Sign up | Log in | Forgot Password

Faxes Sent to Vincent J. Fumo

Letters

From:	RS
To:	Representative O'Brien, Senator Fumo, Governor Rendell
Date:	Saturday, 09/06/08
Subject:	Contact your state officials

* In light of the climate in federal, state and city budgets,
community organizers and our efforts may be left in the dust. The
major political parties are using the title community organizer
as a political football. When administrations change hands, most
times people that replace the prior administration have a lot to
learn. Not in a negative way, but it is true. As a former EPIC
organizer, I have come to know the awesome work that the Equal
Partners In Change (EPIC) groups do across this great city.

Members of the new administration seems some what out of touch.
This is the message I get as I attend community meeting across
the city and in emails and posts. Many activist has inform me
that their funding was cut, without warning or a explanation as
to why. They want at least a chance to reshape their proposals to
show how it fits into the core values goals this administration
is working towards.

The EPIC groups are the backbone of many neighborhoods,
communities, schools, churches and groups. In each group that
meets monthly, there are representatives from, youth, older
adult, medical, sports, artistic, mentally challenged, community,
education, legal, spiritual, public safety, political and
businesses community. They foster integration and team work of
these entities , as everyone is a stakeholder. Every ethnic
group is invited to join , visit or present to the groups. The
EPIC group network reflects over 150,000
families. Especially when you list only a few member
representative groups of the EPIC group, such as Town Watch
Integrated Services, PHMC, truancy, AVRP, Day Cares, Charter
schools, Catholic schools, elected officials, Religious
institutions, PPD, PFD, Probation, Health orgs and more.

Voter registration drives has elected or re-elected offices past
10 years or more.

The EPIC process on the administration level has empowered the
members of each group and also has a training component called
the Family Leadership Institute (F.L.I.). This component has
parents, grandparents ordinary folks to be nominated by a EPIC
group and receives training . This training transfers to the
community by theFLI community service, projects and volunteer
hours at the headquarters (OJT ) and the member organizations
though out the city of Philadelphia. Many enter workforce as a
result of this specialized training.

If ,I was recruited to a new city to fill a position that
involves community organizing, I would need the time to become
acquainted with the terrain. The city of Philadelphia is a city
of neighborhoods, the EPIC process fosters interaction and
diversity. The training has enhanced my skills that transfer to
my current position.

The Call to Action, I am proposing is for the EPIC community to
Raise UP, Stand UP and show the community we are alive and well.
One of our admin folks will be on a panel, Mr. Jay Henry, he
helped this old soldier , many times. I am passionately asking
each group to set up a table and place your banners. Most groups
have tee shirts and other items that will educate the attendees
of thePhillyblocks event September 27, 2008. Below is one of the
workshops that I am excited about! Pass the word, register self NOW!

Supporting Young People in the Neighborhood: This workshop will bring
together after-school leaders, the Recreation Department, the School
District, and the Department of Human Services to discuss how they
will be working together to support young people in our neighborhoods
in the coming year.
Panelists include:

Chair, Shelly Yanoff, Public Citizens for Children and Youth

Representative, Philadelphia School District

Jay Henry, EPIC Stakeholder Groups, City of Philadelphia

Maria Walker, Director, After School Activities Partnership

Rev. LeRoi Simmons, Germantown Clergy Initiative

PhillyBlocks 2008: The Neighborhood Agenda

Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 08:30 AM - 02:00 PM (ET)

There will also be a resource fair throughout the conference with
non-profit organizations, city departments, and local businesses.
Tables are $30 for non-profit organizations and $70 for
businesses/for-profit. Tables for City Departments are free of
charge. Please email Audrey Ann Ross at aross@iscv.org for more
information or call 215-238-1434.

We look forward to seeing you in September.
Bob Shipman

Outreach Specialist ISCV
http://phillyneighborhoods.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/parentpartner/

Please send some one out to investigate and ticket this family.
Every week they place huge amounts of trash in the alley way
behind our homes. Their address is 518 Titan st, 19147 1st
council district. 2 ward 3rd division.

They are inconsiderate but our homes have a mouse and now rat
problems. The huge water bugs are attacking our homes and yards.
This should be against the law. They let their dog out to relieve
it self in the alley ways, the flies are everywhere.

we have seniors and home owners with disabilities and they
complain about not being able to sit in the yard or out front of
our homes. The Husband name is Felix and the wife Vanessa. I
believe the oldest son is doing this but have their blessings.

