The Summerfield Town Council heard an interesting speaker from the floor the other night when it held its Tuesday, Aug. 8 meeting, where the subject of a proposed casino in Rockingham County came up – despite the casino item not being on the council’s agenda.
The speaker was the man who would have to clean up any additional crime if a new casino was built just north of the Guilford County line – longtime Rockingham County Sheriff’s Sam Page.
The sheriff spoke at the start of the meeting and made it clear in no uncertain terms where he stood on the effort to bring legalized gambling to Rockingham County.
While Summerfield isn’t in Rockingham County, the residents of the town have been keenly focused on the project since the proposed site is less than 10 miles away, and there’s a belief among many of them that the gambling establishment would increase crime in Summerfield.
At the meeting Page said he favored allowing the people of Rockingham County to decide the matter rather than solely the elected leaders in that county and in the North Carolina General Assembly.
He said that quite frankly he was surprised the discussion had already gotten this far.
He added that he had been a criminal investigator for years and a sheriff for 25 years and, given the way the casino discussion has proceeded, he feels as though the talks have been going on behind closed doors long before the public was made aware of the proposal.
Page said the people had a right to weigh in on a change that could have such a major impact on their lives.
“Let the people of North Carolina decide,” Page told the Summerfield Town Council, which later that night adopted a resolution calling for just that.
There’s a broad consensus – based on Rockingham County citizen reaction to the casino proposal – that a ballot referendum granting permission to build the establishment would fail.
Page said that given the “slippery slope” of gambling that the state is already on – the Education Lottery, a move toward legalizing sports betting and now the potential proliferation of casinos – he wonders what the state will look like in the future.
The sheriff quoted a columnist who wrote that more opportunities to gamble would lead to more gambling – and that would lead to more social problems associated with gambling.
Page said that competition for gaming revenue from other states shouldn’t be the issue: “Just because other places have made poor choices does not mean that North Carolina should do the same.”
He said that his department has already spent over two decades fighting the fallout from video gaming in the community.
While a great many people are worried about the casino, at least one longtime former Guilford County law enforcement official is not overly concerned about the casino being built. Former Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes, who is also the former mayor of Summerfield, told the Rhino Times that he believes Rockingham County would find the problems that might arise manageable and, Barnes added, that casinos can be fun.
“I actually like casinos – when I’m winning,” he said.
Thank you Sam Page! We hope your County leaders LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE who live near the casino site! They should deny the rezoning or follow Stokesdale and Summerfield leaders who want citizens to VOTE before a casino is brought to the Guilford/Rockingham border. As for BJ, he may be out of touch or naive. Organized crime, theft, drugs, traffic all come with a casino. How is that “fun?” Of course BJ also pushed for 1000+ apartment units and large commercial areas in Summerfield….
Sam Page is the personification of a good cop (and I’m no fan of cops).
The sanctity of Camp Carefree is much more important than building another Casino! Watch out as you know the Politicians just want the tax money so they will have more to spend! You know it’s called vote buying, kinda like our Guilford County Commissioners earmarking $50,000 for the Dudley High School Booster Club but none for any other High School Booster Club in the County. How many of those Dudley Boosters are going to vote against Skip Alston and his band of thieves?
Greensboro needs this to become a premier destination n the southeast and the good thing is it’s all handled by Rockingham County. I mean this is one of the best things that could happen to the city we can really create a metropolis like Northern Virginia by plowing right through Rockingham county now once it’s riddled with casinos on both side of the county it’s a win lose just like we like it
No, that’s just how YOU like it, BlackCity. Your objectives always include others being harmed. You never advocate for policies that help ALL people – just your people.
City. I haven’t heard you speak your high praise of Greensboro compared to Durham now that Greensboro is the murder capital of NC
Some of you Goobers would just be happy and have a Boring Life of Hunting, Fishing, Beer Drinking, Sitting on the Front Porch and Church. No Life outside of that. Mayberry RFD and Petticoat Junction. Rockingham Co is already filled with Drug Dealers, NO JOBS OR ENTERTAINMENT!!! Just Overdosing Drunks!!! That is the reason 75% Rockingham County have to come to Greensboro to find a Job, Shop, See a Concert and Eat!!! All those N.C. Cars heading up to Danville, VA giving Virginia 19 Million Dollars since opening. But the Boring Folks of Northern Guilford Co and Rockingham Co want to stay Broke and Boring, listening to Lighting Bugs and Grasshopping!!!
You forgot a couple things We like driving our “ big green tractor “, drinking moonshine and coon hunting on Saturday nights
What’s wrong with setting on the porch going fishing or hunting and being a Christian just enjoying a simple life. Sam’s right we don’t need that mess in our neighborhood. More for our police and fireman to have to deal with as if it’s not enough on 220 now. No we don’t need it here. SAY NO
Let the ruinous activities of alcoholism, drugs, porno and gambling be done in your own house with your your own and not costing other taxpayers their morals or funding for fighting crime. If you and your friends like gambling, buy a game board, invite your friends to play at home.
Children suffer from casinos. Mom and Dad spend the family’s extra money, if there is any these days, gambling.
Most of them are nasty places and put extra burdens on the community.
North Carolina has enough problems!
Crybaby buster, why do you assume that opposition to casinos translates to a desire for a bucolic life? This is a very narrow-minded view of casino opposition. As far as the television show Mayberry RFD, why do you think that the show still has such a large following by all racial groups and all socioeconomic levels after all these years? While a television program is not real life, the appreciation of the life depicted shows a desire for what it represents. While you may personally desire the perceived glitz and glamor of casinos, the truth is casinos represent the underbelly of society. As far as Danville, VA, the casino is merely a tent in the middle of a parking lot giving the impression that the casino is temporary much like firecracker sales tents on Fourth of July. As far as revenue, NC tax coffers runneth over with over $23B surplus suggesting that NC is doing just fine with collecting money from taxpayers without the need for casinos. Any government surplus should be given back to taxpayers from whence it came.
It’s a tent because the demand was so great they rushed the project they have added 250 more rooms and Danville real estate is selling like hot cakes their won’t be anything temporary about the casino
Strategy and Soul
by Daniel Hunter
A Campaigner’s tale of fighting billionaires, corrupt officials and Philadelphia casinos.
Copyright 2013
Read about this campaign and find reader’s guide at http://www.StrategyandSoul.org
Some people in Rockingham County are traveling to the Danville casino. Why not put a casino in our state and bring more revenue here. If you already play the lottery why fuss about a casino??
Maybe In closer to an urban area, Gso or WS,. NOT OUT BESIDE FARMS AND PARKS. HOW BOUT LAKE JEANETTE AREA, or on BelewsCreek lake. Just not out in that beautiful country.
Either build it or watch the money go across into Danville especially when they legalize weed next year
“Follow the money” to the next city, county, state”; a well worn refrain. Why not just sell your blood for money, your kids. Break up your church and sell off the pews. Some things are sacred. You don’t sell your soul to the Devil when he comes knocking, warns the old yarn. See the devil acomin’! says Peter.
Here is the link to the first commissioner meeting about zoning this land for casino’s.
https://youtu.be/QDFuiRWg6gQ
In case you haven’t come across this link on other commentary here is the link:
https://youtu.be/QDFuiRWg6gQ