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Letters
| From: | JS |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Monday, 11/17/08 |
| Subject: | No casino at the Gallery without comprehensive studies! |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district
are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch
Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that
the master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire
City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the
Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | MC |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Sunday, 11/16/08 |
| Subject: | No casino at the Gallery without comprehensive studies! |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the
master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire City of
Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware
waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | ESP |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Friday, 11/14/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the
master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire City of
Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware
waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Edward S. Panek, Esq
Zoning Chairman, Logan Square Neighborhood Association
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | JB |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Friday, 11/14/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district
are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch
Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that
the master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire
City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the
Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
John M. Blickensderfer
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | MPWV |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Friday, 11/14/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
When you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of Philadelphia,
you gave your full support to the citizen driven ballot
initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between casinos
and neighborhoods. Immediately after taking office in January,
you announceed the creation of a city-wide master zoning plan.
Philadelphians are hopeful that the master plan will create the
kind of vision for the entire City of Philadelphia that was
created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
While I realize that our economy seriously needs the financial
help that is anticipated by casinos, let's look at the full cost
- that includes health of our citizens, of casino industry.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
M. Patricia West Vernon
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | JJG |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I supported your bid for the mayor's office thinking you would
govern with thoughtfulness, courage and transparency. So it is
with great dismay and sadness that I see you and your
administration in the press almost daily, caving in to the casino
interests and pushing for new zoning in Center City so Foxwoods
can build a slots barn at Market East. This after pledging in
your run for office to fight for a law keeping casinos 1500 feet
from any home or place of worship. Foxwood's slots barn, if built
at the Gallery will be 50 feet from residential homes on 10 Street.
City Council's vote today in favor of this new district is
shameful. Please do not compound this cowardly act by signing
into law Bills No. 080741 and 080742, altering zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino at Market East. You and your team have
not studied the site and its potential problems, nor have you
consulted with the nearby neighborhoods whose leaders and
residents are overwhelmingly against the siting of this slots
operation in their midst.
There is ample evidence that casinos are self-interested,
predatory entities that will do nothing to enhance the struggling
Market East corridor. If anything, they will bring much that is
undesirable; unwanted traffic congestion, drunk patrons on the
surrounding streets, the warehousing of adjacent properties for
future casino development and surface parking lots, other
predatory businesses like cash for gold shops, strip clubs, and
so on. This has been the pattern accompanying casino development
in other urban places, from Atlantic City to Las Vegas. Chinatown
will bear the brunt of this unwelcome change, and its residents
will be particularly vulnerable as the casinos target the Chinese
community in their marketing plans. I know this because I have
worked in the casino industry and understand their business model.
Please do not further endanger our struggling downtown area,
Chinatown and the nearby historic district with a slots parlor.
The promise of tax relief is an empty one, given the casinos'
declining revenues in this recession, and the added burden that
predatory gamblers place on city finances.
I placed my faith in you when I voted this past fall; do the
right thing and veto the CED bills now before you.
Sincerely,
Jesse J. Gardner
Urban Design & Development
| From: | JJG |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I supported your bid for the mayor's office thinking you would
govern with thoughtfulness, courage and transparency. So it is
with great dismay and sadness that I see you and your
administration in the press almost daily, caving in to the casino
interests and pushing for new zoning in Center City so allow
Foxwoods can build a slots barn at Market East. This after
pledging in your run for office to fight for a law keeping
casinos 1500 feet from any home or place of worship. Foxwood's
slots barn, if built at the Gallery will be 50 feet from
residential homes on 10 Street.
City Council's vote today in favor of this new district is
shameful. Please do not compound this cowardly act by signing
into law Bills No. 080741 and 080742, altering zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino at Market East. You and your team have
not studied the site and its potential problems, nor have you
consulted with the nearby neighborhoods whose leaders and
residents are overwhelmingly against the siting of this slots
operation in their midst.
There is ample evidence that casinos are self-interested,
predatory entities that will do nothing to enhance the struggling
Market East corridor. If anything, they will bring much that is
undesirable; unwanted traffic congestion, drunk patrons on the
surrounding streets, the warehousing of adjacent properties for
future casino development and surface parking lots, other
predatory businesses like cash for gold shops, strip clubs, and
so on. This has been the pattern accompanying casino development
in other urban places, from Atlantic City to Las Vegas. Chinatown
will bear the brunt of this unwelcome change, and its residents
will be particularly vulnerable as the casinos target the Chinese
community in their marketing plans. I know this because I have
worked in the casino industry and understand their business model.
Please do not further endanger our struggling downtown area,
Chinatown and the nearby historic district with a slots parlor.
The promise of tax relief is an empty one, given the casinos'
declining revenues in this recession, and the added burden that
predatory gamblers place on city finances.
I placed my faith in you when I voted this past fall; do the
right thing and veto the CED bills now before you.
Sincerely,
Jesse J. Gardner
Urban Design & Development
| From: | AT |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which
casino zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the
district are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut
to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone
between casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your
announcement, immediately after taking office in January, of
the creation of a city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians
are hopeful that the master plan will create the kind of vision
for the entire City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn
Praxis for the Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to
three thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens
of thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two
casinos slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the
least damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this
endeavor by taking the first step - please veto these two
zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | LM |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district
are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch
Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that
the master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire
City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the
Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | DS |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district
are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch
Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that
the master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire
City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the
Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | IK |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No. 080741 and 080742,
involving respectively, zoning for the proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street
between 10th and 11th Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which
casino zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are from 6th
Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of Philadelphia, you gave
your full support to the citizen driven ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot
buffer zone between casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your
announcement, immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a city-
wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the master plan will create
the kind of vision for the entire City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis
for the Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and your initiative
to create a master plan, are undermined and contradicted by the fast track zoning
now before City Council that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up in Center City
Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three thriving city neighborhoods, and at
the disposal of tens of thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent economic or
social impact studies to determine that this is an acceptable site for a casino.
