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11/09/2011 10:34:00 PM
Regalado is corrupt. He's gone through 4 city managers in a short period; he's backed by Braman who scuttled the 1 cent tax that could have provided Florida with jobs and mass transit - both of what we desperately need. Regalado also hired multiple city workers while there was a hiring freeze - and i could go on. I'd suggest looking into Regalado's campaign financing contributions - I’m sure there would be some interesting 'donors' there.... Regalado is who needs to be recalled! Genting has been going through the right channels. They have invested half a billion dollars without the guarantee of even being able to have a casino. Yet, they have committed to improving the downtown infrastructure and creating JOBS - something South Florida really needs.
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Cdzlaptop 10/28/2011 4:18:00 PM
You are misinformed. Manny (not "Many") never lost a mayoral election. he served two terms and was termed out.
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Cdzlaptop 10/28/2011 4:13:00 PM
Joe, can you imagine the City in the gambling business?
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Duffbeer1986 10/22/2011 3:13:00 AM
Fuck You LallaSalmah, you fucking bigot. Dumbass, like Democrats don't pull bullshit. Look at Solyndra you jackass. Go watch another Michael Moore documentary ass clown.
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10/20/2011 7:21:00 PM
It's SO obvious that Joe Carollo has been paid by the opposition. He has been working his own downtown casino deal for the last few years with Art Falcone and his foreclosed on Miami Center site. Him and Regalado and the rest of the Falcone henchmen will continue to try to scuttle the Genting casino deal regardless of how good it is for Miami. I don't want a casino built on the cheap and on land that is in the slums - that's what Carrolo has to offer. No thanks.
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10/16/2011 8:08:00 PM
A scam in the making, with residents as the pawns. Regalado and all the rest, are in on a backroom deal, great for them, horrible for residents. Forget it if you own a small business in Miami, you won't be able to compete with the casinos $5 steak dinners and $20/night hotel rooms the casinos offer to get you to gamble. ATlantic City went downhill and the great jobs offered were low paying service jobs while other service jobs in the city will be eliminated because of tourists only frequenting the casino/s.
If you think traffic by the causeways now is bad, imagine when these monstorous buildings are complete. And, with this much money we will not only have our amatuerish crooked elected officials on the take, but serious mafia given the mafia sized potential for money casinos bring in. ... if this takes off, so am I.
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LallaSalmah 10/16/2011 8:40:00 AM
Just look at the names:Diaz Balart, Codina, Jeb Bush, Fresen, and I could add that we need to get rid of the Republicans, but that would be wrong. What we would really need is to get rid of the Cuban AHOLES who are the ones who continue to vote for these Republicans.
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10/06/2011 12:17:00 PM
The more The Miami New Times supports negative press against the Genting Group, the more it makes sense to Miami voters. First Miami New Times rolled of a story of Uncle Like (the moron) about the negative effects of casinos. Now this story. It is obvious that The Miami New Times is being fueled by deep pockets that do not want casinos in Miami...Maybe The Bahamas? Maybe the Cruise Line Industry? Maybe the Las Vegas or Atlantic City Casinos Groups? Maybe The Indians? Ohhhhh so many anti-casino groups and The New Times could be backing them all.
The City of Miami has grown up. We are flushing away our low rent politicos and Chief of Police. We are getting rid of the influence peddlers and helping this community return to what it was design to do...be a tourist destination. We need jobs and we need to increase the reasons why people come to live, work and vacation in Miami. Joe Carollo is a bug in the windshield of our future. Who cares what his opinion is today? He has only himself and his political aspirations on his mind. Here's what Miami can do for you Mr. Carollo. We can give you a swift kick in the ass, just like the time you were mayor.
PS: Francisco Alvarado has written 3 negative stories on the Casino Issue. We can tell that The Miami New Times is giving the most for it's influence peddling stories back to those groups trying to grease the wheels. Look at the responses from readers Mr. Alvarado...Miami is not agreeing with you!!!!! Many Diaz, whom voters removed from office...Jeb Bush (a Bush is always a Bush) and The Codina Group whom Jeb Bush is a partner of is against the Casinos. Now I like the casinos even more!!!!!
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10/06/2011 12:02:00 PM
Joe Carollo...didn't we get rid of him? We keep on flushing these low rent political figures and they all try to return to bask in the Miami Political Sun. The question is..Do you still slobber on yourself when you speak? Because that's nasty. Maybe you should just keep quite and let the City of Miami grow, without letting guys like you, suck the life out of this city.
