Lewiston has experienced many changes during the past half century. The city has moved forward with cleaning up the downtown area. Most of the clubs that provided drinking, gambling and adult entertainment have been closed.

The arts, professional offices, parking garages, interesting places to shop, and nice restaurants have been brought in. The riverfront between the Twin Cities now offers a lot of well-planned entertainment where families gather to have some healthy fun.

A casino in downtown Lewiston is comparable to a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s simply a grandiose version of what didn’t work before.

I watched the televised City Council meeting on Oct. 4. Regarding fireworks, the mayor elaborated on how we should not forget history, and how we should not take a step backward in regards to safety risks to families. The casino issue has far deeper, negative ramifications for families in the community.

Lewiston officials should continue with their original vision of a healthier, empowered city. For starters, a larger, updated, mental health care facility would be nice. The riverfront should lend focus to healthier, cohesive families, as was referenced on the recently defunct website “Empower Lewiston — Plan Vision/Goals.”

Statistics show that for every dollar gambling brings into a city, more than a dollar is spent on criminal justice and social welfare. As for the “ancillary” jobs possibly created, how many of those are drug and prostitution related?

Where does that fit into a healthier, empowered Lewiston?

Deborah Allen, Lewiston