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Faxes Sent to Frank Dicicco

Letters

From:	CG
To:	Councilman DiCicco, Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo
Date:	Tuesday, 11/18/08
Subject:	No casino at the Gallery without comprehensive studies!

Dear Mayor Nutter:

I am disheartened that you have signed into law two zoning bills
that are designed to put a large-scale slot parlor in the heart
of our historic city - on Market Street directly between
Independence Hall and City Hall, and that create a 24 block
district (from 6th Street to Broad Street and from Chestnut to
Arch Streets) in which casino zoning would be made permissible.
Many Philadelphians are disturbed that, in spite of public
testimony before the Planning Commission and City Council that
ran 99% against enacting the two Center City casino zoning bills
into law, both bodies passed the bills virtually unanimously
(one Planning Commission member courageously dissented) --
without any studies to back up the plan and with almost no
public discussion or debate among the members of either body.
There is a real fear that any future forums for public testimony
before the Planning Commission, City Council, or the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, will simply be window
dressing to bolster the claim that a real process is taking
place.

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 applauded your announcement,
immediately after taking office in January, of the creation of a
citywide master zoning plan. Philadelphians were hopeful that
the master plan would create the kind of vision for the entire
City of Philadelphia that was created by Penn Praxis for the
Delaware waterfront - one that all Philadelphians could embrace.

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 legislation that legalized zoning
for a 5,000 machine slot parlor in Center City Philadelphia.
Thousands of Philadelphians simply cannot understand how a slot
parlor could end up in the heart of Philadelphia -- immediately
adjacent to three thriving city neighborhoods, and at the
disposal of tens of thousands of office, service and government
workers, commuters, and young people -- without any meaningful
public debate, cost analysis or independent economic or social
impact studies to determine that this is an acceptable location
for a casino.

They wonder how zoning for a high impact development of this
magnitude could be enacted into law without a comprehensive
analysis of the potential impacts taking place first. They
wonder what happened to your campaign promises to protect
neighborhoods and to change the culture of ad hoc zoning and
back room deals. Are they to believe that only some
neighborhoods deserve the physical buffer and not others?

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. I ask for you to honor your pre-election
statement that you "do not support gambling as an economic
development tool," but which is the very argument your Deputy
Mayor Andrew Altman and Terry Gillen have been using to support
the Market Street location. Please demonstrate the leadership
that caused the majority of Philadelphians to rally around you
in last year's mayoral election and begin a genuine alternative
site selection process.

Copies to my representatives in City Council

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.

GAMBLING IS NOT A HEALTHY INDUSTRY. IT'S STILL A VICE.

Sincerely,
Ruth Sine
Copies to my representatives in City Council

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

Hello





PLEASE KEEP ENGINE 39 IN SERVICE.

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,

Sean Benjamin

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

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 am a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and do some tour
guiding at Arch Street Meeting. I delight in showing tourists the words of William
Penn that became such an important part of Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of
Independence. I tell tourists that Philadelphia was not chosen solely because of its
geographic location, but because the ideals of our country were already living here
in Philadelphia. We are a city that is attractive to tourists because of our rich history;
let's keep our history and our ideals at the forefront.

How about citing the casinos, both of them, at the airport and creating a city
ordinance where no individual gambler can spend more than $50 a day on games of
chance.

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

Dear Mayor Nutter:

We live in South Philadelphia, own a home and send our two children to school in
Old City. My wife and 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. We are opposed to the
creation of a 24 block district in which casino zoning would be made permissible.

We recall that you gave your full support to the citizen driven ballot initiative that
required a 1,500-foot buffer zone between casinos and neighborhoods. We also
applaud your announcement, immediately after taking office in January, of the
creation of a city-wide master zoning plan. All 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. Money sucking and crime ridden
casinos have no place in Center City especially right next to Independence National
Park.

Our communities' near unanimous 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. What sense does it
make to secretly plan and dump a large-scale slot parlor in the heart of our historic
city? Particularly and directly between Independence Hall and City Hall? The
Governor and Senator Fumo were wrong to secretly engineer this taking of local
control and home rule in the first place. It was and is always going to be a net loss
to Philadelphia, both in local economics and in social and cultural values.

