FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    February 8, 2010                

Contact:  Carole Parks, Delmarie Cobb: 773-373-3860

CRITICS SEE LOSS BUT NO GAIN IN VIDEO GAMING

A broad spectrum of community advocates gathered February 4 at City Hall, where they feared the City Council License Committee might begin considering a repeal of Chicago's ban on video gambling.  "It's a moral issue," said Fr. Michael Pfleger, "but the effect on the community is also economic."

The issue grew out of the Video Gaming Act, which the Illinois legislature rushed through last spring with scant public review and intended to raise funds for a statewide capital improvement bill.  Of the money projected, 70 percent would go to site owners and machine operators.  

"We'd lose 95 cents before seeing a nickel," Pfleger said in reference to Chicago's proportion of the take.  "The city is not going to be able to balance its budget on video poker.  They may take in $10 - $15 million, but they are going to spend more than that on police overtime just to manage all the problems that video poker will cause."

Dear Family,

We are working with the City of Chicago, the Haitian community and Catholic Relief Services to respond to the devastation that has taken place in Haiti.

This weekend we will announce our response and let you know what people can do to help the Haitian people.  This is our Dr. King celebration and this would be an excellent opportunity to honor his memory by helping those who are in need.  We will tithe 10% of our weekend collection to Haiti.  However, if you wish to make a donation over and above this that would be strictly for Haiti please put that offering in an envelope clearly marked Haiti.  We ask that you be as generous as you can to help our sisters and brothers in Haiti.

At our 11:15 am service will call our Haitian members and visitors to come forward for prayer for them and their families.

Rev. Michael L. Pfleger