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Philadelphians ask Sen. Fumo for his protection from casinos
By Ed Goppelt
Wednesday, 07/11/07
(1184180877828)
State Sen. Vincent Fumo has received 666 faxes from Philadelphians asking him to introduce legislation that would protect all neighborhoods from the two Las Vegas size casinos planned for Philadelphia. Of the faxes, 564 are from residents of Fumo's district. View detailed stats.
Recent public statements by Fumo's office suggest the architect of gambling in Pennsylvania is backing away from a promise to work to protect his constituents from two Las Vegas size casinos approved for their neighborhoods. Fumo told neighborhood leaders at a recent meeting he would introduce a bill in the Senate requiring *all* casinos to be located at least 1500' (3 1/2 blocks) from the nearest church, home or school.
However, in an apparent change of course, Fumo is now considering whether one of the City's casinos should be exempted from this restriction, the Daily News reported last month. Both casinos will be located within one to two blocks of rowhouse neighborhoods.
"Fumo spokesman Gary Tuma yesterday said Fumo 'committed to do something' but added it was too early to say if that would be a 1,500 ft. buffer for both casinos or just one of them," the Daily News reported.
But when Fumo met with the Delaware River Neighborhood Alliance (DRNA) on June 13, 2007, he was specific about what he would do for residents and when he would do it. Fumo told community leaders at Hopkinson House that he would introduce a buffer bill identical to Babette Josephs' House Bill No. 1477 by June 19 at the latest. Josephs' bill applies to both casinos.
"I'll put in a bill next week with the 1500--Christopher [Craig] can draft it tomorrow. We'll take the same language Babette Josephs did," Fumo told DRNA representatives at the meeting. "I'll introduce it Monday or Tuesday or whenever it comes down from the Legislative Reference Bureau."
Fumo has a reputation for keeping his word once given. "He is that rarest of politicians, one of whom allies and enemies alike attest that if he gives his word, it's bankable," Philadelphia Magazine reported in a 1999 profile.
As of today, however, Fumo's buffer bill has not yet been introduced. Spokesman Tuma was unable to shed much light on Fumo's plans for the bill. "I don't know exactly when," said Tuma when asked recently when Fumo intends to make good on his offer to introduce the bill."
Tuma couldn't say whether Fumo's bill will use the same language as Josephs' bill. "I don't know for sure," said Tuma. A draft copy of Fumo's bill dated three days after his meeting with community leaders contained identical language to that in Josephs' bill.
Tuma said he didn't know when he will be able to answer these questions.
The State Gaming Board created the need for legislation to protect residents when it approved two casinos for Philadelphia within one or two blocks of rowhouse neighborhoods in December. The proposed Foxwoods and SugarHouse casinos are located within 500' and 200' respectively of the Pennsport and Fishtown communities.