the web site with your thoughts, issues, and concerns. Of course, you can always give me a call, too. My telephone number is (404) 643-2649 his office number
(404) 463-1318
Curt Thompson
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May Newsletter
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Please plan to attend Curt's Fundraiser on
May 22, 2012
Place: Iron Horse Tavern
29 Jones Street
Norcross 30071
Time: 7-9PM
Contributions: See Website
Contribution Page
May 22, 2012
Place: Iron Horse Tavern
29 Jones Street
Norcross 30071
Time: 7-9PM
Contributions: See Website
Contribution Page