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Home > Write Your Elected Officials > No licensing of casinos for at least one year
From:DM
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Representative Keller, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Monday, 01/01/07
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell, State Representative and city council
members: There has got to be a better way to generate revenue
for the city of Philadelphia. Each of you should ask yourself,
in good conscience, if you would want to live in a neighborhood
with a casino down the street.

I moved to Philadelphia in 1987 and have seen great
improvements since then. The ability to live in a city that
retains a neighborhood feel is the reason i've stayed. I like
living here. I'm afraid that living 2 blocks away from Foxwood
will ruin what is unique about Phila. I work in Yardley and
will have to deal with the traffic created by two casinos
EVERYDAY.

The very character of my neighborhood will be forever altered,
and in my opinion, not for the better.

It couldn't be more painfully obvious that the sites picked are
in the WORST locations of all 5. I can't help but think that
the reasons these sites were picked are based on political
influence.

Why can two casinos be with 3 miles of each other yet a site
like the Navy Yard is not considered because it is with 8 miles
of a racino?

Why have the people this will effect the most been ignored or a
best a pretence of being heard.

Why did we spend all this time, effort and money on even having
a selection process when the studies are ignored?

Why don't we have the support of our political representatives?

I'm very disheartened about the process, concerned about the
changes and NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP to try and preserve the very
character that makes Phila a place where I want to live.

I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE CASINO SITE SELECTION AND THE
PROCESS USED TO DETERMINE IT.

Thank you

Dianne Mayer





From:JDVD
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Friday, 12/29/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

I am most opposed to the planned Foxwoods Casino for several
important reasons. First, Foxwoods' placement in South Philly
will severely impact traffic and commerce at the maritime
terminals. Columbus Blvd. is often at a standstill now. Adding
another 5,000 cars a day will cause gridlock.

Second, the planned relocation of Wal-Mart and Home Depot to an
area near the Packer Ave. Terminal will disrupt much needed
expansion of the Port down towards the Navy Yard. This relocation
will be necessary to accomodate Foxwoods' planned expansion for a
hotel, shops and restaurants.

Will a few thousand low paying gamning jobs be a good substitute
for a thriving port and high wage longshore jobs? Let's step back
for a year and do the proper due diligence regarding the impact
to the local community and traffic congestion that the Gaming
Board should have done in the first place.

Sincerely,
The Rev. James D. Von Dreele
Executive Director
Seamen's Church Institute of Philadelphia & South Jersey


From:SG
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Representative Josephs, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Friday, 12/29/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

The process that has awarded the licenses in Philadelphia and
around the state has suffered from public input and democratice
processes. Because of the stakes, the process should now be
slowed and the award of licenses held off for one year.


From:L
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Wednesday, 12/27/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

I met you once, and you seemed like an upright guy to me.
I always figured that you would do right by the Philly
folks.
Has something gone wrong? I always thought that my up and
coming neighborhood of Pennsport would be a great place to
live.
Now there's a casino coming in and a chance that I may loose
my home to a traffic ramp!
Please, tell me this isn't happening to me!
-Laura Compton


From:JS
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Wednesday, 12/20/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell, Mayor Street, Council Members, Elected
Officials, and Members of the PA Gaming Board:

With the announcement today of Foxwoods (3 blocks from my home) as one of the
two winners of the casino bid, I became physically ill. My husband and I moved to
this neighborhood over two years ago from the Jersey suburbs to take advantage of
city life and the excitement that a real Philly neighborhood could offer.

Why weren't we and our neighbors ever consulted as to where and how we wanted
our waterfront developed? I had hoped to leave our lovely home to our daughter,
who might raise children in this terrific spot - but now I would counsel her against
doing that. The traffic, crime, danger of drunk drivers 24/7 that we will be heir to,
as well as the hard fact that we have sold out to the cheapness of American vice -
this is criminal.

Please, give our neighborhood a chance to talk back. I ask you to postpone licensing
until there is meaningful public input where we -- the public,
not some unelected officials in Harrisburg -- decide how we
want our neighborhoods to look and if we want casinos as part
of them.

Thank you,
Judith Sachs and Anthony Bruno


From:MA
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Wednesday, 12/20/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

No one wants a casino in their zip code. It is time to abandon
this once worthwhile idea for potential tax revenue via a
casino. Atlantic City continues to erode is communities via
street crime and prostitution. DO YOU REALLY WANT YOUR
POLITICAL LEGACY TO BE INTERTWINED WITH THE TACKY CASINO THAT
RUINED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR GENERATIONS IN SOUTH PHILLY??

