A Sign of the Times and a Way Forward?

There are two massive Clear Channel billboards I pass on my way into work. One is at the terminus of Lyons Avenue, next to the railroad tracks. The ginormous billboard usually advertises the latest children’s film and it’s updated constantly.

The other billboard is on Railroad Avenue near 13th Street. It’s taller, but quite smaller. For two years, it looked like this:

Courtesy flickr

until earlier this year when it got a brand new Harry Potter ad. You might remember me commenting on the irony.

In any event, I’m here today with the important news that both billboards are now advertising Indian gaming casinos. The first one advertises the Chumash Casino/Resort and the second one teases another casino with the phrase, “Size Matters.”

It’s really hard for me to withstand all these changing billboards. I go from Fearing God to wondering about size to wanting to go all in on a game of blackjack!

Now as well all know, prostitution, gaming, alcohol and tobacco are the only true recession-proof industries. But you can only get three out of four of those in the SCV.

If you want to game,  you have to follow these ads and leave the SCV, which isn’t very ThinkSCV friendly, now is it?

So I propose this: if we truly want to compete in the regional/state/global marketplace, we need to have our own Indian casino; we could call it the Tataviam Resort and Spa and build it up in the Golden Valley multi-plex where the City puts things it doesn’t really desire (like homeless shelters). It would be a huge money maker for City Hall, could employ and entertain the locals, and best of all, we’d never have to leave the SCV!

Forget the Sheraton. Forget the idea of a conference center. Forget the Old Town Newhall library & renovation. Forget giving $50k to the same old usual suspects to start up an economic development corporation.

Indian Gaming is where it’s at! Now who will run on this plank next spring?