The alleyway behind their home has old tires and mattresses, a
fire hazard. Please get some one out , the alley gate is open for
inspection

Leonardo Realty
2136 S 16th St Suite #1, Philadelphia, PA 19145 215-389-7944


--
BRT Account No. 021331700
Location 518 TITAN ST
Phila., PA 191475223
Owner(s) LEONARDO FRANCIS
Owner Address 2136 S 16TH ST
PHILADELPHIA, PA 191453847

[This is a copy of a request to City Council to allow the new
contract with Linebarger to collect the some $622 million in
overdue property taxes owed the City of Philadelphia that the
local pols don't want to assess properly or collect promptly.

Please pressure on the city to both assess properly by reviewing
the info given the State Tax Equalization Board by the Board of
Revision of Taxes of Philly, and make the private collection
agency collect all property taxes that are over $3,000 overdue
and 2 years old. It's not fair to beg Harrisburg to pay Philly's
bills when we haven't collected what is owed us at sheriff sale.

Also, demand that the city set up a way for citizens to request
an overdue nuisance property to go to sheriff sale for back tax
collection as part of the new Linebarger collection contract with
Philly. Thank you].

Linebarger is the contractor who collects overdue property taxes,
and the contract to renew the terms of service is under your
authority. Please let Linebarger collect the $622 million in
overdue property taxes owed the city --

www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary

After the recent press by Dave Davies, Andrew Maykuth, and
Anthony Woods on the city's ineptitude in properly assessing and
collecting property taxes, city residents have never been so
angry and so well informed at how little the politicians are doing.

There is still a chance to show that you care for the voters who
pay their fair share faithfully. Let citizens have input on what
gets sold by Linebarger for back taxes, and set limits so that
everyone knows that if a property owes more than X for longer
than Y, it automatically goes to Sheriff Sale, and no politician
can fiddle with it.

Let citizens who are in good standing on taxes recommend nuisance
properties for foreclosure to Linebarger using an online
mechanism of reporting like the one used for www.ppdonline.org.
This reporting of properties should be fair by allowing neighbors to

1. forward copies of L&I complaints, and actions, fines, and photos

2. forward copies of of arrests, news accounts, and other police
data that is publicly available

Then, Linebarger can use that objective data to expedite
collection of overdue property taxes on nuisance properties. It
only makes sense that a nuisance property that has come to the
attention of the Public Nuisance Task Force, for example, and
resulted in actions of some kind be required to pay up in full at
once or change hands to someone who can be responsible.

It is a myth that foreclosure creates vacancy in a robust city
like Philly, and a ploy used by well-meaning people who've
succeeded in rendering proper collection that every other
township must do ineffective in Philadelphia. What other township
or county could have such a high rate of nonpayment of property
tax? There are some zip codes where half of all owners owe
substantive property taxes to the city.

Vacancy is created by properties that owe taxes, the owners can't
or won't pay, and the city won't collect. Take a look at all the
vacant properties in Philly that owe back taxes. Present these to
the market so fresh can come in and renovate.

It's only fair to those of us who live in the city to be able to
have the power to coordinate information that gets to the proper
collecting authorities for prompt action.

This online reporting system of nuisance properties who owe taxes
for collection could be run by the DA's Public Nuisance Task
Force, since they seize properties anyway to be sold, or handled
by Linebarger.

It can be low cost -- as simple as an email read
by a clerk who then has Linebarger make a determination to
collect on objective data when the property is presented to the
courts to be ordered for sale for back taxes.

Any property that owes more than $3,000 or more than 2 years in
unpaid taxes should given carte blanche by Linebarger, and the
community deserves to have the power to recommend the worst
offenders and neighborhood killers for immediate collection.

When the press covers
stories like the recent woman who didn't pay taxes on a house for
27 years that she owned free and clear, politicians looks bad,
not beneficent.

Not collecting taxes penalizes good schools, and
makes Philly an open air prison, where you can't wear an ipod
without risking your life.

We need this money for schools,
police, crime prevention items, and clean streets.

So here's your chance to come out strong for
common sense and tax fairness. I would appreciate a specific,
detailed response on the status of the terms of collection with
Linebarger as soon as they become available.

I've also asked a few of my friends to read this email as well
and to demand our right to have the city up date assessments, and
promptly collect from those who are not paying, and to have a
responsive mechanism to request collection from nuisance
properties that cost the city money, and taxpayers. Thank you.