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Katk04 10/05/2011 10:14:00 PM
(Suarez) says the city would be better served by creating an open public space....are you freakin kidding me!? Lets see what's better: Paying Law Enforcement to extract the Homeless People & Drug Dealers from a "beautiful public space"!.... or getting a casino that in the first stage alone will result in 5,000 new jobs and $100 million in tax revenue?...!!!!
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10/04/2011 11:15:00 PM
Those stories about being connected to organized crime or islamic extremists have all been disproven and are not reported by reputable new organizations. The rumors were started by their competitors who were battling them for the New York Aqueduct casino, that was awarded to Genting and which is about to open. They have already been approved by the most rigorous investigative background checks of any other casino operator. They own the top destination resort casinos in the world and they are the owners of Norwegian cruise lines, which is based in Miami. Obviously, these stories are false.
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10/04/2011 11:09:00 PM
The Genting resort is going to be to greatest attraction/destination in Florida: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfnLzgNi3VQ
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Steve Linder 10/04/2011 10:17:00 PM
Expect a lot more of this political maneuvering as the Sand puts more and more politicians on their payroll. This is what they did in China that led to an ongoing Department of Justice investigation. The Sands is behind all of this. It's a smear campaign designed to damage their competitor.
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Jane Scully 10/04/2011 8:27:00 PM
Genting has proven their commitment to Miami by paying over $400 million for downtown land. These mayors have already made commitments to Art Falcone and his group of underfunded casino owner wannabes who already lost most of their downtown property portfolio to bank foreclosures. They already tried and failed. Their property is in the slums.
These mayors are all in on that casino deal. It's shameful to see how easily they can be bought and then sent into the field to try to spin a somewhat plausible story of why the casino would be bad. Their political career's are over so now it's time to completely sell-out - and they have.
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10/03/2011 5:15:00 PM
wow Miami,ans wake up these guys dont want to block the casino....
They want in and this is how they do it ...Stand up make noise against until they get a pice of the pie then they will be best friends defending the Casino
Miami politics as usual ....you think that casino is not going to be built LOLOLOLO
Let me see Developers with deep pockets +Politicians looking to fill own pockets =
WELCOME TO THE NEW SOUTH FLA CASINO
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Mrnlee 10/03/2011 3:18:00 AM
These idiots want to block this project, but they approve the marlins stadium!. Just think how many tourist will fly into MIA and pay airport taxes, go to restaurants and give people jobs, while paying taxes, and stay at hotel and pay taxes ( which will pay for the marlins satium which was voted down twice by residents). Lose to casinos and have casinos pay taxes, if they win, we get taxes. All to make a better Miami.
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10/02/2011 11:55:00 PM
BE NICE TO ATTRACT TOURISTS ON THE WAY TO CRUISE SHIPS-IN CASE THE SHIP DOESN'T SAIL-THE FOLKS CAN GET A LITTLE TLC VACATION, NICE FOOD, GAMBLING, SHOPPING-AND SOME CLASSY CLEAVAGE! ISN'T THAT WHAT TOURISM IS ALL ABOUT? DON'T CROWD THE CRUISE SHIP FOLK'S INVESTMENTS-WE HAVE A HABIT OF CHASING AWAY OUR OWN TOURIST TRADE WITH THE XENOPHOBIC MOBSTER BLUES PARANOIA!
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Mikejones 10/02/2011 10:24:00 PM
This casino will be the best thing for us miamians who aren't former mayors and don' get a salary the rest of our lives from the city or county..... So carollo shut the f*#[{ up.... The city will get a percentage with new taxes put in place that go along with new gambling liscences..... Remember all these old mayors will die soon anyways... So really it's the younger crowd who needs there opinion heard.... These old folks are trying to ruin things for the younger folks.... Us younger folks want the casino and we have a right .... We will be alive to enjoy it.... And it will help the entertainment industry in so many ways.... It will create a buzz unmatched by anywhere in the world.... Hands down
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10/02/2011 9:38:00 PM
This is a great deal and a great Resort, we need to create jobs here and make miami a bigger super city.
