Meeting Public Comments

Bethany Steichen

I support this bill. I've lived in Cedar Rapids my entire life. I grew up in Time Check area (the neighborhood where they want the casino) and watched the neighborhood disappear from what I knew before the flood. People were told they couldn't rebuild only to watch condos and a CASINO go up in these historic homes place 17 years later. Its infuriating, honestly.I'd love to see this casino stopped and/or moved elsewhere!

Melissa Duffield [Precision One Volleyball Assication]

(links would not be allowed to be sent, plain text mode sorry for theinconvenience)Senators & House Representatives,An opinion of a 30 year experienced advocate for kids. Please take the time to read this.I am a professional in the Cedar Rapids community and am a mandatory reporter BOEE(Iowa Board of Educational Examiners) and youth athletics Safesport Certified advocate.I have been a person who has been combating human and sex trafficking and pedophiliain sports for decades. I also am a member of Paul Pates IBAT (Iowa Businesses AgainstTrafficking) program to which in a meeting, with citizens, MANY profusely expressedwe do NOT have systems in place in Iowa to protect advocates and/or victims and thatthe corruption is in ALL LAYERS throughout our state.With my background and experience, I would like to respectfully ask that you take intoconsideration how the proposed increase in the number of brickandmortar casinos, likethe one proposed in Cedar Rapids Iowa would negatively impact human traffickingstatewide.Human trafficking, frequently referred to as a ghost crime, occurs in plain sight withincasino and resort properties, but it remains largely unseen because the indicators of thiscrime are invisible to most.See https://www.asisonline.org/securitymanagementmagazine/latestnews/onlineexclusives/2022/humantraffickingincasinostheghostcrimeoperatinginplainsight/.Human trafficking thrives around the world despite growing awareness of the problem.Globally, an estimated 40.3 million people were victims of human trafficking accordingto statistics compiled by the Global Slavery Index. In the United States, It is estimatedthatbetween 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are forced into sexual slavery in theUnited States every year, and the total number varies wildly as it is very difficult toresearch.What about Iowa? Shared Hope International is a faithbased nonprofit that aims toeradicate sex trafficking. Theyre issuing rankings for every state on how theyre tryingto reduce sex tafficking of minors. Iowa received an F (Cedar Rapids, Gazette) in2023 and that is a cold hard fact and we should be ashamed.In Iowa , according to the Global Slavery Index, there is an estimate of more than 6,000human trafficking victims every day in Iowa, including forced labor and sex trafficking.783 cases of human trafficking. 1,771 victims were identified by outside of the Stateprograms. See https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics/iowa. I have been toldREPEATEDLY, that Cedar Rapids is the number one city in Iowa for Human Traffickingand child pornography production organized crime. You need only to look at my case tosee that is true.I ask you, where is our Sex Trafficking Task force for Iowa for Victims and Advocates? Atask force that is neutral to all parties and with integrity that can NOT be bought off,along with legislative protections for whistleblowers and advocates to fight crime andcorruption? I technically am a whistleblower in Safesport and BOEE and USA Volleyball,yet the network is so deep in our state, these programs actually hide and promotepedophiles.After speaking with MANY departments over the last 8 years, it seems all departments inIowa pass the buck and Victims and Advocates continue to suffer. The problem is so BIGno one wants to actually do anything about it, but yet MANY, have expressed they knowits an issue but have no idea how to solve it. It seems a small few are actually willing tostick their heads up for change and truly understand that the bad actors are usually wellliked and well funded with hiddensecrets.According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), human trafficking is estimatedto be a $150 billion industry each year. In Las Vegas, the problem centers around casinosand hotels. Caesars Entertainment signed on to a partnership with two globalorganizations that lead the fight to prevent and eradicate the issue.Research indicates that when men gather to spend money on leisure, including paid sex, itnecessitates filling that demand. In Hawaii, when a proposal was brought forward tobuild a casino in 2021, a state agency that works toward equality for women and girlsissued a blistering report outlining the ills associated with casinos, particularly as theyrelate to the sex trade. That report outlined that, prostitution and casinos go handinhand because casinos draw a large presence of men with money to spend on leisure andrelaxation, including paid sex, which impacts the number of prostituted people requiredto be brought in to meet the demand. The ninepage report concluded that men whogamble are more prone to purchasing sex, and that a casino would likely increasedomestic violence toward women, prostitution and sex trafficking. Seehttps://humanservices.hawaii.