The residents of Kenmore have expressed their wishes only to have the City Council go against their wishes and force the casino to shut down operations. The casino has not only subsidized the bowling alley’s income, but has subsidized bowling for special-needs children, as well as seniors. If any of the current members of the council up for re-election win their election, there is no hope of reopening the casino and therefore the bowling alley will close its doors. The claim that they’ll stay open as just a bowling alley is ludicrous. The amount of revenue, brought in by square foot, by the bowling alley per month is nowhere near what it takes a business to survive. The taxes you’ve lost from the bowling alley will have to be made up, most likely your property taxes will have to go up, all the while the city is building some grand city hall. And current commercial vacancy rates are projected to top 25 percent, meaning the council’s current projections on business tax revenue will have to be revised downward.

You must get out and vote, and vote against all current councilmembers up for re-election or it will be too late.

Thomas Granvold, former casino employee, Kenmore