HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The League of Women voters gathered in the Adams County YWCA on Friday afternoon to bring their questions and concerns about the proposed Hastings Casino.

Fielding those questions was a panel of three people connected with the project two from a city perspective and one who was opposed to the project.

Each one of those presenters talked from a different angle about the process the casino has taken through the city’s government.

While the opposition leader, Shannon Hoff, made his case for why the city should not approve the plans. Citing several crime and financial statistics that he says work to prove why the casino and racetrack are a bad idea for the city, but at the end of the day, Hoff said looks at the issue from the standpoint of his family.

“The thing I am most concerned about is just how it doesn’t fit with our community specifically the crime aspects of it,” Hoff said. “Like we have a close tight-knit community today, this goes against everything that is family oriented. I do have a family with three children, I have a very vested interest in ensuring that their childhood is the best it can be.”

Matter where people’s stance on the casino, organizers of the League, hope this event helps prompt citizens to take an active role in local politics.

“In this day and age when a lot of people don’t read the paper, or have any other places for information to be presented to them,” President of the League of Women Voters Linda Rea said. “This is our way of making sure the public is informed and bringing all kinds of issues to the forefront so that people can be informed and if necessary vote or voice their opinion to those people who are making the decisions.”

The Hastings City Council is set to review the casino proposal in their meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

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