Latest news with #GilbertVillegas
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Editorial: Slots at Chicago O'Hare airport? A tacky choice
Pop quiz: How many U.S. airports have slot machines operating among the departure and arrival gates? The answer is two: Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno. Those airports are in Nevada. Gambling is central to the zeitgeist of that state. People expect the chance to feed bills into slots as they wait out their flight delays. But savvy gamblers know not to touch these airside temptations, airport slots being notoriously tight, a consequence of convenience and captured customers. Moreover, it's hard to imagine that whoever is Chicago's mayor when the epic O'Hare reconstruction is completed will want to be photographed on opening day with Megabucks or Wheel of Fortune machines as their backdrop. That would be tacky. In global cities outside Nevada, cities showcase airports with fountains, play areas, soaring ceilings, even verdant lounges. They don't want to be known for trying to take Aunt Sally from Salt Lake City for twenty bucks as she changes planes to one bound for Sarasota. We understand the aldermanic temptation to squeeze revenue from every corner of Terminal 3, especially if they can plausibly argue the money is not coming from Chicagoans (although that's a debatable point). Faced with a mayoral administration allergic to any kind of trimming of expenses, aldermen cast around like they're pulling up couch cushions looking for dimes. Even aside from the above objections, it's by no means clear that Chicago would actually make money from airport slots as distinct from syphoning off revenue from a casino that has yet to open. The tax regulations surrounding different kinds of automated ways to lose your money — slots are not the same as video terminals — are complicated and come at varying rates. Plus we imagine the highly successful Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, just a dice throw from O'Hare, would have a lot to say if airside slots came to pass. And let's not forget that Rivers coughs up millions in taxes to both Des Plaines and the state of Illinois. For all of those reasons, we think the ordinance authorizing slots at Chicago's airports, as introduced by Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, is a losing proposition. At minimum, the city should wait until its new casino opens and a clearer picture emerges of the current state of (legal) gambling in our metro area. In the meantime, aldermen could press the administration to find some ways to cut the city some slack. _____ Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Slots at Chicago O'Hare airport? A tacky choice.
Pop quiz: How many U.S. airports have slot machines operating among the departure and arrival gates? The answer is two: Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno. Those airports are in . Gambling is central to the zeitgeist of that state. People expect the chance to feed bills into slots as they wait out their flight delays. But savvy gamblers know not to touch these airside temptations, airport slots being notoriously tight, a consequence of convenience and captured customers. Moreover, it's hard to imagine that whoever is Chicago's mayor when the epic O'Hare reconstruction is completed will want to be photographed on opening day with Megabucks or Wheel of Fortune machines as their backdrop. That would be tacky. In global cities outside Nevada, cities showcase airports with fountains, play areas, soaring ceilings, even verdant lounges. They don't want to be known for trying to take Aunt Sally from Salt Lake City for twenty bucks as she changes planes to one bound for Sarasota. We understand the aldermanic temptation to squeeze revenue from every corner of Terminal 3, especially if they can plausibly argue the money is not coming from Chicagoans (although that's a debatable point). Faced with a mayoral administration allergic to any kind of trimming of expenses, aldermen cast around like they're pulling up couch cushions looking for dimes. Even aside from the above objections, it's by no means clear that Chicago would actually make money from airport slots as distinct from syphoning off revenue from a casino that has yet to open. The tax regulations surrounding different kinds of automated ways to lose your money — slots are not the same as video terminals — are complicated and come at varying rates. Plus we imagine the highly successful Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, just a dice throw from O'Hare, would have a lot to say if airside slots came to pass. And let's not forget that Rivers coughs up millions in taxes to both Des Plaines and the state of Illinois. For all of those reasons, we think the ordinance authorizing slots at Chicago's airports, as introduced by Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, is a losing proposition. At minimum, the city should wait until its new casino opens and a clearer picture emerges of the current state of (legal) gambling in our metro area. In the meantime, aldermen could press the administration to find some ways to cut the city some slack.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Two aldermen looking to expand, legalize video gambling in Chicago, reports say
While the Bally's $1.7 billion casino project in River West is still under construction, it may soon face new competition. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th Ward) and Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) has introduced ordinances to legalize video gambling in the city. The report said that Beale wants video gambling citywide, allowing machines in bars and restaurants. Villegas focused on the airports, authorizing machines after security checkpoints at O'Hare and Midway. Villegas told the paper, "There's an opportunity to capture an audience that may not even be going to the city." He also noted that people get to airports two hours before their flights and may have time to kill.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago OKs ban on Jan. 6 rioters from city jobs
The Brief The City Council passed a resolution urging HR to block the hiring of applicants convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The measure passed 43-3 and applies regardless of pardon or clemency status. Alderman Gilbert Villegas led the effort, citing the importance of defending democracy. CHICAGO - Chicago is now the first major U.S. city to adopt a policy aimed at keeping Jan. 6 offenders out of city government jobs. What we know On Wednesday afternoon, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution calling on the city's Human Resources Commissioner to use discretion in rejecting job applicants who were convicted of crimes tied to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The measure passed by a wide margin—43 yeas to 3 nays. The resolution, R2025-0015310, applies regardless of whether an applicant has received clemency or a pardon and takes effect immediately. "You should not be allowed to work for the same government you are attempting to overthrow," said Alderman Gilbert Villegas, the resolution's chief sponsor. "There is a misalignment in values there." The measure comes after the State of Illinois identified 53 residents involved in the Jan. 6 attack, including several from Chicago. At least one was found to be employed by the city as a police officer. The backstory Villegas, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, said the Capitol riot shook his sense of duty and drew a rare comparison in his life. "There's only been two times that I've thought about putting my uniform on and reactivating—September 11th and January 6th—because this democracy is worth fighting for," he said during council remarks. He was joined by Aldermen Chris Taliaferro, Bill Conway, and Matt Martin in sponsoring the measure. What's next While the resolution is not a formal ordinance, it strongly signals the City Council's stance and gives the Commissioner of Human Resources broad backing to apply the new hiring standard going forward. The resolution takes effect immediately. The Source The information in this article was provided by the Office of Alderman Gilbert Villegas.