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2021/02/1.26.21r2.1.21GISFINALDHHLCasino.pdf.In addition, the report pointed to national research that suggests links between casinogambling and sex buying.A 2010 study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and UNLV found a positivecorrelation between casinos and paid sex. In fact, the report states that, casino patronswere 17% more likely than the average survey respondent to have paid for sex in the pastyear. Seehttps://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/249956.pdf;https://humanservices.hawii.gov/hscw/hscswgamblingreport/; andhttps://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/02/02hawaiinews/casinocouldincreasesextradereportwarns/.Those classified as problem gamblers were, on average, 84% more likely to use harddrugs; 31% more likely to binge drink; and 260% more likely to hire a prostitute. Seehttps://journalistsresource.org/home/younggamblindrinkingdrugsprostitution.The American Gaming Association admits that gaming operations have been used tofacilitate human trafficking. In particular, physical casinos or resorts can be locations fortrafficking to take palace, while casinos and online gaming apps can be used to laundermoney related to trafficking operations. The AGA asserts that casinos and hotels areoptimal environments for human trafficking, especially if the property allows for cashpayments, does not require ID checks or similarly lacks security procedures. Theassociation admits that online gaming apps with chat functions may also be used bytraffickers to recruit victims.In addition, major events, such as championship games, music festivals, trade shows orconferences have resulted in increases in sex trafficking.The AGA claims that casinos are exploited by traffickers to launder their proceedsthrough the exchange of money for chips, and the use of online accounts to receivepayment for commercial sex. Seehttps://americangaming.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/06/AGAPreventingandCombatingHumanTraffickingintheGamingIndustry.pdf.It is clear that human and sex trafficking is a multibilliondollar industry and that it iswidely understood by advocacy groups, the American Bar Association, the Department ofHomeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, a multitude of studies and even thegambling industry itself that casinos in the State of Iowa WILL increase the number ofhuman trafficking victims.As a victim and advocate myself, that is being targeted professionally, legally andphysically for sticking up for women and girls exposing Sex Trafficking and pedophileswithin the sports and academic network targeting of children.If the state of Iowa cantprotect me, and the kids in my community now then how can we keep control over morecasinos and ways to launder money? There are ZERO services or departments that haveheaded my cries for help and even after they admit I am a target of organized crime theydo nothing I deeply urge you to reconsider the expansion of casino gambling in theState of Iowa and ask that you take the crimes of human trafficking and organized crimethat supports it seriously.Law firms, County Courts, State Representatives, Law Enforcement Agencies, Attorneys,Developers, Council Councils, Economic Alliances, City Support Systems, Departmentof Corrections, Mayors and Realtors ARE Involved. I know in Cedar Rapids MANY havepersonally targeted me. A simple thing to understand is, my one civil court case, fightingfor the business I built, has been in Linn County Courts for over 8 years.Because I sued someone for MY BUSINESS, I BUILT that is connected, they havedestroyed me for YEARS. A local Linn County Judge, Appointed by the governorignored testimony that the FBI should be called against the opposing side and FAA andEPA violations in the second sports facility I built. Its documented that I was setup in thesecond business I built. (The developer and lead attorney on case one from my firstfacility that is still being litigated, grew up together) and all my cases are connected.My youth program for girls has been targeted and some people believe I was targeted tobe killed in a 2019 car accident. I have received death threats etc and the AGs Office andthe Governors office personnel repeatedly state, "Conflicts of interest and pass the buckonto other departments to which they clearly respond they can not help me. This tangledweb and run around is what all victims and advocates in our state deal with. This wasexpressed at the IBAT meeting with no answers. What happens when law firms whotarget you for being an advocate is louder then your voice as a victim, and people believe.them over you?MANY have made reports as well