At a hearing recently held by the Northampton County Council in Foy Hall of Pennsylvania's Moravian College, residents of Bethlehem reportedly expressed their opposition to a proposal seeking construction of a new slot machine casino in the city's South Side.
Despite the fact that it is not up to the Council to decide whether or not to authorize the potential construction of a slots venue in Bethlehem, the hearing was held so as to assess public opinion on the matter and to help the Council solidify its attitude toward slot machines.
Critics of the proposal reportedly mentioned all the social ills that might be caused by a neighboring slots facility, ranging from negative effects on children’s personal life to prostitution. Among the speakers, only one, Scott Olewine, of Allentown, spoke of the positive outcomes of a slots casino in Bethlehem. According to Olewine, such a facility will attract large businesses and, therefore, boost the local economy.
