We appreciate your willingness to get behind this issue by writing a letter in its support. Please feel free to use the sample letter as your template and address it to the leaders below and mail at your earliest convenience. Helpful hint: just highlight the letter text and cut and paste it into your word processing program. Gerald Roper Dennis Gannon Chris Bowers "YES Chicago" 330 N. Michigan Av. Chicago, Il., 60611 Dear Messrs: I would like to offer my enthusiastic support of the 'YES Chicago" initiative to create a publicly-owned, land-based gaming development in downtown Chicago as part of a comprehensive, long-term economic development strategy that will benefit both the City and the State visitor industry. YES Chicago's unique vision, guided by the city's business, labor, civic and community leaders, will enhance Chicago's position as a world class national and international tourism and entertainment destination and provide additional opportunities to market the state as a whole to an entirely new stream of visitors. This vast new economic development strategy envisions marketing Chicago's attractions as a whole and will provide true and lasting economic benefits well beyond the annual net gain in revenues from gaming, including the generation of thousands of permanent new jobs. Further, a reduction in the gaming tax for existing boats could be accomplished from the new funding from the land-based gaming platform in downtown Chicago, benefiting Illinois' other gaming operations and increasing their revenues to the state. It is my hope that this dramatic new initiative will gain legislative approval - and I congratulate you on the creativity and vision enjoined in "YES CHICAGO," an idea whose time has come. Sincerely, ___________________   After successfully advocating for the restoration of tourism funding in the FY '05 State of Illinois budget, Visitors Mean Jobs is rededicating itself to other important issues. Please check back in the future and help us build on our already strong Illinois tourism economy. Jobs are at stake!