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Babykern71 10/02/2011 7:48:00 PM
well i didnt read anything so i cant say anything...it was long and looked boring...plus i am a teenager so such news is boring to me....the only reason i came on this site is to pretend i am doin homework so i can use the computer and other things...i would recommend this site to anyone who is doing the same thing as me and or who is a teenager looking for current events is miami to write homework on...stupid teachers...i know....
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10/02/2011 5:09:00 AM
Bring on the the asian mafia!! Miami is an equal mafia trade zone. Regalado takes a secret trip to asia while the Herald sells its building to the Genting group. The trip is paid for by a corporation in the gables for "improve relation purpose" yeah right!!! while the city is sinking fanancially and in a fiscal emergency? yeah this sounds like normal miami politics.
And the fact that the Herald does not write negative stories on Regaldo is a coincidence to, right?
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Sarah 10/01/2011 10:11:00 PM
What an idiotic conspiracy theory. There's no logic to anything he says. BUT, even if there was, who cares? If this brings in more money and jobs, that's all we should care about.
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10/01/2011 8:46:00 PM
Joe Carollo is an asshole, why the hell does anybody pay attention to this dumbass idiot? He's already proven to all Miami that he doesn't know shit about anything. Quit giving this douche bag a forum to say anything ... he's an ignorant moron.
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10/01/2011 2:29:00 PM
Seriously i find it funny that a former politician, very honest hard working people as we all know, is upset about something like this. Lets see, prostitution, for God sake u can find that in the new times. Gambling, hello the indians are scamming the hell out of it. Organized crime, refer back to the politician comment. Miami has no industry other then tourism. Period. thats it. For some ass clown to speak of morals about this, well mr. brahman i'm sure wi pay all the news outlets to complain about it but who gives a crap. 30,000 jobs, property taxes will go down and most important, if a politician steps out of line bc he is not getting a kick back i'm sure uncle vito, uncle vlad and uncle lee will take them to sleep with the fishes. Besides they fired a police chief for messing with little illegal slots so make it legal
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10/01/2011 9:27:00 AM
A city can have only ONE mayor!!
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10/01/2011 3:33:00 AM
Finally! It is about time Miami permanently endorsed organized crime, gambling addiction, prostitution, and illegal drugs.
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09/30/2011 6:27:00 PM
Hey Teddy, there is no mention in this article about terrorists. Why don't you read a little more carefully before spouting off.
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09/30/2011 5:03:00 PM
Good comment , why can't it be better ? We have beaches , sun , fun why can't it be better than Vegas , a little more controlled and sophisticated like NY or Chicago .
Publix , we have 4 of them in down town now , a major mall coming , shops , great restaurants young people jogging and biking on the streets , this is the place to be between Brickell - downtown - Design district - Mid town . Add to this a major waterfront hotel / gaming complex and planned and we have it all !!!!!
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09/30/2011 4:55:00 PM
Heaven forbid we allow a little progress , some fun , glitz and glitter to this city - how long can we continue to use South Beach ?? South Beach was great in the 80's and 90's - time to move on and catch up to the rest of the world and become a big time city , beautiful skyline , jobs , tourism what in the world could be wrong with that .
It is our own fault for allowing these same corrupt incompetent clowns to be re elceted over and over -
Carollo , get out of the way , the future and progress are going to run you over !!!!
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09/30/2011 4:13:00 PM
DUMBASS
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09/30/2011 2:54:00 PM
OOOh.. they forget to put some money to Miami politicians pockets. The "gambling machine"
will create 30,000 permanent jobs. How many our mayors did??
NOTHING.
so why don't you just shut up?
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09/30/2011 11:55:00 AM
yea, we should listen to the guy you beat his wife with a tea container
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09/30/2011 1:34:00 AM
Carollo is a dumbass and a thief. This POS is looking to see what he can pocket out of this deal, only reason he 'says' he's against it
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09/30/2011 1:14:00 AM
Joe Carollo is a loser, should crawl back into the sewer that he came out of
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09/30/2011 12:12:00 AM
Genting is promising 5,000 immediate Miami jobs, 15,000 construction jobs and 30,000 permanent jobs. That would employ all of Miami.
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Jim Richards 09/30/2011 12:10:00 AM
Resorts World Miami is going to be the grandest resort/casino in America, if not the world - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfnLzgNi3VQ
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09/30/2011 12:02:00 AM
Those islamic extremist stories were spread by their competitors and have been discredited. That's why no legitimate news organization will write about it. Beware: other gaming interests will be infiltrating these blogs. What's your real name WampaLeaks?
