
It was a perfect day to smash a slot machine in Albany. David Blankenhorn and others smashed a slot machine outside the Capitol yesterday to raise awareness about the research that shows casinos do more harm than good.
The smashing was also done to underscore the point that there was a time when elected officials opposed the spread of gambling. Real leaders like legendary Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia crusaded against slot machines, which he called “mechanical pickpockets.”
Slot machines are still mechanical pickpockets. If anything, today’s computerized slot machines are sophisticated devices that are even more addictive. But what has changed is that elected officials like Gov. Andrew Cuomo – backed by large campaign contributions from gambling interests – are actively working to legalize slot machines.
So rather than protect citizens from the harms of gambling, Cuomo and others want to use individuals’ gambling losses of to help fund the government. The smashing received a lot of media coverage. Here are just some of the links for your viewing and reading pleasure:
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S3192664.shtml?cat=300
http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/features/top-story/stories/-ny-casino-foes-smash-slot-machine-outside-capitol-11482.shtml
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/nyregion/gambling-opponents-take-sledgehammer-to-a-slot-machine.html?_r=1&
http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/NY-casino-foes-smash-slot-machine-in-protest/o8lwFrRBD0Kal8qsQQQk3w.cspx
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/vote-up/2013/10/15/casino-opponents-smash-slot-machine-outside-capitol/2988515/
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/politics/casino-foes-take-sledgehammer-to-slot-machine-in-albany-20131015
http://www.oneidadispatch.com/articles/2013/10/15/news/doc525db16c1bba1031298517.txt
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/casino_foes_smash_slot_machine_in_protest_at_state_capitol.html
http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2013/10/15/casino-opponents-smash-slot-machine-outside-capitol/
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/ny_casino_foes_smash_slot_mach.html