Layoffs at Casino Aztar

Workers at Casino Aztar are facing more layoffs. Another 12 workers are losing their jobs. The Mayors office says they are middle level supervisors in the hotel and casino and the city is not happy about the news. The mayors office calls the most recent layoffs an example of Columbia Sussex thumbing its nose at the gaming commission. Its the second set of layoffs since Columbia Sussex took over at the beginning of the year. Since opening in 1995 Casino Aztar has been a staple in the revitalization of Evansvilles riverfront. But when Columbia Sussex took control of the company in january the relationship between the city and the casino started to falter. Columbia Sussex promised the gaming commission there would only be 20 initial layoffs, but last march the city learned there would be at least 70 in the first year and a half of ownership. The first signs of those layoffs are now showing with the elimination of 12 middle level supervisor positions in the hotel and the casino. They come during the middle of an investigation Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel called for in march when he learned layoffs could happen. Shortly after Columbia Sussex took over president and general manager Jim Brown resigned. When asked about layoffs he said the addition of the French Lick Resort and Casino is a reason. The Mayor says Columbia Sussex is still using French Lick as an excuse. In a statement the mayor says Columbia Sussex has proven that is not an excuse for cutting jobs. The Mayor goes on to say he looks forward to the gaming commission investigation regarding that issue and the layoffs because ultimately the issues the city has with the casino are up to the commission to resolve You can be sure this will not be the end of the battle between the city and Columbia Sussex until the results of that Gaming Commission investigation are released. Even then this may only be the beginning.