Looks like Chicago is the latest town to warm up to legalized gambling as a budget panacea. From a pro-gambling editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Chicago has a new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who is impatient as all get-out to fix the city’s public schools, make dangerous neighborhoods safe and create more jobs, and none of that will happen without more money. Revenue from a city-owned casino, which Emanuel has expressed interest in, would help reduce the city’s deficit, which stands at $1.2 billion after factoring in unfunded pension liabilities.

The big casino being contemplated would bring the city an estimated local revenue share of $300 million to $400 million, create some 2,000 jobs and have a ripple effect on hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

The extra money also would be welcome by Illinois officials struggling to balance the state’s budget. Legislators are contemplating savage cuts to funding for schools and social services. Quinn told us Tuesday that he is “open to discussing proposals” that raise revenue, create jobs and lead to greater investment in schools.

I'm always torn about these proposals. On the one hand, I'm like, "That means people don't think Vegas is so evil and heaven-forsaken after all!" But on the other, I'm like, "Hey, stop! That's our thing!"