Mahmut Aydin
South Philadelphia


From:PG
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Tuesday, 12/19/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell, Mayor Street, Council Members, Elected
Officials, and Members of the PA Gaming Board:

During the course of what can only be described as an illegal
odyssey toward the establishment of casinos in Philadelphia, I
have been appalled by the total lack of regard and respect for
public input in the process.


For the communities closest to the proposed sites, these
casinos will mark the end of neighborhood life as we know it.
Our children will not have the opportunity to grow up in the
neighborhoods we have come to know and love -- neighborhoods
that we have helped transform into viable options for those
wanting to live in the city. Increased traffic and increased
crime will force parents to think differently about having
their children play in the neighborhood playgrounds and
ballfields.

We urgently call on you to move to stop the December 20th
licensing of the Philadelphia casinos. The process has been
illegitimate from the beginning. Please halt all licensing
until there is meaningful public input where we -- the public,
not some unelected officials in Harrisburg -- decide how we
want our neighborhoods to look and if we want casinos as part
of them.

Regards,
Patty Griffin
223 Wharton Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147


From:MD
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Tuesday, 12/19/06
Subject:   No casinos on Delaware Ave.

Dear Governor Rendell, et all:

I am writing to ask you please do what you can to put a stop to building a casino on
the Riverwalk. For as long as I can remember, developing the river front has been a
Philadelphia issue. Poor planning of highways have cut off the river front from the
city which doen't help. Projects have started and died, Businesses have closed, piers
have collapsed. I have always longed for a well-planned, gorgeous river front similar
to that of Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
I believe a casino in that area takes the City of Philadelphia further from a positive
River Front effort. Casino's, while fun and proftable for the city, attract seedy
clientele and spawn equally seedy business establishments. Believe me, Philadelphia
is not in need of even more seediness. With the murder rate in the city climbing out
of control, has anyone even though about how a gambling venue will add to crimial
behavor and ultimately more violence?
As a resident of this area, I can tell you that the roads cannot handle the amount of
traffic that a Casino will generate. Same was true about building a "big box store"
shopping center in South Philly on Delaware Ave but they built it anyway. Now the
traffic on Del. Ave is horrendous. Another attraction on that road would be
devastating to the everyday life of the residents of Philadelphia.
I love this city and I hope to live here as long as possible. I'm not saying a casino
can't be in the city limits (closer than Philadelphia park, I mean) l'm just saying let's
be smart about where we put it. Suggestion: The new stadiums could really use
some nice hotels/casinos around them to make it a destination for travelers. Now
it's just a cluster of stadiums with nothing else to do around them for miles. Of
course extending the broad street line would be smart too.
Thank you for looking out for the City and the PEOPLE in the city's best interest. Go
Eagles and have a happy and healthy New Year!
Sincerely,
Matt Davis


From:J
To:Mr. Angeli, Councilman Clarke, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Representative Oliver, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Sunday, 12/17/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:


Why must Philadelphia have Casinos? Why can't they find themselves in Bucks,
Montgomery, Chester, and Delware County, I'll tell you why because their
communities do not want them and their representatives do not want them in fear
of losing their voters support. Better yet why not put the casino in East Falls?

Now the city that put you in two terms as Mayor and now governor is asking for it's
political favor back. You do all sorts of favors for those that you feel you owe for
getting you into office so now it's time to hear us and do what ever you need to do
to push them somewhere else.

This city and it's people are tired of seeing the towns around us building businesses
and job opportunities, large shopping malls, which turn out more taxes for their
communities which leads to better government services. Is your casino deal a pay
back to the people of the city? If it is you can have it back. You haven't done
anything for this town but break promises and this just another one.

We're not as dumb as some of the elected officials, Fumo, Diccio, Rendell, think we
are. The jobs promised are less than desirable and the tax advantages being
promised are on how well the casino do. $1billion benchmark? How incredible.
Atlantic City is still in pearl and the casinos have been there for years. You can't go
one block west without taking your life in your hands. How did the casinos help
those people. It didn't it all goes back to the fat cats.

The only promising jobs that i see out of this is possibly a board of directors seat
for you and Fumo. It might not be today but it will be in four years.

As for the casinos the city can't afford them. We have enough crime without having
to bring more into the city when there is unlimited drinking, I guess that is a favor
to the liquor association who you promised that the state liquor stores would be
privatized, prositution, drugs. I ask who is going to police them? The philadelphia
police department they have their hands full with other citizen concerns like making
our streets safe without having to babysit your casino venture.