This resort is the most incredible thing that has ever happened to Miami. I hope the politicians, or Genting's competitors don't screw this up. Genting has already ponied-up over $400,000 for land. No other company has shown this type of commitment,
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09/29/2011 8:18:00 PM
If Genting signs a document that guarantees a good profit forthcoming to Miami after everything and everybody is paid off lets put a figure lets say 50% of the profits then Miami-ans should consider this offer.What probably would happen if there is no guarantee,between them,Tallahassee,and Miami we would probably lose money.Besides once this Pandora's Box
is open Miami Beach will follow with all their hotel claiming to develop into casinos.
?Do you want your children in a Las Vegas type environmental decadence?,I lived there Iknow how putrid life is there
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09/29/2011 7:14:00 PM
Genting is seeking ways to turn Miami, Queens, NY and Fall River, MA into new mini-Macau's - reported ties to organized crime, alleged funding of Islamic extremists and their history of gaming law violations makes for a very poor record against which public confidence can be maintained. The corruption allegations are now tainting political processes from Florida to Massachusetts dragging in a range of elected officials, Indian tribes and lobbyists into a scandal made for TV. Perhaps Chow Yun Fat will play Genting chairman Lim and Jet Li will be his partner international Triad crime figure Stanley Ho.
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09/29/2011 5:26:00 PM
Three Miami loosers block what ?.....
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09/29/2011 4:18:00 AM
Carollo and who also, bunch of old farts, that area is a dump with high crime , they are just mad they are not getting their hand in it , when was the last time Carollo did something for the city of Miami, oh i remember he beat up his wife.
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09/28/2011 10:33:00 PM
I'm starting to hate The "New Times"!!!
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09/28/2011 8:59:00 PM
Hopefully like Las Vegas or New York, or somewhere in between. Miami is only better for it. Were you here 10 years ago?? Un-walkable downtown, empty streets; a total disaster. It's come a long way, people, educated professionals actually want to live in downtown. There's going to be a Publix for pete's sake!... What are you decrying? sin city?.. Ah, this is vice city, equally enjoyable.
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09/28/2011 8:51:00 PM
Public sidewalks, dead-end streets around the Herald, WHO CARES?? It's a dump, just bums walking around there. Anything other than what is currently there is welcomed, get over it Joe. After it's said and done, I don't see Vegas complaining about their resorts.
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09/28/2011 7:22:00 PM
banana joe just has an axe to grind because genting didnt hire him as a spokesman...
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09/28/2011 3:34:00 PM
3 mayor's that where supported by the Herald. Not surprising.
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09/28/2011 3:03:00 PM
Everbody's trying to get their beak wet. Whats the problem, there is enough to go around. GET SOME.
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Sampson1 09/28/2011 11:29:00 AM
Miami needs this resort. I hope the greedy politicians don't screw it up.
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barbar martin 09/28/2011 3:21:00 AM
Miami is too greedy for money,it is a shame that they do not care where the money is coming from....Just keep on dancing with the devil and we are going to be just like New Orleans and Las Vegas sin city
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09/28/2011 3:17:00 AM
Dear Sally,
we do have our facts straight. Genting had to dissolve its partnership with Ho for a Macao casino in order to obtain its license in Singapore as a result of that country's stringent regulations.
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Joe 09/27/2011 11:09:00 PM
If we are going to have casinos lets open it up to everybody.
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09/27/2011 10:12:00 PM
This is an issue of free markets. Let Genting open the resort-they have a record of opening up World Class Resorts! The rest of the miami hospitality industry will have to raise the bar to keep up and this is great for Miami as a tourist destination
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09/27/2011 9:41:00 PM
Maybe Genting wants to buy a stadium? We have one that no one's gonna go to. Cheap! Just pay the taxpayers the $400 million Alvarez gave Luria and it's theirs! We'll even throw in a lousy baseball team!
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09/27/2011 9:14:00 PM
This is a good deal for Miami, because it will help create jobs and bring people here. It is obvious that the people opposed are special interest groups.