A 5,000 machine slot parlor will inevitably end up degrading Center City
Philadelphia. It would be immediately adjacent to three thriving city neighborhoods,
and at the disposal of tens of thousands of office, service and government workers,
and commuters. All this permanent risk and damage 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. Philadelphia is not Atlantic City in the 1980s.

All of America, all Pennsylvanians and all Philadelphians deserve a true and OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC planning process by which all possible sites in Philadelphia are
evaluated for the two casinos slated for Philadelphia under the suspect Act 71. First
and foremost to determine the least damaging locations, for these bait and switch
gambling corporations. They are private profit centered monopolies, provided that
status by illegitimate state mandate, not good neighbors or harmless entertainment.
We ask for your moral and financial leadership in this endeavor by taking the first
step - please veto these two zoning bills.

Sincerely,

Copies to my representatives in City Council

Dear Mayor Nutter:

As Chairman of the Market East Development Corporation in the
late 1970s, I worked diligently to create agreements that led to
the development of the second phase of The Gallery shopping
complex at Market East. The intent of this project was to
strengthen retail activity in the heart of the city. This is
still an important need and revitalization of east Market Street
as a shopping district is greatly needed.

A casino in The Gallery complex will not revitalize the retail
district; it is more likely that the traffic, congestion and
other impacts will have a negative impact on both the retail area
and adjacent neighborhoods, most especially Chinatown. Moreover
the creation of a 24 block district in which casinos would be
permissable makes no sense at all. The potential of future
casinos in Center City and adjacent to Independence National Park
would utterly destroy the character of Center City Philadelphia.

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. Please support your own committment to retain a
1,500-foot buffer between casinos and neighborhoods and also
insure an equal buffer between casino and important historic and
civic sites.

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 Andrew Gallery

Copies to my representatives in City Council

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.

Please do not place the Foxwoods Casino in the heart of center
city. It will do no one but Foxwoods any good there.
Chinatown and the Asian Community are very important to the
health and diversity of our city and do not deserve this in
their back yard, either. I love the idea that a community
group is organizing to find a place where the casinos will best
be sited. We, as residents and taxpayers should be involved in
this process all along. Thank you for your support of the
waterfront neighborhoods. Please also give the same support to
the Chinatown, Wash West and mid-town neighborhoods, too.

Sincerely,
Louise Cupelli

Copies to my representatives in City Council

Dear Mayor Nutter and City Council,

A Slot Parlor in Pennsport? A Slot Parlor in Fishtown and
Northern Liberties? A Slot Parlor in the Historic District?

What is happening to our good sense? It is time for the
Planning Commission to do their job .... PLAN FOR THE GOOD OF
THE COMMONWEALTH.

Truthfully, I don't want any casinos in Philly. Reality says
we are going to get 2. So put them out of the way of everyday
Philadelphians and tourists and their families.

Amend Act 71 to allow these predatory businesses to be housed
near the AIRPORT. Chester will still receive enough money from
Harrahs for their City to prosper. This change will protect
everyone including our City.

-- The City owns the land by the AIRPORT
-- The necessary highway system is in place and functional
-- Every hotel has shuttle buses to the AIRPORT for tourists
-- We have mass transit to the AIRPORT
-- The casinos can build immediately without opposition
-- The casinos will have the ability to expand their business
-- No neighborhoods will be harmed.
-- Citizens can easily reach the AIRPORT for jobs and to gamble
-- No residential or commercial property values will decline
-- Less fiscal impact on individual neighborhoods
-- No alcohol-fueled gamblers driving on small local streets
-- The casino becomes a destination rather than preying on
neighborhoods.

This list could go on and on. C'mon Mayor ... this will be
your legacy .... and our children's.

Start the process --> AMEND 71 --> BUILD AT THE AIRPORT AND
SAVE OUR CITY.

City Council, tell the Planning Commission to step up and use
their skills to preserve our first class City.

Thank You!

Dear Mayor Nutter,
Please keep our lovely historic city casino free. We don't want
the element that gambling brings.

Dear Mayor Nutter:

THIS LETTER IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FORM LETTERS YOU HAVE
RECEIVED.

Many of those senders sincerely believe that the process is
flawed. But many are objecting because they already oppose the
Gallery site and will resist at every point, no matter the
process and no matter the results of studies. That does not
mean that serious issues do not exist.