I have to ask when do you pay back your political favor to those that elected and
relected you for 8 years of self service because i have not seen any public servie
from you yet.

WE WANT OUR POLITICAL FAVOR RETURNED FOR OUR LOYALITY FOR THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS. WE'RE WAITNG.



From:MBM
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilwoman Miller, Representative Parker, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street, Senator Washington
Date:Sunday, 12/17/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

You did very good work to pull the City of Philadelphia out from fiscal disaster
during your time as mayor. Today Center City is vibrant in so many better ways than
in the past. But your persistent support for casino gambling in Philadelphia has
disappointed me. When you were Mayor, you were unsuccessful in your attempt to
bring "riverboat" gambling to Penn's Landing. Yet, as Governor, you have managed
to put the city at grave risk by pushing casinos inland, into residential
neighborhoods--even the neighborhood that is your own residence in Philadelphia.
I understand your incentives to bring revenue into the Commonwealth, but casino
gambling is not the way forward.

After many years of public service, your views are clear about your unconditional
support for casino gambling in Philadelphia. But I write this letter so that you know
that you are opposing the good interests of city residents who have valid reasons to
feel threatened by casino development.

Here are copies of letters that I wrote to describe my reasons for opposing casinos
in Philadelphia:

December 17, 2006

Dear Mayor Street and City Council Members who represent the interests of my
community:

I urge you to make every effort on behalf of your constituents to stop the casino
developments in the City of Philadelphia. The casinos will increase serious problems
of crime and vice; problems that the city already experiences but cannot eradicate.
The city has improved in recent years and needs to maintain that momentum. We
need to encourage business development that will create excellent employment
opportunities for all of its residents--employment with living wages and health
benefits. This city can do better. The Mayor's Office and City Council are our elected
representatives who need to defend and improve quality of life for all of the city's
residents.

The following is a copy of a letter that I sent to my community newspaper about this
issue. It describes the reasons why I oppose casino development in Philadelphia.

December 6, 2006

Dear Chestnut Hill Local,

I am writing in support of a letter from Bernadette Soltis, Inquirer Clueless on
Casinos, which appeared in the Local on December 7, 2006. As a resident of the
Northwest section of Philadelphia, I deeply oppose the TrumpStreet casino
development in East Falls. I also oppose casino gambling anywhere else in the City
of Philadelphia. I object because urban decay and poverty in Atlantic City became
worse after casino gambling was introduced there in the early 1980’s. Then, as now
in Philadelphia, casinos were promoted as an economic engine that would cure
Atlantic City of its urban ills; instead, poverty and despair intensified.

The community of Chestnut Hill has a long history of vigorously defending its
“village” charms against the threats of urban decay that damage quality of life in the
less advantaged neighborhoods along the “lower” parts of Germantown Avenue. I
am surprised that Chestnut Hill seems so disinterested about casino gambling,
especially since the Hill is located so close to East Falls. This week the New York
Times published a description of far-reaching social and economic distress caused
by Atlantic City casinos:


"In the 25 years since legalized gambling helped transform Atlantic City from a
faded resort to a popular destination for weekend slots players, casino companies
have reaped immense profits, but the city itself has experienced both boom and
bust. Thirty-four million tourists come each year, pumping billions of dollars into
the local economy and providing more than 45,000 jobs.

That economy has evolved into a two-tiered system catering to the addicted. Inside
the casinos, where prostitutes work the sprawling halls, betting is legal and the
state has even exempted gamblers from its indoor smoking ban. On the sketchy
streets outside, sex and drugs are sold openly, around the clock, as dozens of
prostitutes prowl the avenues and side streets just off the Boardwalk offering sexual
encounters for as little as $10 — the price of a rock of crack cocaine and a five-
minute high.

What has emerged in the days since the bodies were discovered in a spongy strip of
land between the Black Horse Pike and the Atlantic City Expressway is that each of
the four women came to Atlantic City to escape something: abusive relationships,
relatives who objected to their drug habits, or street life in other cities considered to
be more dangerous.

Once they were here, their drug-fueled descent landed them on the lowest rung in
Atlantic City’s social order, a strip of rundown motels just outside of town where
prostitutes are so desperate to feed their habits that rocks of crack cocaine are the
preferred method of payment.

