Took some aerial photos of Country Crossing today

[Dan DuBose]

For those in Alabama you may have heard the story of Country Crossing. I could care less either way if they bingo place stays open for the sake of bingo. It does suck to not have the jobs here in Dothan. Anyway for those in south Alabama interested here are some aerial pics I took today of Country Crossing.

See more pics here:

http://www.509media.com/aerial-photos/country-crossing-aerial-pictures-dothan-alabama/


http://www.509media.com/wp-content/gallery/aerial-photos/dsc_8777.jpg

http://www.509media.com/wp-content/gallery/aerial-photos/dsc_8764.jpg

[kudzukit]

It is truly crazy what is happening over bingo!

I just hope it is over soon! I am so tired of the fuss

[ih8pepl73]

Seriously? A building that big for Bingo? The mall by my house is smaller!

[Fred]

details what is the building why is the parking lot empty?

[Whitnel]

Dan,
How far do travel to do the aerial photo's? It would be neat to have some of the job I will be working on in Pell City. It looks like a pretty good distance from Dothan though.

[kudzukit]

These are all over the state now.

Story behind it:
Gambling is illegal in Alabama, EXCEPT 2 race tracks; anything run by the Native Americans on their land, and "charity" bingo.
What started as church run paper bingo halls has turned into machine bingo- kind of like slots, but the groups that run it say "charity"
they have found loopholes and created these massive bingo halls with the machines

Now, the governor has decided these are illegal, so he has set up this crazy "task force" who go in and "raid the bingo halls- take the machines.
But, the law is actually not state law, it is set up at each county level.
The State Attorney General has said the gov is overstepping his legal rights.

These huge halls have mostly shut down to avoid the raids while there is now a battle in the legislature to either make them legal statewide or not.
THe governor and the AG are now locked in battle- that is getting ugly.

One side, says - make them legal, then tax them. They will do it anyway
one side says- gambling is evil and they dont want it anywhere near Alabama

more argue about all of the lost jobs by closing the halls- and now is not the time to shut down jobs

more argue that it is charity and some charities wont be able to operate without the funds generated

more argue it should be decided at county level, the state is overstepping- "too much guvment"

There are 2 laws being looked at- one only allows bingo, but only for certain companies that are already in place-- lots of arguing with that, we have plenty of crooked- and convicted- politicians- many are backed by the guys behind the bingo halls

It is absolutely crazy. I was in Montgomery the day the big debate was scheduled in the Senate. I had a group of kids on a field trip, the parents and I decided not to tour the State House so we wouldnt submit the kids to the craziness!

[Paul E]

They really need to legalize gambling/bingo... besides losing tourism to Mississippi, we could do a sin tax to pay for the PACT program, or use it for other public programs. It works quite well in Nevada. I personally think they should look at the NV model for taxing the gambling industry and go with it here.

[Fred]

Very informative thanks

These are all over the state now.

Story behind it:
Gambling is illegal in Alabama, EXCEPT 2 race tracks; anything run by the Native Americans on their land, and "charity" bingo.
What started as church run paper bingo halls has turned into machine bingo- kind of like slots, but the groups that run it say "charity"
they have found loopholes and created these massive bingo halls with the machines

Now, the governor has decided these are illegal, so he has set up this crazy "task force" who go in and "raid the bingo halls- take the machines.
But, the law is actually not state law, it is set up at each county level.
The State Attorney General has said the gov is overstepping his legal rights.

These huge halls have mostly shut down to avoid the raids while there is now a battle in the legislature to either make them legal statewide or not.
THe governor and the AG are now locked in battle- that is getting ugly.

One side, says - make them legal, then tax them. They will do it anyway
one side says- gambling is evil and they dont want it anywhere near Alabama

more argue about all of the lost jobs by closing the halls- and now is not the time to shut down jobs

more argue that it is charity and some charities wont be able to operate without the funds generated

more argue it should be decided at county level, the state is overstepping- "too much guvment"

There are 2 laws being looked at- one only allows bingo, but only for certain companies that are already in place-- lots of arguing with that, we have plenty of crooked- and convicted- politicians- many are backed by the guys behind the bingo halls

It is absolutely crazy. I was in Montgomery the day the big debate was scheduled in the Senate. I had a group of kids on a field trip, the parents and I decided not to tour the State House so we wouldnt submit the kids to the craziness!

[skisad]

They really need to legalize gambling/bingo... besides losing tourism to Mississippi, we could do a sin tax to pay for the PACT program, or use it for other public programs. It works quite well in Nevada. I personally think they should look at the NV model for taxing the gambling industry and go with it here.

I agree, that is where I turn more liberal than conservative.

[Paul E]

People are going to do it anyway. Take advantage of it and get people coming to Alabama instead of Tunica. Increased revenue from tourists. Increased tax revenue (ala Nevada).. can be put to use doing good like funding education and the PACT program.

[kudzukit]

AEA paper (aka Communist Manifesto) is predicting a battle this week.
My dad wont talk about it!! He is busy with the cell phone texting fight.
another good article on texting- and a good pic of my Pop
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/03/alabama_senate_panel_stalls_bi.html

It is time like these I amd gladd I am just a lowly teacher!