We accept your assurances, and those of Councilman Dicicco,
that the Planning Commission, City Council and you will insist
upon, and objectively evaluate, comprehensive studies such as
those produced in the process led by Penn Praxis in evaluating
the Reed St. site.

In addition to the studies offered by Foxwoods, we hope that
you and Council will initiate independent studies where
appropriate.

A judgment ultimately will have to be made as to whether we
will be restricted to the Gallery site or Reed St. site, or
whether, if the Gallery site is rejected, a third site might be
proposed.

If we must choose between these two sites, we expect that you
and Council will fairly compare the impact on adjacent
residential neighborhoods, and the respective benefits and
negatives of each site to the City. And that, whatever the
decision, as many safeguards as possible will be imposed, and
significant CBAs will be negotiated for the benefit of
surrounding neighborhoods.

Sincerely, Jim Moss

Copies to my representatives in city council

Dear Mayor Nutter:

What a simply terrible and nutty idea!

A casino in the heart of historic Philadelphia.

Think of it. Stop by Independence Hall, walk east to City Hall and if you have an
hour or two, stop by the casino and play some slots.

This is NOT what Philadelphia is all about.

I beg of you. Stop this nuttiness, Mayor and a very good Mayor Nutter.

Aline Gay

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

Dear Mayor Nutter:

I am so proud of you and remain excited about Philadelphia's
future with you as our mayor. Building casinos in Philadelphia
does not reflect the type of innovative and creative thinking you
are known for. We cannot hope to be distinguished as a great city
with casinos, ultimately they will degrade and diminish
Philadelphia. I know we can do better; we deserve better.

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

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

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

Dear Mayor Nutter and City Council Members,
To be very brief and to sdave your timse and mine, please
listen to those who live in the neighborhoods, denouncing the
beginning of gambleing in center city.This is against what all
us of who live in the city, want for our beautiful neighborhoods
Judy Levin

Dear Mayor Nutter:

This is a follow-up to a letter I sent your office dated
November 1st of this year.

I know that you don't need a lecture from me on responsible
community development, casinos and the importance of making
constituents feel that they are being respected, heard and
included in any large scale project like the proposed Foxwoods
casino.

But I must respectfully request that you do not sign into law
Bills No. 080741 and 080742 that involve zoning for the
proposed Foxwoods Casino on Market Street East and the creation
of a 24 block district in which any and all casino zoning would
be made permissible. Honestly, Mr. Mayor, 24 blocks?

I know you understand the importance of responsible community
development. That's why you took the bold steps to announce a
comprehensive zoning plan that fortifies the mission of the
Philadelphia Planning Commission, putting it once again in the
proper place among those city agencies that literally take
Philadelphia to new heights and new horizons. And it's why you
supported the efforts of me and my friends, neighbors and
fellow activists in pushing for a 1500 feet buffer zone on
casinos.

You have already built your reputation as a good an honorable
leader who understands the role of responsible planning in an
overall mission to reform our government.

And therefore, I ask that we table these two bills until we
have a planning process that examines this and other potential
sites. Then, an ultimate determination can be made as to the
two best sites for Foxwoods and Sugarhouse.

My suggestion is neither extraordinary nor bold. On the
contrary, it is standard and pedestrian. And it's why the lack
of such a process disturbs so many people...not just those
living in Chinatown.

I agree that drafting and introducing Bills Number 080741 and
080742 was a signal to Foxwoods that we are serious about
helping them relocate to a better site off our waterfront. But
introducing the bills so that they may be referred to the
appropriate committee was more than enough to show good faith
on the party of the city.

Having these bills leave committee prior to the development and
introduction of a traffic plan, economic impact study, urban
development analysis and some sort of rendering of what the
proposed slots barn will look like is, in my opinion, reckless
and irresponsible behavior. I am frankly surprised at the lack
of legislative judgment and lack of respect for the people at
whose will this council serves.

I know you neither drafted these bills, nor did you shepherd
them through committee.

But you can stop the speeding train of reckless development.
Just because Council let the bills leave committee, does not
mean you must sign them. I humbly ask that you veto these two
zoning bills.

Respectfully,
Vern Anastasio

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