North Charleston faces opposition on casino boats

Not everyone is backing North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and other city officials for the idea of having casino boats run out of North Charleston. Mayor Summey says the boats would bring in more than $700,000 to the local economy; however, not everyone is on board.

Councilman Bobby Jameson is against the plan, saying it will do more harm than good. He hired an independent researcher to look at ways gambling would affect the area. John Thomas with Thomas Research and Information Services spoke with WCIV in Charleston.

“The money spent in the casino boat is not spent in the community. Businesses suffer and jobs go away as a result,” says Thomas.

Others disagree with that theory saying anything generating revenue for the city is a great idea. A local business owner in North Charleston says she is for the casino boats and thinks businesses would profit due to an influx of people riding into the city to board the boat. The boats would sail out of the former Navy Base complex in North Charleston.

Summey hopes to get the measure passed by December.