Millionaire Philadelphia Senator Vince Fumo attached an amendment to Senate Bill 862, a 149-page document that regulates and clarifies how gaming will be conducted in Pennsylvania, that requires the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to only consider Philadelphia zoning requirements when awarding the two casino licenses that will be given to the city.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled a section of the original gaming bill taking zoning control away from the city was unconstitutional. The legislature has since sought to put it back in. The city and many neighborhood groups fought to keep zoning control with the city. It was a request Fumo could not go along with.
Fumo said in a recent press release he believes authority over zoning issues should rest with the state, not the city, so that the building of casinos would not be delayed - maybe for years - by hangups in the city zoning process.
The press release said he worked closely with City Council members Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney. The Neighbors United to Re-elect Frank DiCicco has even started a Web site, www.fightforphilly.com, to circulate a petition asking the legislature to give Philadelphia greater zoning supervision over casinos.
"The City and its residents must maintain our ability to control this industry!" the site reads. "If Harrisburg succeeds, Philadelphians will have no say in how to protect our neighborhoods from the gaming industry."
Yet Fumo's amendment keeps zoning authority out of the hands of the city.
Fumo noted slot machine revenue will provide for tax relief around the state and wage tax cuts for Philadelphia workers. It will also put $24 million a year into the city treasury and provide debt relief for the Convention Center. Casinos will also be the source of new jobs, he claimed.
"It is important that we not permit those benefits to be delayed by a small handful of people who might have a different agenda than the larger community," Fumo said in his release.
Fumo's legislation does allow the city to sue the PGCB if it believes it has made a faulty decision.
Neighborhood groups have been outraged by the state's possible usurpation of local zoning. The United Riverfront Communities organized protests against the adoption of SB 862 all last week.
The group promises if the measure passes the House it will ask Governor Ed Rendell to veto. If he signs the legislation, they will demand the city challenge the measure in court.
State Representative Mike O'Brien criticized his legislative colleagues in the Senate Thursday saying, "While men and women of conscience stood on the capitol steps on Tuesday to stop gun violence, the Pennsylvania Senate passed legislation that is without conscience. Their actions cut deeper than just the loss of local zoning powers."
"Our state is sending a message to us that we should take our Home Rule Charter, stick it in a trash can, and burn it," Matt Ruben of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association complained.
Neighbors warn the bill blocks the Philadelphia Zoning Board and City Planning Commission from participating in the casino planning process. It also allows the City's Department of Licensing and Inspection to "observe" the casinos but not to apply any of the city building and safety codes. The also are angry about a provision that it believes would allow casinos to annex adjacent property and turn Columbus Boulevard into a Las Vegas style gambling strip.
The neighbors are furious the legislation allows the casinos to install large flashing, intensely lit, rotating billboards and believe those lights will destroy the character of their neighborhoods.
They additionally note the casinos will be allowed to hook up to city sewer, water and utilities at no charge.
Finally neighbors worry the legislation allows control over waterfront development to be turned over to the state and, eventually, casino owners.
Rev. Jesse Brown of the Multi-Community Alliance angrily declared, "I'm damned outraged. We can't stand around and let them undercut the democratic process and take away our authority to live in our neighborhoods. And if you don't think they will come after your house next, watch out."
RCU President Rene Goodwin called SB 862 "a despicable piece of stealth legislation."
"Are Philadelphia City Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney playing key roles in the grand diversion by establishing the 'Fight for Philly' campaign and Web site?" Goodwin asked. "By appearing to stand against those who would take away Philadelphia's development control, they're giving (Fumo) political cover. Will DiCicco and Kenney stand up and take a position counter to that of their political patron? Is it all a scam? The voting public needs to know the truth about the secretive actions of their elected officials."
As Philadelphia citizens worried about backroom deals in gaming legislation, a Haverford legislator is preparing an attempt to strike down a part of the bill that he believes is clearly corrupt.
State Rep. Greg Vitali (D - Haverford) is promising to introduce a bill repealing the portion of the state gaming law requiring Pennsylvania casinos to purchase their slot machines from in-state distributors.
The repeal effort is the result of a contest Vitali ran in his district called "This One's Gotta Go." The idea of the contest was to find out from voters what state laws they thought were unnecessary, too expensive, outdated or over restrictive.
William Siegl of Ardmore won by suggesting repealing the casino slot machine provision.
"I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Siegl's suggestion," Vitali declared. "Making Pennsylvania casinos purchase slot machines through special in-state distributors rather than directly from slots manufacturers adds expense and serves no legitimate purpose. Basically, it's a way to make sure a few politically connected Pennsylvanians get a piece of the financial pie."
Vitali promises to introduce the repeal legislation sometime in the next several weeks.
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