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SHOWMETHEMONEY 09/27/2011 8:24:00 PM
Well i say WE milk 'em for a little bit more! everyone is saying that its OUR land, the tax payers! so why shouldnt we try to get a cut of the checks... It isnt like they can say NO at this point, they invested alot of money already and are here to stay. The RIGHT thing to do is for them to cut the taxpayers a check for the Public lands they will trespass into, maybe give them a deal also cause of the impact it will have to our City but nonetheless... SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
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Late 09/27/2011 8:16:00 PM
WHAT??? You mean your Republican party allows this SHIT??? Last time i saw Florida has a new Republican Governor and Miami has a Republican Mayor for the past 2 years. Do they support the liberal agenda?
Haha you didnt give a fuck over 8years ago when Mr. GEE Bush was flushing the Country down the drain with a false agenda and false economy NOW you care?? too busy enjoying that false economy, huh? .....TOO fucking late buddy.
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WatchDog 09/27/2011 8:08:00 PM
It is evident that the Miami New Times is bias and are planting stories that have no merit. New Times should be ashamed and embarrassed at their half-hearted, one-sided reporting – and the New Times has the audacity to call the Miami Herald biased! If the New Times want facts, then why are they not reporting the full story on Genting who have been entwined in various businesses throughout the USA for decades, including the Norwegian Cruise line, NY Aqueduct and more. The question now doesn’t become which gambling competitor is paying-off Sanchez or Carollo, but who is buying-off the New Times?
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Had Enough 09/27/2011 7:53:00 PM
Wasn’t Xavier booted out of office for illegal maneuvers? How can anyone believe one word from that guy! It is extremely obvious that the Seminoles are behind all the negative attacks on Genting. What’s the bet Carollo is being paid-off by some other gaming entity as well…. Highly likely. Truth is, the Seminoles received a gaming compact by former Gov. Crist just before he left office in which the Seminoles pays one of the lowest percentages in the US - and they aren’t even State regulated. Therefore, do we go on their word as to what they say their profits are? I guess so. This great state cannot survive on the pathetic pittance paid by the Seminoles or Miccosukees. If the Indians want a monopoly on gambling locations then they should be paying the state 35% just like the pari-mutuels do. Why should pari-mutuels pay multiple times more to the state than the Indians? How is that fair? That in its self is plain greed! In addition, since when has card games been legal in the state of Florida? Last time I checked, it’s not. It is further my understanding that the Indians, by law, are only supposed to offer games on their lands that are "approved" and "allowed" by the governing state law. So why then that they are offering card games like blackjack? The Indian casinos should be shut down immediately and locals should boycott their facilities! Let the voters decide on what we want and keep the politicians out of it.
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09/27/2011 7:38:00 PM
Genting has/is in no way associated with Stanley Ho or his family. It has been determined by the US Justice Department, that Stanley Ho is 100% involved in organized crime – why do you think New Jersey deemed his daughter Pansy Ho an “unsuitable partner” to MGM?
Genting and Ho have always been adversaries – both applying for the same limited gaming licenses in various Asian locations. New Times needs to do their homework and get the facts before printing such a biased and unfounded article. If you know anything about gambling locations worldwide, you would know that Singapore has one of the most stringent regulations against organized crime. Why do you think Stanley Ho was denied a license there? Even his daughter Pansy Ho was denied. NEW TIMES – GET YOUR FACT STRAIGHT!
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Tammy Fedder 09/27/2011 7:29:00 PM
We need the jobs NOW. These political hacks are going to screw-up the best deal that has ever been presented to Miami. They're talking about hiring 45,000 people for the resort. That will employ everyone in Miami who wants a job. Miami's greedy politicians better have a better plan for creating jobs if they make us loose the casino.
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fredmariner 09/27/2011 7:27:00 PM
We need the jobs here in Miami to pay for all the crap the liberals are heaping on the backs of taxpayers. Creating jobs and investing in our city and our state is a much better deal than raising my taxes. What is the real agenda behind this story?
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Jacob Altman 09/27/2011 7:19:00 PM
This guy should mind his own business in the Grove far away from any casino. It's OUR public land and WE say LET THEM BUILD IT. What a douche.
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Teddybinder 09/27/2011 7:09:00 PM
These stories about any connection to terrorists or Islamic extremists are ridiculous. They have been started by a competitor a few years ago when they were competing with Genting for another casino deal. There has never been any connection except from a few "sponsored" blog websites that are run by political surrogates. No reputable new organization would print this unsubstantiated dribble.
