REMINDER: NOVEMBER 8TH PfCONA TOWN MEETING

NOVEMBER 8TH PfCONA TOWN MEETING:

This 2nd Monday Town Meeting, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., is relocated from the Justice Center to Pflugerville Elementary School Cafeteria at 701 Immanuel Road. The meeting is intended to continue PfCONA's emphasis on community dialogue at a deeper level, in this case on the subject of possible gambling at a proposed horse racing track in Pflugerville. Area residents of all sides of the issue our invited to participate. Taylor Willingham with Texas Forums, sponsored by the LBJ Library and Museum, will be a special guest and has agreed to be a co-moderator. 

 

Our discussion will be based on a National Issues Forums guide, "Gambling: Is it a problem? What should we do?," which appears to mirror the different approaches Pflugerville citizens have been voicing on the issue:

Choice 1: Cut the Red Tape on Gambling: Gambling has evolved into an American pastime called gaming. Gambling is not a problem; it's part of the solution: creating jobs, providing recreation, helping local economies, and raising revenue for public programs.

 

Choice 2: Regulate Gambling to Make it Safer: Gambling, like alcohol, is potentially dangerous and can be abused without adequate controls. Government should not promote gambling and should reduce its dependence on gambling revenues. Citizens should have final say at the polls.

 

Choice 3: Stop Gambling for Everyone's Sake: Gambling exploits human weakness, spreads social ills, and erodes moral fiber. It should not be given legal legitimacy. The whole culture of gambling should be phased out.

 

Pflugerville residents have other related issues but there is not time to talk about everything at one meeting. Participants will be asked if any of them wish to continue the discussion at additional meetings at a later date, again in a non-partisan way that encourages new ways of talking to one another. Some of the many issues brought up by various citizens over the past few weeks in regard to a horse racing venue have included:

 

-Racetrack or no racetrack? Or, is gambling what residents are mainly against?

-Other commercial possibilities if not a racetrack?

-What kind of marketing "niche" can Pflugerville serve? How can it become a destination?

-How can we reduce the city tax burden and school tax burden?

-Social Services availability if there was gambling.

-Concert venue or no concert venue?

-Possibility of a fairground at the racetrack to allow for other community activities?

-How to deal with noise concerns for residents living close by?

-How to deal with parking and traffic concerns and will widening of roads happen sooner or later. If later will this delay or cancel plans for a racetrack?

-Security and crime concerns

-Is there a chance the City Council can rescind their decision?

-Is there a chance that a referendum can go before the voters if things are delayed?

-Some people are talking about a recall effort.

-Can the racetrack exist without Video Lottery Terminals?

-Can the racetrack be put near the city reservoir where there is less development?

-What happens to Manor Downs, which is being remodeled and could have VLTs, too?

-Will the Texas Racing Commission delay their vote again? Will Manor Downs' proximity and opposition to Austin Jockey Club application make a difference?

-What about the recommendation of a Skateboard park at the facility?

-How can we promote healing in the community and keep issues from dividing the community?
-How can we expand our communication network in order to keep citizens informed of what is going on in Pflugerville, including strengthening neighborhood efforts? Why are some people just hearing about the issue, which was originally brought up in August?

 

Note: Making choices about how to deal with community issues is difficult because different people favor different approaches, which may contradict or conflict with one another. People have to "work through" these conflicts and deal with trade-offs until they come not necessarily to full agreement, but to the point that they have a shared sense of direction, and an idea of what people are and aren't willing to do to solve a problem.

 

Deliberation with fellow citizens is necessary when we have to make decisions on matters that are very important to us. Deliberation occured in America's earliest town meetings. In our private lives we have learned that we can seldom have everything and we must make choices. Likewise, in public life citizens must choose among options. Deliberation is weighing carefully the various approaches, the pros and cons of each option, and the views of others of what should be done. A deliberative dialogue is a chance to explore, to test ideas, and to look at the gray areas rather than seeing only the stark black and white of polar opposites.