Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposal to put 3,500 slot machines at a venue between Interstate 95 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Baltimore City is getting mixed reviews from local lawmakers.
The city?s General Assembly delegation met Monday afternoon, hours before O?Malley kicked off the special session in Annapolis to discuss his call for a slots location along the Patapsco River?s Middle Branch, near the Westport neighborhood. The venue would be within one-half mile of I-95 and Russell Street and at least one-quarter mile from homes.
“Strategically, I think it?s a tremendous location,” said Democratic Del. Melvin Stukes. “It?s near major transportation arteries and wouldn?t bottleneck any neighborhoods.”
O?Malley released the specifics of his legislative package to address a $1.7 billion structural deficit Friday. He is backing a referendum that would allow residents to vote on placing 15,000 slots machines at five locations throughout the state in November 2008.
But after previously only debating slot-machine terminals at Pimlico Race Course and the Inner Harbor, some city legislators said a location near Westport was a surprise. Under O?Malley?s proposal, as much as $13.9 million of slots revenue would still be directed to the Pimlico Community Development Authority.
But Stukes and other lawmakers, including Democratic Del. Carolyn Krysiak, who represents the district that includes the proposed location, said the idea merits further discussion. Krysiak said she has yet to develop “strong feelings” for the concept.
“I think the devil is in the details,” Krysiak said.
Many city lawmakers, including Mayor Sheila Dixon, support a statewide public vote on slots. In a letter to O?Malley sent Thursday, Dixon requested a venue outside of downtown but accessible to the city?s Convention Center, Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor.
The majority of the state legislative delegation discussed Westport earlier that day, but did not achieve a full consensus on the location, Dixon said. She said there appears to be a “general willingness” to consider it.
At least some appear sold already.
“It eliminates the community issue,” said Sen. Lisa Gladden. “I like it. I think it?s a great idea.”