“These problems have been coming up the pike from Atlantic City and have been for
years,” said James J. McCullough, the mayor of neighboring Egg Harbor Township,
where the four slain women were found. “We are feeling a lot of frustration and a
certain degree of helplessness.”



[Kocieniewski D, Kovaleski SF: In glittery Atlantic City, 4 Walked Deadly Path; New
York Times, 5 Dec 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/nyregion/
05slay.html?_r=1&oref=slogin]



The residents of Philadelphia need to understand that our city has already been
pummeled by government corruption and the poverty that thrive here. The example
of Atlantic City looms as a cautionary tale. The Jack Abramoff-Ralph Reed Indian
gambling scandal is another recent example of how government corruption paves
the way for profiteering at the expense of vulnerable communities. Certainly there
are greater opportunities for development at the Budd site that will create quality
employment with living wages and healthcare benefits. And since the Philadelphia
Inquirer cannot be trusted because of its leadership’s conflict of interest on this
issue, I look to the Chestnut Hill Local as a vital, independent voice that will stand
up for Philadelphia’s communities against the threats related to casino gambling.


From:MP
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street, Senator Tartaglione, Representative Taylor
Date:Friday, 12/15/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

Please consider delaying the whole casino issue for at least one
year. We live in the Fishtown/Kensington area. We moved here
four years ago to live in a regular neighborhood. We are
planning to open a theatre on Frankford Avenue and offer classes
to the youth of the community and to involve the community in
arts which is a real need here. To have casinos, which means
people come only for money, will totally change the character of
our neighborhood. WE DON'T WANT IT!
Thanks.


From:GG
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Representative Keller, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Friday, 12/15/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell, Mayor Street, State Representatives,
State Senators and Members of the Gaming Control Board:

In reality, the decision to impose casinos on the citizens of
Pennsylvania is a horrendous move. It is so clear that the
negatives outweigh the benefits same as it was clear to anyone
with any degree of intelligence that waging war on Iraq would
turn into the fiasco that it has. This may seem like an extreme
comparison but it is very clear. Can't you see how bad this
will be? The amount of money returned to the citizens is
minuscule compared to what stands to be made and the damage
that will be caused. Be real, this is about unbridled greed and
not what's best for Pennsylvania.

Casinos will rip apart the very fabric of our neighborhoods. If
you all think Casinos are such a great boon to the State of
Pennsylvania, why don't you look for sites in your
neighborhoods. Chestnut Hill and The Art Museum Area would be
great locations for casinos!

Myself and many of your constituents are turning into single
issue voters around the case of casinos. I will not vote for
anyone who supports casino gambling in Pennsylvania and at this
point, at least ask for 12 months to consider how this can be
bettered handled with more input from citizens.

For months the PA Gaming Control Board excluded citizens
from "public" hearings and limited how long we could talk or
submit our written comments. We had more to say, but they were
done listening to us. Based on a recent study 98% of our
written comments to the board said "no to casinos."

Yet the PA Gaming Control Board stayed the course, ignoring
public concern and Philadelphia City Council's resolution
asking for more public input. We asked for them to make public
the updated casino's traffic plans, architectural renderings,
and other documents about the impact in our neighborhoods.

They kept the documents secret, claiming confidentiality, then
security concerns, and then finally that they did not have the
time. The documents they have begun releasing, only at the 11th
hour, are over two months old.

On December 11th, citizens from around the state have moved
from asking the PA Gaming Control Board to do the right thing,
to helping them do the right thing. Through a Citizen's
Document Search they are attempting to liberate the secret
documents. We are writing to show our support for them.

This direct action is just the beginning. Licensing is just
Round 1 of a long struggle if this botched process moves
forward. We are committed to protect our city and our
neighborhoods and stand with those in Harrisburg who are right
now standing up for democracy and true transparency.

The time of talk is over.

We urgently call on you to move to stop the December 20th
licensing of the Philadelphia casinos. The process has been
illegitimate from the beginning. Please halt all licensing
until there is meaningful public input where we -- the public,
not some unelected officials in Harrisburg -- decide how we
want our neighborhoods to look and if we want casinos as part
of them.

Sincerely and Urgently yours,

Glenn Groves
South Philadelphia


From:DS
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:
As someone who was elected twice largely on the approval of the
city of Philadelphia, your decision to move forward with
gambling as a means to "enhance the city" - despite persistant
protest from the majority of residents- is shortsighted at
best, and destructive at worst. In fact, I agree with
Councilman DiCicco' statements, "I don't believe the board has
all the information it needs to make an adequate decision,"
DiCicco said. "If they make the wrong one, it could ruin the
city of Philadelphia."

