By John Byrne, Post-Tribune staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- A land-based casino near the Borman Expressway and a four-year medical school for Indiana University Northwest are prizes lucrative enough to Gary to convince Mayor Rudy Clay to consider relinquishing the city's second casino license.
On Thursday, Clay met with state lawmakers and Don Barden, owner of the Majestic Star I and II casinos in Gary, about ongoing negotiations to reshape the city's gambling landscape.
Clay had been concerned lawmakers were moving too quickly with a late session push to shift one casino within the city and possibly move the other to a location elsewhere in the state.
But after meeting Thursday with Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, the mayor said the two are now "on the same wavelength," at least as far as the possibility of moving a casino south from the lakefront to the Borman is concerned.
"A land-based casino, combined with a four-year medical school for IUN, would be a huge boon for the city of Gary, generating thousands of jobs," Clay said.
A land-based casino in Gary would be the first of its kind in the state, and would require a change in the laws governing gambling facilities.
The move currently isn't part of any legislation the General Assembly is considering, with less than two weeks left in the legislative session.
But legislators confirmed this week that discussions are under way concerning both of Gary's gambling licenses.
Clay said there are still many variables regarding moving Gary's other casino license from the city.
Fort Wayne has been mentioned as a potential suitor, but Clay pointed out officials there want to hold a referendum on gambling in Allen County before agreeing to anything.
"I don't want to get too far ahead of the line on that part," Clay said.
But if a strong enough deal can be worked out with another city, "we'll know it when we see it," Clay said.
House Speaker Patrick Bauer took a dim view of the prospects for any deals involving Gary's casinos prior to the General Assembly's April 29 deadline for action.
Speaking at a Thursday news conference, Bauer, D-South Bend, noted that a relatively modest plan to stop taxing casino gambling coupons temporarily died in the Senate this year.
"And we're going to go from there, that minor change in taxation, to a whole new casino?" he asked.