If Issue 6 is passed, a casino and resort will be built in Ohio.

This resort will be built in an area between Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. It will have a first-class golf course, a day spa, a hotel, restaurants, an entertainment center and many other things besides a casino.

Besides this resort having all of these entertainment options, it will also bring in millions of tax dollars each year and create more than 5,000 jobs.

The large controversy surrounding this casino being built stems from a loophole in its contract that could allow the casino to pay zero taxes.

I hope Issue 6 passes and the resort is built. All the negative talk about the resort should be disregarded.

I’m a public relations major, and the Yes on Issue 6 is a huge PR campaign. The Web site for Yes on Issue 6 is enormous. It spells out how much tax money each county is projected to receive from the resort. It also has a “Myths and Truths” tab explaining all of the accusations made against the resort along with much more.

This campaign is massive. As a PR major, I know that if the bill passes and the resort is built and all of the promises made concerning tax dollars are broken, whoever did the PR for MyOhioNow, the political action committee supporting Issue 6, will never find work again.

A lot of time, effort and money went into this campaign and this Web site. Why would someone, or a group of people, go through all of that trouble if none of it is going to happen?

The Web site took me hours to look at only a fraction of its information. I could literally spend all day reading every press release and going to every link it offers. The NO on ISSUE 6 Web site cannot even compare to the other. There are four small paragraphs explaining why people should not vote for the resort. The lack of information on the opposing Web site makes me want to vote for it even more.

Also, out-of-state casinos are funding the NO on ISSUE 6 campaign. Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are going to lose money that comes out of Ohioans’ pockets if this casino is built. Of course casino owners from surrounding states are going to fund a campaign against Issue 6 so they can keep Ohio’s customers.

If you don’t believe in gambling, don’t go to the casino. I hope it’s built so I can go down and spend a few days with my mom and sister at the spa.

Even if the resort doesn’t pay any Ohio taxes, it will still create more than 5,000 jobs.

In our economic crisis right now, we need this resort. We need to create jobs and another place for people to spend money to jump-start the Ohio economy. Our schools and our roads need those tax dollars.

I don’t see any reason as to why this resort should not be built. So, on Nov. 4, I encourage you all to go out and vote yes on Issue 6.

Sara Petersen is a junior public relations major and a columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].