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Majority supports casino at North Philly meeting
By Ed Goppelt
Tuesday, 03/07/06
(1141740487143)
North Philadelphia residents cautiously embraced the idea of a casino
in their neighborhood at a recent public meeting. In an informal show
of hands, a majority of those present indicated they support a casino
in their neighborhood.
About 150 people turned out to learn about the TrumpStreet casino and other economic development planned for the old Budd site.
Tioga United and Allegheny West organized the February 23 meeting. Meeting organizer Verna Tyner of Tioga United said that the preliminary indications are that her community favors the casino, but with strong conditions.
70% of meeting attendees expressed support for the casino in a written survey collected after the meeting. Of the 40 people who completed Tioga United's survey, 28 support the casino, 6 oppose and 6 are concerned according to Tyner.
"The majority of people I talk to is for it," said Raymond McFee. "They are for giving our youth something to do, they are for getting a new building, getting a trade, for community development, for new lights and sidewalks."
Ralph Wynder disagreed. Wynder heads the Multi-Community Alliance, a coalition of 25 organizations which has spearheaded the community's negotiations with Trump.
"We know our communities are in disarray today. But don't make the mistake of thinking it can't get worse," said Wynder. "Gambling just as drugs is a form of addiction," said Wynder.
90% of 1000 attendees at 4 recent MCA meetings opposed the casino according to Wynder. "Mercy had 400 people, Rhodes school 300, other meetings 200 and 100 so we feel... MCA had to represent the sentiment we are opposed to gambling in this community."
Trump VP Santoro acknowledged that casinos may encourage compulsive gambling: "We know that a certain percentage of the population has problems with gambling, alcohol, drugs"
He said compulsive gambling was adequately addressed by Trump's "responsible gaming" policy. "We're happy to say it works and that we're responsible," said Santoro.
Audience member Bill Kearney disagreed. "There is not one safeguard to protect our loved ones and family members from becoming compulsive gambling degenerates," said Kearney.
Kearney asked Santoro whether Trump would support legislation requiring casinos to send monthly statements to patrons detailing their gambling losses.
Santoro said there was no need as patrons can print out a statement of their losses by going to a kiosk.
Santoro invited meeting attendees to read Trump's responsible gaming policy, but his office was unable to provide Hallwatch with a copy of the policy after the meeting.
Meeting participants discussed the future of the Randolph Skill Center which would be located right next door to the casino. "I'm concerned about a casino being close to a high school," said one woman.
TrumpStreet would like to expand onto land currently occupied by Randolph and has offered to rebuild the school at its expense. The school fronts on major thorofare Henry Ave.
Trump VP Joe Polisano pointed out that Randolph graduates have few job opportunities.
"There are not many jobs for Randolph students," said Polisano. "It is our intention to locate the school on the back side of the site and focus the programs in the schools to the skills that are needed within the casino like computer repair, cooking and baking."
Neither the Daily News nor the Inquirer covered the meeting. A Daily News editor once told Hallwatch that the paper doesn't cover after-hours community meetings because its contract with the reporters' union forbids the use of stringers.
The meeting took place in the offices of Connection Training Services Inc. at 2233 W. Allegheny Ave.
View photos of the meeting.