November 20, 2007
Dear Editor,
Re: Guest essay: Slot machines benefit Pa. in many ways
Gaming in Pennsylvania is not a rosy picture as Ms. Colins has painted for your readers. Act 71, the Pennsylvania gaming law, has granted casinos licenses at two of the worst possible locations in Philadelphia. These developments threaten to destroy some of Philadelphia’s highest valued and most historic neighborhoods.
Neighborhood opposition to these locations has been fierce and nearly unanimous. Despite well over a year of consistent opposition the City, State and the casinos themselves continue to wage war on the neighborhoods by refusing to talk about re-siting these facilities. This is the first time casinos have been placed in densely populated thriving city neighborhoods and we don’t want to be the gaming industry’s experiment!
This will be a huge experiment at the expense of our neighborhoods. They can be just as effective at generating revenue at alternate, unopposed locations in the city. The sooner these locations are found the sooner they can be built and start generating revenue.
We have asked and we have begged for assistance. We are now heavily fortified and ready to fight this to the end. My neighbors an I ask Ms. Colins, the rest of the Gaming Control Board and the state as a whole to stand with us to save our neighborhoods and find other locations where these are not opposed.
We will not back down as long as casinos are planned for the central Delaware riverfront in Philadelphia or any location where they are opposed by neighbors. We have delayed them since the licenses were awarded on December 20, 2006, nearly a year ago Even if these are built we will fight them until they are shut down. Period. If they are moved out of neighborhoods that oppose them they will be built and open in peace.
While I can’t speak first hand for the situation across Pennsylvania I urge your readers to look more deeply into gaming in Pennsylvania. My and my neighbor’s experience has taught that the process is deeply flawed and has the potential to leave permanent, damaging scars on Pennsylvania and its people.
Morgan Jones
Fistown (Philadelphia) Resident
FAST (Fishtown Against Sugarhouse Takeover)
http://fishtownagainstsugarhouse.org