even to our local city authorities and local FBI agentwho have done NOTHING yet it all points in the same direction at the same people.Racketeering, collusion, pay to play, back door deals, FEMA misappropriation and othertax payer funds, money laundering and trafficking. This problem will be MADE farworse with a CASINO.To put it into perspective A local convicted sex offender, that is also permanentlybanned in Safesport and USA Hockey from entering the arena, is allowed used of a taxpayer IMON Ice Arena by ALL the city officials and law enforcement. I spoke publicly atthe Cedar Rapids City Council exposing this issue of continued endangerment of minors.Heather Adams is being allowed access to her target victims (High school aged hockeyboys) being allowed by her elite friends. Adams is a friend of Cedar Rapids MayorTiffany ODonnell, CRPD and others. Adams is still there to this day and I also exposedthat she posted a video on her Facebook page publicly, with a minor little girl, not relatedto her, inviting City Elite friends to her home for Naked Gardening while she had theyoung child serve her a beer. Nothing was done and I was retaliated against further.City Council Man Scott Olson works for Skogman Realty and is on record GOODFRINDS with my old business partner who has stolen my sports facility I built. Not oneRealtor will sale me a building and many small business owners who are not in the gameare SHUT out in she CR Community. I also have suffered Code 720.6 Maliciousprosecution fromthe law firm that has targeted me for 8 years trying to destroy myreputation and businesses and its not because I coach volleyball.In 6 months we had a 25 year sheriff, a news anchor, a law firm executive, a athleticphotographer and trainer go down for producing Child Pornography in Cedar Rapids.This shows a NETWORK and is the tip of the iceberg. Why would the city elite beattacking a volleyball coach?I have linked links to my speeches below. Please understand, I started to speak after yearsof being told by investigators and government officials that I was a target of organizedcrime yet crickets. What does that tell you? This is my hometown and I personallyheard screams of a victim in broad daylight on 33rd Ave in Cedar Rapids last month andyet nothing is done. Reports are filed to all local lawenforcement and nothing is done.I urge you as a state representative to FIGHT Human Trafficking and FIGHT Corruptionin our state including organized crime, AntiSLAPPSUITS (as I am also currently avictim of this) for speaking out at city council. Passing laws that actually make Iowacitizens protected against the corrupt and powerful.I urge you to say WE can do better and NO to facilities like a another casino, especiallywhen its within a city with a proven record of unethical conduct and immoral criminalacts upon its very own citizens rights, especially women and children.We also have major issues STATEWIDE that need to be investigated as well of facilitiesand so called victim programs that PRETEND to help victims of abuse and trafficking. Itis well documented with evidence, that they do NOT and in fact participate in thesecrimes. We need 3rd party investigations especially on the ones that house children. WEin Iowa are FAILING.Please help Change Iowa and please help us save victims and SAVE CR from corruptionand organized crime.Any excuse of conflict of interest from anyone in our government from doing what isright for its citizens, especially children is disgusting and is criminal. PLEASE be apart ofthe change.Sincerely, a volleyball coach fighting for good,Melissa DuffieldPrecision One Volleyball99 We Stand (New entity being started) by MANY concerned citizens in CR3193105104https://www.tiktok.com/coachmofrog/video/7384614241224920350 ViralTikTok Speech to CR councilhttps://www.tiktok.com/coachmofrog/video/7281686700785405226Presentation of Evidence of Heather Adams to Councilhttps://www.tiktok.com/coachmofrog/video/739504900212054761540 Voices from CRALSO AN ARTICLE that the FBI is not even protecting Children and I can tell you ourlocal one FBI agent is not doing his job as many reports have been made on city ELITEand he has done nothing.https://www.theguardian.com/usnews/article/2024/aug/29/fbisuspectedchildsexualabuseoigreportARTICLE SHOWING I AM COOWNER yet I havent had my day in court to set footon what I built in 8 years and Malpractice was intentionally committed and depositionsshow that attorney said he did it because he didnt want to end up on the wrong side ofcertain people This facility is now called GameON/SandLot and is getting 3.8 million ayear from Scott Olson City of Cedar Rapidshttps://www.thegazette.com/recreation/melissaduffieldfindsheroasisincedarrapids/Cedar Rapids has many violations of citizens rights, especially rights of WOMEN andCHILDREN, please help clean up CR and cities like it in our state.For the Love of the Game,Coach MoMelissa DuffieldFounder & DirectorPrecision One Volleyball Associationwww.precisiononevolleyball.com3193105104