If you have time, please volunteer on or before May 15th.

A lot has happened since Sprague and Sugarhouse handily invalidated our 27,000 signatures.

DiCicco and city council voted unanimously to support the referendum. They then voted unanimously to overrule the Mayor’s veto of the referendum. Subsequently the building trades pledged to not support any incumbent councilperson. Supporting the referendum not once but twice took a lot of courage on the part of city council. It is, however, unprecedented and we are in an election year. We need to look at the incumbents and decide if they are truly in this fight or just bowing to public opinion. There are some strong challengers and the hard fight is just beginning.

The PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB) successfully convinced the State Supreme Court to put a temporary injunction on the referendum. The ballots are reportedly already printed. If the injunction sticks Philadelphia voters will mostly likely see “removed by court order” over question one on the ballot.

It is unbelievable that the PGCB, a state agency, would sue the city over this issue. It suggests that the PGCB has a stake in this beyond regulation. In particular it suggest that perhaps they’re afraid the people will have a say. Perhaps a member or members of the PGCB have a greater interest in gaming in PA than their role would suggest.

Discussion that a state agency shouldn’t take this much stake in law making aside, there is a national and local precedent for the state overruling city. The solution, of course, is to take the movement to Harrisburg. The next step is to convince our state representatives to change the law on the state level.

How do we move to Harrisburg? The short answer is to mobilize on a state level as we’ve done on a city level and let state legislators hear our voice just as we did with our city legislators.

The first step is allowing the people to vote on May 15th whether the state condones it or not. You will have an opportunity to vote on the referendum on May 15th. Foremost it’s important that you vote both at your polling place and, if there is not a phillysballotbox location there, seek one out to be sure your voice is heard.

Second, if you have any time on or before May 15th, go to phillysballotbox.com and pledge to help. It’s important.

Harrisburg’s next, we’re going to need help.