I am a business leader in New Hampshire, due to the lack of hospitality establishments or jobs in general in the area of Maine that I live and love: the Oxford Hills. Knowing the positive and negative impacts a casino would have on an otherwise downtrodden area of Maine, I believe the positives outweigh the negatives.

Sure, there will be crime and the other subsequent social mishaps that go along with gambling as an addiction, but what other addictions are present in this community?

These issues have been present for many years as a result of other industries leaving Oxford County. 

Yes, a casino would change the surrounding business climate, but what other industry is going to affect the community and provide the most important aspect any businessperson asks about: How do we get customers here?

The Oxford casino will do just that and, as is always the case, whomever can adapt to change will survive.

Lastly, the positives in creating jobs with benefits — creating more than 2,500 jobs and generating $50-plus million in tax revenue (with half going back to education) — that’s not a tough equation. Throw in the percentage of net revenue from slots and tables going back to education and a percentage of revenues going back to the municipality that the casino resides in. They will also fund a gambling/drug addiction rehabilitation facility to help combat the aforementioned crime topic.

The best solution for Oxford County is to vote yes on Question 1.

Rod Bartlett, Harrison