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Casino-Free Puts Declaration On Paper
  
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By Jenny DeHuff, The Bulletin
Philadelphia — One block from the corruption trial of former state Sen. Vince Fumo, the grassroots group Casino-Free Philadelphia staged a public demonstration to ask for support from local politicians yesterday.
More than 60 people shivered away the cold at 5th and Market streets as community organizers produced a mock Declaration of Independence from casinos in Philadelphia.
“This was a people’s moment to declare our independence and to set up the goals of the campaign,” said Paul Boni, attorney for the group. “We’re trying to find politicians who are willing to say that casinos are wrong for our city. We set out to educate and support any elected official that will stand with the people.”
Neighborhood opposition has halted casino development, even though slots revenues are supposed to help reduce the city’s burdensome wage tax.
Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., has threatened to deny Philadelphia tax relief if the city does not proceed with its casinos in a timely fashion. The tariffs from Pittsburgh’s casino, currently under construction, could sway the General Assembly to leave Philadelphia out of casino revenue tax cuts.
“We think the costs outweigh the benefits, so if Rendell makes good on his threat, Philadelphia would be the winner,” said Mr. Boni.
So far, says leaders of Casino-Free, politicians in Philadelphia or representing the city in Harrisburg have refused to take a stance on both the Foxwoods and SugarHouse facilities coming to the city.
Currently, SugarHouse has barely broken ground and is slowly under way in Fishtown/Northern Liberties, and Foxwoods is in the process of crafting a plan of development for the Gallery at Market East.
“We want to get these [politicians] on record,” said Mr. Boni. “We feel the time is right to put both casinos in a holding pattern.”
Other speakers included members of Asian Americans United, the anti-casino group composed of members who live in close proximity to the Center City casino development site.
According to Casino-Free, were it not for Philadelphia legislators, Act 71, the bill that made gambling possible, would never have had enough votes to pass. Rather, local lawmakers are apt to place blame on suburban politicians for orchestrating the gaming act.
“At this point, no one is celebrating or saying that casinos are good for Philadelphia,” said Jethro Heiko, coordinator of Casino-Free Philadelphia.
“They talk like it’s a done deal. We know that if more elected officials started looking at the data, they would see the hidden costs of predatory gambling.”
Neighborhood opposition has halted casino development, even though slots revenues are supposed to help reduce the city’s burdensome wage tax.
Gov. Ed Rendell has threatened to deny Philadelphia tax relief if the city does not proceed with its casinos in a timely fashion. Pittsburgh’s casino, currently under construction, could sway the General Assembly to leave Philadelphia out of casino revenue tax cuts.
“We think the costs outweigh the benefits, so if Rendell makes good on his threat, Philadelphia would be the winner,” said Mr. Boni.
To reach its goal, Casino-Free is working to recruit people in every legislative district to join the campaign, which will run to July 4. It plans to publish a manifesto in April aimed at explaining why casinos do not belong in Philadelphia. The group also has scheduled a series of town hall meetings, starting Feb. 18.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at jdehuff@thebulletin.us
More than 60 people shivered away the cold at 5th and Market streets as community organizers produced a mock Declaration of Independence from casinos in Philadelphia.
“This was a people’s moment to declare our independence and to set up the goals of the campaign,” said Paul Boni, attorney for the group. “We’re trying to find politicians who are willing to say that casinos are wrong for our city. We set out to educate and support any elected official that will stand with the people.”
Neighborhood opposition has halted casino development, even though slots revenues are supposed to help reduce the city’s burdensome wage tax.
Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., has threatened to deny Philadelphia tax relief if the city does not proceed with its casinos in a timely fashion. The tariffs from Pittsburgh’s casino, currently under construction, could sway the General Assembly to leave Philadelphia out of casino revenue tax cuts.
“We think the costs outweigh the benefits, so if Rendell makes good on his threat, Philadelphia would be the winner,” said Mr. Boni.
So far, says leaders of Casino-Free, politicians in Philadelphia or representing the city in Harrisburg have refused to take a stance on both the Foxwoods and SugarHouse facilities coming to the city.
Currently, SugarHouse has barely broken ground and is slowly under way in Fishtown/Northern Liberties, and Foxwoods is in the process of crafting a plan of development for the Gallery at Market East.
“We want to get these [politicians] on record,” said Mr. Boni. “We feel the time is right to put both casinos in a holding pattern.”
Other speakers included members of Asian Americans United, the anti-casino group composed of members who live in close proximity to the Center City casino development site.
According to Casino-Free, were it not for Philadelphia legislators, Act 71, the bill that made gambling possible, would never have had enough votes to pass. Rather, local lawmakers are apt to place blame on suburban politicians for orchestrating the gaming act.
“At this point, no one is celebrating or saying that casinos are good for Philadelphia,” said Jethro Heiko, coordinator of Casino-Free Philadelphia.
“They talk like it’s a done deal. We know that if more elected officials started looking at the data, they would see the hidden costs of predatory gambling.”
Neighborhood opposition has halted casino development, even though slots revenues are supposed to help reduce the city’s burdensome wage tax.
Gov. Ed Rendell has threatened to deny Philadelphia tax relief if the city does not proceed with its casinos in a timely fashion. Pittsburgh’s casino, currently under construction, could sway the General Assembly to leave Philadelphia out of casino revenue tax cuts.
“We think the costs outweigh the benefits, so if Rendell makes good on his threat, Philadelphia would be the winner,” said Mr. Boni.
To reach its goal, Casino-Free is working to recruit people in every legislative district to join the campaign, which will run to July 4. It plans to publish a manifesto in April aimed at explaining why casinos do not belong in Philadelphia. The group also has scheduled a series of town hall meetings, starting Feb. 18.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at jdehuff@thebulletin.us
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