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Jane Coleman 09/27/2011 6:59:00 PM
Those are all very loose supposed connections. Give me a break. This resort is going to be the best thing to ever happen to Miami. Are we really suppose to believe that the reason to disallow the casino at the Miami Herald site is because the property will take over a few alleyways and require the bus stop to be relocated. This casino is going to put Miami on the map, and on a worldwide stage. We desperately need this resort built, we need the jobs. The politicians that are now aligning to prevent this casino are doing so for their own benefit. They should be ashamed of themselves. Politics as usual.
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09/27/2011 6:50:00 PM
Genting has owned Norwegian Cruise Lines, which is based in Miami, for the last 12 years. It's interesting to note that the reporter didn't make more mention of that. Some of Genting's top officers live in Miami and have done so for many years. The owner of the $45 billion public corporation visits MIami on a regular basis and has done do for many years. The reporter failed to mention that as well. Also, Genting has been approved to conduct gaming in New York and owns the Aqueduct racetrack and casino. They ARE part of our community.
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Richard Smith 09/27/2011 6:38:00 PM
exortion attempt
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09/27/2011 6:36:00 PM
Didn't disgraces former mayor Xavier Suarez get thrown out of office for fraud? Who would listen to him? These are just a group of political insiders who are trying to save their dying casino project that they have been trying to put together in the middle of downtown Miami, behind the old stadium, in the slums.
Art Falcone has already paid-off Carollo and the rest of his henchmen before he started loosing his properties in foreclosure. Now he only has control of a few parcels but he's trying to wrestle controls back from the banks who took them. Falcone even tried to outmaneuver Genting by buying note on the Omni property - but he failed. Now he's sent his attack dogs out to try to derail the resort.
It's so obvious that Carollo has been paid-off in an effort to try to scuttle the Resorts World Miami deal. It's pathetic. Read Carollos statements - they so transparent.
These are all sell-outs who are trying to get their own crappy casino in downtown approved but they don't have the resources (or land) to build a property like Genting is planning. They are going to connect the entire bayfront. It's going to be a spectacular resort. Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfnLzgNi3VQ
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Grove Digger 09/27/2011 6:19:00 PM
Xavier Suarez is INSANE, unstable and nuts--come on PR guys from the Seminoles you can find better hacks to do your bidding than this can't you? And alleging ties to terrorists . . . please, that is so 2001. Better come up with a new strategy or your indian clients will find new stooges
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Joepaine52 09/27/2011 6:12:00 PM
What's not to love about this? We already have casinos in Florida - they just all belong to the indians. This casino idea will generate thousands of jobs for people here in Florida, help pay cops and teachers and firefighters, build schools and prisons without raising our taxes. If we cant do this we are screwed!
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Howard Pederson 09/27/2011 6:09:00 PM
Red Herrings are no substitutes for actual facts. You can't just make stuff up and think people will believe it. Genting has NO connection to Stanley HO or the Chinese Triad--this is BS made up by Genting's competitors and the Seminole Indians who have been bilking our community out of million$ for years.
Howard Pederson
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09/27/2011 5:59:00 PM
Who's paying Crazy Joe Carrollo? Or is this an extortion attempt? Definitely one or the other
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09/27/2011 5:53:00 PM
As if Carollo has ever done anything in life a fraction as ambitious as this project. He's an uninspired person who's position to block real projects are the type of people who should not be representing Miami.
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Sienna Miller 09/27/2011 5:45:00 PM
A majority of Seminole Tribal Council members are CONVICTED CRIMINALS and their Casinos are NOT regulated by the state--How do we know machines and games are not rigged? That's why we need REAL casino resorts for south Florida. Genting has done nothing wrong but perhaps failure to pay off the proper officials. This is a disgrace to Floridians
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09/27/2011 5:40:00 PM
Grease his palm he'll change his tune in a heart beat.
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Christianberke80 09/27/2011 5:39:00 PM
You want a city owned Casino? Sure lets give over all control of free markets to the government. Are you insane? The Genting Group has a long history of investing and working with business communities and this means this project will be the best Destination Resort which will be able to maximize the economic and job impact of Destination Resorts on the state's economy. We need the tax revenue and jobs this would create.
