Down East needs racino

I write from Washington County where Gov. Baldacci nixed the racino because people might commit suicide (but they won’t in Bangor now that there are slots on Main Street?). We voted for a racino because it would create spin-off businesses. These would grow and prosper providing goods and services to those who visit – like motels, restaurants, shops, convenience stores and even Wal-Mart.

I have lived here, worked here and raised my child here for nearly nine years, and have always heard that our goal should be to make Washington County a tourist destination. A racino would do this. I’d love to take my daughter to see the horse races and we’d skip the slots. If Gov. Baldacci thinks there is no gambling going on here already, he should drive by the bingo halls every night and buy a scratch-off lottery ticket at every convenience store.

Gov. Baldacci’s answer to Washington County is to encourage and support the development of liquefied natural gas installations (we are up to four proposals) in every town with waterfront property. Turning Washington County into an industrialized wasteland (see photos on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Web page) will destroy the goal of making Washington County a destination – tourists will drive through the county as fast as they can, taking their vacation money with them.

Once four or more facilities are constructed and running, as when factories are built in poor communities in the South, I’d wager that those who can afford to move away will, leaving this county worse off, not better. The handful of permanent jobs in LNG facilities will support a few people, but not most others who live here.

I voted for Baldacci last time, but I will not vote for him again.

Katharine Evans

Pembroke