[Swimmer]

I did a paper when I was studying for my graduate degree that had to do with how or to what benefit did the population that lived in or around an area that was controled by gangs, criminals, mafia types survive financially. I talked to and conversed with reporters who had written and researched extensively how the criminals spent thier money. The reason I thought this work might be interesting was that after reading a story about Mafia riches in and around Palermo Italy I was also stunned to read about Palemros 80% unemployment rate. The real kicker was that 90 to 95 % of the money that flowed through Palermo was the result of criminal activity. Meaning that the crooks dont spend a dime where the live and eat. In the eighties when this research was relevant what I did find was that the money went from one crooked person to another. My point here is very few people reap financial rewards that live near a casino. Even in Ct. the restaurants nearby the casinos that used to flourish dont anymore. (I got this info from people who live in Ct.) A dead zone occurs or a near death zone within five to ten miles of a casino. Bottom line is its the changing face or our economy.