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09/27/2011 4:51:00 PM
It is amazing how quickly "politicians" can be against something. I suspect Carollo is looking for some $$$$. There is not any reason to create jobs and put Miami on the map for conventions. Here is a great blog by a tea party member:
WHY I SUPPORT THE GENTING CASINO FOR MIAMI
http://www.southfloridateaparty.net/content/why-i-support-genting-casino-miami-take-poll
By Everett Wilkinson-Chairman South Florida Tea Party
I have to admit that I was less than thrilled when I received an invitation to attend the unveiling of destination casino resort in Miami last week. My initial thoughts were that I had received the invitation by mistake as I am neither a gambler nor a proponent of gambling. After a quick Internet search and few phone calls, I decided to attend as a representative of the tea party and see the fiscal impact. Specifically I was looking for taxes and government involvement and any taint of a monopoly.
Once I arrived, my preconceived notions quickly disappear. The company was rolling out an incredible, beautiful resort, not a ugly cheap casino. The architecture was iconic, Genting, the developers, had also taken great lengths to invite all members of the community to participate in the roll out of a world class resort casino. I noticed African Americans, Dominicans, Haitians, small business people and both Republicans and Democrats. I can’t begin to applaud the level professional presentation and attention to details. The actual design which resembled giant sails or sea shells was the most unique breathtaking design I have for a casino! I would be proud to have such a beautiful building in South Florida.
Putting back my fiscal conservative hat, I started to dig into the financials and impact to the economy. I started by following the money. To pass a casino bill we must replace about $1Billion now guarantee to the state by the Seminoles under their gaming compact. Three casinos in Dade and Broward would help fill that hole but it requires the inclusion of the seven parimutuel facilities in Dade and Broward that already have slots and cards. These parimutuels must be included in the bill to legalize gaming and given the same table games and tax rate to generate more revenue for the state.
Without the parimutuels the three casino in South Florida would have to gross more than the entire Las Vegas strip at a 10% tax rate to replace the Indian revenues. These facilities in combination with the three casinos proposed by Rep Erick Fresen will likely far surpass the $1B from the Indians. They must fill the hole.
Another core value of the tea party is free markets. If a bill is passed to legalize destination gaming, we must have free markets and competitions. I have never understood why only the Indians and certain individuals should be allowed into the gaming industry. Thanks to Former Gov. Crist, the Seminole Indians pay the lowest amount to the state on gaming in the country while our parimutuels pay one of the highest in taxes. This could be achieved by lowering the tax on parmutuels to 10-15%- the same rate as the new casinos and providing the three licenses in South Florida. There can’t be any 75 mile barriers or exclusions. We must have free markets and competition.
I met KT Lim and Colin Au from Genting before the presentation -- they are free-market guys. If they were US citizens they would be tea party supporters. KT Lim's father grew up dirt poor. He understood free enterprise and hard-work as well as a keeping your word. He built a great fortune. His son, KT Lim has taken the company to the next level. The resorts these folks have built in Asia are huge economic engines- what we need to get South Florida's economy moving.
Many in the South Florida want a local county referendum like what was required when voters in Miami- Dade and Broward voters approved slots at the tracks and Jai Alai frontons. Some argue we don't need a referendum because voters in these two counties have approved slots. Others say voters didn't approve mega-casinos and there should be a new vote. I am going to poll our members after we see the bill.
My final thoughts on the proposed resort would be described as optimistic. The resort would have an enormous positive impact financially and for jobs in Miami and South Florida. The resort would create an estimated 5000 new jobs at a temporary facility, 25,000 jobs at the permanent facility, and 10,000 construction jobs ( it would be 20,000 if this was a big Union state--and half of them would be working!) I started to think of it as a resort that had gambling versus a Las Vegas casino. It was apparent that all my preconceived notions about Genting were wrong. I look forward to seeing the actual legislation.
Everett Wilkinson is the Chairman of the South Florida Tea Party. His parents named him after legendary Republican US Senator Everett Dirksen who was the Congressman for Peoria, Illinois where Wilkinson's mother grew up. The South Florida Tea Party is the largest most active Tea Party in Florida with over 37,000 active members.
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Vivalibre 09/27/2011 4:35:00 PM
Your piece is based on Carollo's opinion? Wow, thats someone we can all rely on.
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09/27/2011 4:35:00 PM
What does this mean for Kooba?
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L2M 09/27/2011 3:02:00 PM
Carollo is probably just pissed that he's in no position to get a kickback out of this.
