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Claire Lundgren

Plymouth, MN
Commenter for
3 years 4 days

Recent Comments

Posted on 05/06/11 at 11:19 pm in response to Racino plan sputters as gambling issues pile up

Doesn't anyone care that a $1 billion a year industry in Minnesota is getting cut off at the knees? The Racino supporters are in this fight to save the industry. Without this bill being passed look for the entire industry to head south and Canterbury and Running Aces to close their doors. Why are our legislators turning their backs on thousands of jobs related to the equine industry and millions in tax revenue? Why aren't they listening to the wishes of the vast majority of the voters?...

Posted on 05/06/11 at 11:45 pm in response to Racino plan sputters as gambling issues pile up

In response to Jody Rooney, The Racing Industry has received no subsidies ever. Canterbury was not built with tax money but by Brooks Fields and his private interests. It is now a publicly held corporation so there are no private interests involved any longer unless you describe the shareholders as private rather than public. Allowing simulcasts is one of the largest shares of parimutuel wagering - one of the normal practices of racetracks whereby we can share income with other tracks....

Posted on 05/07/11 at 12:31 pm in response to First racino hearing turns 'informational' as fate of vote appears uncertain

The value of the racing industry in Minnesota is being underplayed. Far more jobs than those in the casinos will be lost to the state if the industry is forced to leave. And far more tax revenue to the state. Can the state afford to lose a $ 1 billion industry with jobs already being in short supply? In what should be a slam dunk, the legislators are throwing the industry and over 70% of Minnesota residents in favor of Racinos under the bus to protect another industry that is a monopoly...

Posted on 05/07/11 at 12:43 pm in response to First racino hearing turns 'informational' as fate of vote appears uncertain

Jay Weiner; A good article except for missing a mention of a negative comment on the part of one of the legislators that seemed to set the tone for the hearing. One of them made a statement at the very beginning that he didn't think the government should be involved in industry "bailouts". As I understand the term, there would have to be an exchange of funds to be a "bailout" and this bill asks for nothing except for giving the tracks a chance to play on a level playing field. In reality...

Posted on 02/14/11 at 04:27 pm in response to With the scramble for new revenue, will Minnesota expand gambling this time around? All bets are on

I need to point out that the article inferred and then underscored the idea that Racinos would only bring extra jobs to the tracks and nothing to the statewide job market. This is a seriously erroneous statement. While there would be a definite need for new people at the track, The racing industry is spread all over Minnesota to the tune of an industry worth about 2 billion dollars annually! Without a racino we will see all that revenue leave the state as the horse farms will depart for...

Posted on 06/01/10 at 01:48 pm in response to Can anyone solve the Vikings stadium puzzle?

While the Racino will cost nothing to the state and the state won't have to guarantee it, it's about the best bet we can make- a safe gamble, if there ever was one. Why turn down all those jobs and income when the state is in so much trouble?

Posted on 06/01/10 at 10:17 am in response to Can anyone solve the Vikings stadium puzzle?

Lets see you come up with something better that will give the state hundreds of millions in new income that doesn't involve taxing something! As for guarantees, nothing in life is guaranteed except death and taxes. We already have enough taxes. Think of something else. And it can't cost the state anythjing either!

Posted on 05/31/10 at 10:54 pm in response to Can anyone solve the Vikings stadium puzzle?

Paul, I was at the track Sunday and it was packed with fans and families. It's great entertainment and Canterbury has done a great job attracting new fans. The reason the track is in trouble is because the racino states are able to offer larger purses and attract better horses. Without the parity I have discussed many times, the track will not be able to get enough horses to fill the races. There needs to be something like 1800 horses on the grounds to have a successful meet. When there...

Posted on 05/27/10 at 07:10 pm in response to Can anyone solve the Vikings stadium puzzle?

Paul,

It's been stimulating to say the least. Two different points of view. Your idealistic views on society and my pragmatic views of business.

You do understand that the citizens and visitors of Hennipen county are not members by birth nor are they shareholders, don't you? They can not be compared to the shareholders of a publicly held corporation. This a business venture that is entered into by choice on the part of an individual. Tribal members are born into their...

Posted on 05/26/10 at 08:03 pm in response to Can anyone solve the Vikings stadium puzzle?

Paul,

I did not say that 7000 jobs were lost at the track. I said 7000 jobs were lost when the industry shut down. The beauty of the equine industry is that the jobs are located statewide and not concentrated at the track. It is an agricultural industry so many of the jobs are scattered on farms all over the state. When the industry fails all those farms fail and all those jobs disappear. That number comes from the U's study (sorry there's that word again) done when the track...