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2007-10-12 Webmaster's note: Governor Rendell has given up on his two month old effort to find new locations for the casinos
according to his October 9 letter to a South Philadelphia resident. Read this related story.
Other than write a couple of letters, it is unclear what the Governor
did to make good on his promise to neighborhood leaders to help move the casinos.
Mary Stumpf is currently leading a letter writing campaign asking Governor Rendell
what he did to help relocate the casinos before he gave up.
Governor Ed Rendell should stop gambling with the future of our neighborhoods.
Webster’s Dictionary defines a gamble as “an act or undertaking involving risk of a loss…”. Nowhere else in the country have gambling operators been permitted to place Las Vegas size casinos in the middle of residential neighborhoods.
Councilman Frank DiCicco wrote Governor Rendell on August 9 with a list of alternative sites the casinos could move to. To date, almost two months later, the Governor still hasn't responded to Councilman DiCicco's letter.
The Governor promised neighborhood leaders on August 3 that he would try to persuade the casinos to move. The Governor put only one condition on his aid: that he be provided with a list of alternative sites that would work for casino operators. Even though Councilman DiCicco met the Governor's condition, he and the 150,000 residents he represents still don't know what, if anything, the Governor did to persuade the casinos to move.
We deserve an answer from our governor, even if it's "No, I tried my best, but I can't help you." It's time to demand answers from Governor Rendell.
Dear Governor Rendell:
You promised neighborhood leaders you would try to persuade the casinos to relocate if somebody came to you with suitable sites. Councilman DiCicco provided you with such a list on August 9, but to date neither the Councilman nor the 150,000 people he represents have heard back from you.
I ask you to do the following by October 12, 2007 at the latest:
Thank you for your past support of Philadelphia's neighborhoods and for the families and children who live in them. Please let me know if you can accommodate my request for action on your part.
Using GIS (computer mapping) technology Hallwatch was able to find many sites that had far fewer people living next to them than the sites selected by Foxwoods and SugarHouse.
According to this Hallwatch presentation there were 459 alternative sites for the casinos where fewer than 200 people lived within 1500 ft. By comparison 5,855 and 3,808 people live within 1500 ft of Foxwoods and SugarHouse respectively.
Because the Foxwoods' site is located next to a residential area, it has many churches and schools (shown as yellow icons). 5800 people live within 1500' of the site selected by Foxwoods. The Navy yard site occupies 53 acres within an unused tract of 250 acres. It has excellent connections to I-95 and has no people living within 1500 ft. of it. The housing on the Naval Yard site is abandoned judging by the complete lack of cars parked there.
| Site Selected by Foxwoods Casino 5,855 people within 1500 ft. |
Alternative Site Identified by Hallwatch 0 people within 1500 ft. |
|---|---|
| Reed and Columbus | Navy Yard |
Because the SugarHouse site is located next to a residential area, it has many churches and schools (indicated by yellow icons). Over 3800 people live within 1500' of the SugarHouse Casino site. By contrast, the Wheatsheaf site, which occupies 23 acres in an industrial area of Port Richmond, has few nearby churches, schools or residences. It has excellent connections to I-95 and has just 129 people living within 1500 ft. of it.
| Site Selected by the SugarHouse Casino 3,808 people within 1500 ft. |
Alternative Site Identified by Hallwatch 129 people within 1500 ft. |
|---|---|
| 1015 N. Delaware Ave. | Wheatsheaf and Aramingo |
As Councilman Frank DiCicco said on his Fight for Philly website, “When the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued gaming licenses to SugarHouse and Foxwoods Casinos, I pledged to my constituents that I would fight their decision with every tool I had available. That’s exactly what I’ve done but the bottom line is that we need the Governor’s help.”
Thanks for taking the time to ask Governor Rendell what he has done to help move the casinos.
Mary Stumpf, Faxbank Manager
marstum @ gmail.com
