August 28, 2007

Dear Editor:

Re: “Citing delays, casinos balk at fees” in Daily News 8/28/07

This article is a perfect illustration of why re-siting is in the casino operators’ best interest. Many of us are neither anti-casino nor anti-gaming. We are more than happy for the casinos to relocate to sites in the city that are outside of neighborhoods or in neighborhoods where they are wanted.

We are not looking to directly hurt the operators or inflict financial harm, we are protecting our homes and neighborhoods. This is a perfect opportunity for the casinos to ask for new sites. The casino operators can easily get their facilities open and effect the decision of city council: they can work with neighborhoods and the city to re-site to friendly locations. This is not a vendetta against casinos, it’s a vendetta against casino locations near our homes.

In retrospect it might have been a good idea for the gaming applicants to talk to the neighborhoods before they invested in these sites. If they had searched the city for friendly sites years ago their facilities would be built by now.

I and many of my colleagues will never back down as long as casinos are planned for the central Delaware riverfront or any location where they are opposed by neighbors. Even if these are built we will continue to oppose them until they are shut down. Period. If you move them out of neighborhoods that oppose them they will be built and open in peace.

Morgan Jones
Fishtown resident
FAST (Fishtown Against Sugarhouse Takeover)