I also agree with the councilman that the Gaming Board delay
its decision for at least 12 months for additional public
review and to give the city's Central Delaware Waterfront
Advisory Group time to come up with a development plan for the
riverfront.

Sincerely,

David A. Schernecke
922 S. 2nd Street-Queen Village
Philadelphia, PA 19147






From:AF
To:Mr. Angeli, Councilman Clarke, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

Here's your big chance to do the right thing; Give
Philadelphia a break for one year on the casinos. You know
it's not only unfair to shove the casinos down Philadelphia's
throat but also undemocratic.
WE elected you to do a great job for US. Now is the time for
you to go to work...FOR US!
LISTEN TO YOUR VOTERS; No casinos for one year. You can do
it! Voters will not be able to trust you if you don't step up
to the plate now.
Good luck Ed & thankyou for you consideration,
Anne Foresman
mother, wife, business owner, Fishtown resident


From:MS
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

As reported by Pennlive.com:

Gov. Ed Rendell, at an unrelated news conference at the Capitol
yesterday, defended the board's policies (to ignore the concerns
of Philadelphians), saying it has considered and will consider
the opinions of neighbors of the proposed casinos. He attributed
much of the suspicions expressed by groups such as Casino Free
Philadelphia to a "fear of the unknown."

Governor, maybe that is the point. Casino Free Philadelphia is
speaking for the communities that know they will be impacted but
have been given no information by the PGCB to reduce their fear
of the inevitable. Why haven't the communities been more
involved in the process. Mainly because the process is corrupt
from the get-go. As my grandfather always said, "What ever
smells going in will certainly smell coming out."

Also from the same report:

"I think that the placement of the casinos will be done in a way
that will wind up enhancing neighborhoods," Rendell said.

Are you serious? Is there something you know that we don't
know? Have the decisions been made already? In my view the only
way my neighborhood can be enhanced by the placement of casinos
is if the casinos are placed as far away as possible. Pity
those who will find themselves near it though.

There is a sign on a local bike shop that says, "We screw
everyone and pass the savings on to you." This perfectly
describes how casinos are being forced on us. You are screwing
everyone and passing the so called tax savings on to a chosen
few. It is a bad deal for the city and you should delay any
decision until the neighborhoods are convinced it is the right
thing to do.

Governor, why don't you come to our neighborhood and convince us
it is a good deal. Come meet us to talk.

Thanks,

Mike Seidenberg


From:CM
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

From: Christopher G. Manos, President, Cranium Digital

To: Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman
DiCicco, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee,
Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative
Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos,
Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr.
Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street, Senator Tartaglione

Date: Thursday, 12/14/06

Subject:    No Licensing Of Casinos For At Least One Year!

Dear Governor Rendell:

No public input means no deal.

For too long, the PA Gaming Control Board has excluded us
from "public" hearings. They have even limited us, "the
rabble", in how long we could talk or submit our written
comments.

We had more to say, but they stopped listening to us.

Based on a recent study, 98% of our written
comments to the board said "no to casinos."

Yet the PA Gaming Control Board stayed the course,
ignoring public concern and Philadelphia City Council's
resolution asking for more public input.

We have requested that they make public the updated
casino's traffic plans, architectural renderings, and other
documents about the impact in our neighborhoods.

The PA Gaming Board has kept these documents secret,
claiming confidentiality, then security concerns, and then
finally that they did not have the time. All just EXCUSES.

The documents they have begun releasing, only at the 11th
hour, are over two months old. Thanks for the prompt
response!

This week, citizens from around the state have moved from
asking the PA Gaming Control Board to do the right thing, to
helping them do the right thing. Through a Citizen's
Document Search they are attempting to liberate the secret
documents.

I am writing to show my support for them.

This direct action is just the beginning. Licensing is just
Round 1 of a long struggle if this botched process moves
forward.

I am committed to protecting our city and our neighborhoods
and standing with those in Harrisburg who are right now
standing up for democracy and true transparency.

The time of talk is over.

I urgently call on you to move to stop the December 20th
licensing of the Philadelphia casinos.

The process has been illegitimate from the beginning.

Please halt all licensing - until there is meaningful public
input where we -- the public, not some unelected officials in
Harrisburg -- decide how we want our neighborhoods to
look - and if we want casinos as part of them.

I assure you most do not want the casinos - and the most
troubling issue - YOU KNOW THIS IS TRUE!