Experts in planning agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all possible sites in
Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos slated for Philadelphia under Act 71,
to determine the least damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this
endeavor by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | RA |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which
casino zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the
district are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut
to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone
between casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your
announcement, immediately after taking office in January, of
the creation of a city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians
are hopeful that the master plan will create the kind of vision
for the entire City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn
Praxis for the Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to
three thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens
of thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two
casinos slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the
least damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this
endeavor by taking the first step - please veto these two
zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | ZA |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which
casino zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the
district are from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut
to Arch Streets.
When you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of Philadelphia,
you gave your full support to the citizen driven ballot
initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of
a city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that
the master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire
City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the
Delaware waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos,
and your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City
Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end
up in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to
three thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens
of thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or
independent economic or social impact studies to determine that
this is an acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning
agree: high impact development of this magnitude should start
with a comprehensive planning process and then be followed by
the zoning process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two
casinos slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the
least damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this
endeavor by taking the first step - please veto these two
zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Zoe Artz
| From: | S |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the
master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire City of
Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware
waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Scott Seiber
| From: | CT |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the
master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire City of
Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware
waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000-machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Thompson
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | MW |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the
master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire City of
Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware
waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Meredith Warner
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | LR |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Thursday, 11/13/08 |
| Subject: | Write the Mayor and City Council |
DEar Mr Mayor and City Council;
I am angy. I am dismayed. I am perplexed. Yes, we have a huge
deficit in our budget but it appears we also have a huge deficit
in creative thinking.To place the burden of government on the
backs of children, on the shoulders of poorer citizens, and on
the laps of the elderly, is hateful, yes hateful.
Closing libraries and selling the properties is a GREAT mistake.
Closing fire houses is beyond foolish. Closing pools absurd.
I and many other good citizens will stand as one voice, and we
will be heard locally, and I promise,nationally. We will speak of
a mayor, of a council and of a city that lacks vision. Has our
elected leadership so quickly forgotten our city's roots of
brotherly love? How has our city so quickly fallen behind the
curve of what our president elect asked of us, to be full of hope?
I challenge you, our mayor and council members to reach out to
us, your citizens. We are creative. We are strong We can help you
resolve these buget cuts.
I have a voice. My fellow Philadelphians have a voice We will be
heard.
Lisa Rubens
| From: | J |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Wednesday, 11/12/08 |
| Subject: | No Zoning for A 5,000 Slot Machine Casino in the Heart of Historic Philadelphia |
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I respectfully request that you do not sign into law Bills No.
080741 and 080742, involving respectively, zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street between 10th and 11th
Streets, and the creation of a 24 block district in which casino
zoning would be made permissible. The borders of the district are
from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to Arch Streets.
I recall when you ran for the Democratic seat for Mayor of
Philadelphia, you gave your full support to the citizen driven
ballot initiative that required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between
casinos and neighborhoods. I also applaud your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
city-wide master zoning plan. Philadelphians are hopeful that the
master plan will create the kind of vision for the entire City of
Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the Delaware
waterfront.
Your support of the buffer between neighborhoods and casinos, and
your initiative to create a master plan, are undermined and
contradicted by the fast track zoning now before City Council
that would put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our
historic city - directly between Independence Hall and City Hall.
Without proper planning, a 5,000 machine slot parlor could end up
in Center City Philadelphia --- immediately adjacent to three
thriving city neighborhoods, and at the disposal of tens of
thousands of office, service and government workers, and
commuters --- without any meaningful public debate or independent
economic or social impact studies to determine that this is an
acceptable site for a casino. Experts in planning agree: high
impact development of this magnitude should start with a
comprehensive planning process and then be followed by the zoning
process.
Philadelphians deserve a true planning process by which all
possible sites in Philadelphia are evaluated for the two casinos
slated for Philadelphia under Act 71, to determine the least
damaging locations. We ask for your leadership in this endeavor
by taking the first step - please veto these two zoning bills.
Sincerely,
Copies to my representatives in City Council
| From: | HJ |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke |
| Date: | Wednesday, 11/12/08 |
| Subject: | center city casino |
Please do not pass pending casiono bills. The character of
center city cannot be changed without adequate process and study.
| From: | KH |
|---|---|
| To: | Councilman Clarke, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo |
| Date: | Wednesday, 11/12/08 |
| Subject: | Write the Mayor and City Council |
Dear Elected Officials and I hope, Guardians of our city,
I am very concerned about the proposal to place a casino in
downtown Philadelphia. I think it sends the wrong message to all
people and provides too easy access for people to lose money in
the name of "entertainment". I also feel that it will be a
blight on the historic nature of Philadelphia, both physically,
and architecturally. It will detract from the gains we've made
in attracting tourists. Who would want to bring a family to
Philadelphia to revel in the wonderful density of history here
and be assaulted by the gaudy, commercial presence of a major
casino very close to historic Philadelphia.
For all of these reasons and the health of all Philadelphians,
please, please reject the plans to locate a casino in downtown
Philadelphia.
Katherine Huseman