Stick to the plan

Whether individuals like it or not, casinos are coming. It does not appear the gaming board did its due diligence in selecting the Majestic Star's bid to build a casino on the North Shore in Pittsburgh.

To right the wrong, it should not allow Don Barden to deviate from his original proposal ("Casino Plans Scaled Back in Effort to Contain Costs," July 2). The design of the casino was a factor in winning the bid. Deviating from the original architectural design, even if it is supposedly for only a few years, should not be permitted.

If Don Barden cannot come up with the financing he needs now to follow though with his original commitment, then the gaming board should see if another firm is willing to take control and follow through with or without Mr. Barden.

The impact of the success of the casino is more far-reaching than just Mr. Barden and the casino itself. How can he realistically follow through with financial commitments to the Hill District, the Penguins and others regionally if he can't live up to his original commitments just to build the casino?

It's funny that now that he appears to be falling in the river, you don't hear anything from Jerome Bettis, Smokey Robinson or others who are financial "well offs" who stood by him to get the approval to build the casino.

Even scarier, what if he cannot complete his obligations? Is our political machine going to grant him a financial safety net to cover its decisions? If it does, which would not be a surprise, it would obviously be an additional cost to the taxpayer.

RALPH D. JUSTICE
Shaler

What a mess

Why was Don Barden given the go-ahead for the casino? It has been one stumbling block after another. Now he hasn't paid the building contractors for the past several months ("Builders Stop Casino Work," July 1). The casino has become a laughing matter.

I don't know if I will live long enough to see it open, but until then, I will continue to put my money into the slots at The Meadows.

G. SONOSKEY
Baldwin Borough

Pa.'s poor choice

It seems to me that the state gaming commission rolled away a great deal, a free arena for the Pens and a much better location for the casino. But the deal came up craps for the citizens of Pittsburgh. Now we have a developer who can't back his bet and wants to put a new spin on the design.

It just amazes me how this state continues to run in spite of itself.

RON PARRISH
Oakdale

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