Sincerely,
Christopher G. Manos

P.S: For an even more comprehensive list of the disasters
leading up to where we are now, check out Marc Stier's
recent blog piece.

He names the nine ways this shows a broken political
process, including the lack of planning and our
disappointing lack of political leadership.

It's time to turn that tide around.


From:RY
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Representative Keller, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   What are you thinking with this casino thing??

Dear Governor Rendell:

As someone who was elected largely on the approval of the city of
Philadelphia, your decision to move forward with gambling as a
means to "revive the city" - despite persistant protest from a
majority of citizen voters- is shortsighted at best, and
destructive at worst.

Lets talk about casinos for a sec. When you were in high school,
looking to make some money, and your parents told you to find
work, did they mean for you to try to double your money at the
craps table? No, they meant find a legit job. That's what we need
to provide for Philadelphia, and the state. Real jobs that
support other real jobs, not jobs that support a regressive tax
on the poor, or slot parlors.

It's time Philadelphia got back into the game as a production
capital of the nation (remember Philco?), cleaned up our traffic
and mass transit situation, took care of our schools, planted
some more trees, and eliminated graft, corruption, and kickbacks
in city government.

Ed, I've got to say, I love you man, but you've got your head up
your ass on this one.

Sincerely,

Robert Young

1616 S. 8th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147


From:JS
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

Casinos are a bad idea for Philadelphia, period. They encourage
alcoholism and gambling addiction, and will siphon business away
from the cultural life of our city, including theatres and
restaurants. They will incur huge costs in downgrading the safety
of neighborhoods and bringing traffic into areas already too
congested.

There should be at least a one year moratorium on licensing while
the citizens of Philadelphia can make an educated decision. And
if we decide that we want no casinos within our borders, that
must be our right.
Sincerely,
Jerry Silberman


From:L
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Senator Fumo, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street, Representative Taylor
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:


I am writing to ask you to postpone the licensing of any gaming
applications for at least one year. We need time to allow for
public input and an opportunity to truly study the impact on our
communities and quality of life in Philadelphia.

Slot Parlors will have a massive impact on our city for a
very long time. Rushing the process has blocked citizens from
their basic right to control their own neighborhoods. Do the
right thing. Let the communities have a say, let the city
be prepared.

Please delay the licensing for a year to give us more time to
assess the impacts and get all the information we need.

Thank you


From:JR
To:Mr. Angeli, Ms. Colins, Mr. Coy, Mr. Decker, Councilman DiCicco, Councilman Goode, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Representative Lederer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCabe, Councilman Ramos, Governor Rendell, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Mr. Rivers, Councilman Rizzo, Mayor Street, Senator Tartaglione
Date:Thursday, 12/14/06
Subject:   No licensing of casinos for at least one year

Dear Governor Rendell:

No public input means no deal.

For months the PA Gaming Control Board excluded us from "public"
hearings and limited us in how long we could talk or submit our
written comments. We had more to say, but they were done
listening to us. Based on a recent study 98% of our written
comments to the board said "no to casinos."

Yet the PA Gaming Control Board stayed the course, ignoring
public concern and Philadelphia City Council's resolution asking
for more public input. We asked for them to make public the
updated casino's traffic plans, architectural renderings, and
other documents about the impact in our neighborhoods.

They kept the documents secret, claiming confidentiality, then
security concerns, and then finally that they did not have the
time. The documents they have begun releasing, only at the 11th
hour, are over two months old.

Today, December 11th, citizens from around the state have moved
from asking the PA Gaming Control Board to do the right thing, to
helping them do the right thing. Through a Citizen's Document
Search they are attempting to liberate the secret documents. We
are writing to show our support for them.

This direct action is just the beginning. Licensing is just Round
1 of a long struggle if this botched process moves forward. We
are committed to protect our city and our neighborhoods and stand
with those in Harrisburg who are right now standing up for
democracy and true transparency.

The time of talk is over.

We urgently call on you to move to stop the December 20th
licensing of the Philadelphia casinos. The process has been
illegitimate from the beginning. Please halt all licensing until
there is meaningful public input where we -- the public, not some
unelected officials in Harrisburg -- decide how we want our
neighborhoods to look and if we want casinos as part of them.

Urgently yours,
James Robinson

ps: For an even more comprehensive list of the disasters leading
up to where we are now, I invite you to check out Marc Stier's
recent blog piece. He names the nine ways this shows a broken
political process, including the lack of planning and our
disappointing lack of political leadership. It's time to turn
that tide around.

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