There are dogs and cat's housed in this property they have not
been registered or given yearly shots. Our residents are afraid
to come outside in the mornings when Ms. Christine has them out
on a lease. She can hardly handle them. She has so many she
brings them out in shifts. When she is not home the animals stand
at the door and windows growling at residents, seniors and
children passing by going to the corner store, Marie's located on
6th Titan street. It is terrible at night. Ms. Christine brings
stay dogs home every week. 536 Titan Street 19147
Also:
There is a huge growth of trees over grown from the yard to the
pavement and now the street , walking and driving lanes.

There has been a attempted robbery at this location of a
pedestrian walking home from work. This is a dangerous the
intruder hide in this over growth and sprang forth as the
resident attempted to walk past property and growth.
This growth has made senior citizens walk into the traffic lane
of the 500 block of titan st @ 536 Titan st.

The property houses 7 vicious breed of dogs and 4 cats. None of
them has dog tags and have not had shots, please help us! I will
send a copy of this request to our Governors offices, State
representative offices, and Mayor, and council at large and local
district offices. Thank you the services. The city is liable in
this matter and our blcok committee has made a urgent plea.

Dear Gaming Oversight Committee Member:

How do you make the world a better place? Do you give back?
Are you a kind friend? A good neighbor, father, mother,
sibling, teacher? What will your legacy be?

I am pleeing with you to do the right thing in this fine city
of Philadelphia and leave her to grow and prosper through local
business and strong-minded, budding community leaders. Not
through revenues built upon by a casino planted in the hearts
and souls of the neighborhoods in this city.

What will our city become? Worse yet, what will she be known
as? This unique place we call home needs to be protected from
the interests and pockets of the so-called leaders of this
state. I invite Govenor Rendell and the judges allowing this
atrocity to occur to meet the people who will be most affected
by this decision - the families, the children, the local
businesses. Would they then be able to look at the faces of
this cities future and see dollar signs in their eyes? Or
would their humanity become ever-present to envision what a
huge mistake they are encouraging on our doorsteps.

I am mostly sad for this city. For even after the casino walls
are built and the money flows in, this city will be forever
changed - and not for the better.

Please DO NOT ALLOW THIS CASINO TO DEVELOP ON OUR DOORSTEPS!!!
OUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE AND SPEND
THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND LOVE TO MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE -
DESERVE MORE!!!

Most sincerely a Philadelphia resident, teacher, friend,
community gardener, Temple Univeristy alum and human being,
Lesley Grill

Please no casinos near my house!

I am writing to ask for your assistance regarding the proposed
design of the South Street Bridge. I believe that current design
is a terrible mistake and must be reworked to address its glaring
flaws.

Please take the time to make sure the flaws of the proposed South
Street Bridge are addressed. Please make sure that PennDOT and
the Streets Department follow their own best practices and build
a new bridge that is sensitive to its true context - the
neighborhoods it will connect - and NOT the interstate it will span.

We should be reconfiguring our cities away from dependence on
cars and trucks. Our next Mayor has enthusiastically endorsed the
Next Great City project. Yet, we are investing in infrastructure
that directly undermines the principles of environmental
sustainability embodied by this proposal.

The proposed bridge design is configured to serve the needs of
the interstate - NOT the needs of the neighborhoods it connects.
Instead of building a bridge that considers the needs of
pedestrians and cyclists, the designers configured the proposed
bridge to facilitate commercial truck traffic. The new bridge
will accommodate five lanes of traffic and be equipped with wider
turning lanes the intersection of the on ramps to facilitate
access to I-76. By enlarging the intersection, the new bridge
will allow tractor trailers to use the South Street Bridge to
enter and exit I-76.

Contrary to their own practice, the designers of the proposed
South Street Bridge are putting the needs of the interstate ahead
of the needs of the neighborhoods the bridge connects. If the
proposed bridge does what it is designed to do, tractor trailers
will rumble down South Street. In addition to posing a safety
hazard to pedestrians and cyclists, tractor trailers will smother
a quiet residential neighborhood with diesel dust and hamper the
rebirth of the South Street West commercial corridor.

The South Street Bridge never served as an access point for
tractor trailers and commercial traffic. Currently, the tractor
trailers cannot use the South Street Bridge to access I-76. The
turning lanes at the top of the on ramps are too narrow to
accommodate the turning radius of large trucks.

PennDOT's website recognizes its commitment to context sensitive
design. Its website states: "PENNDOT has embraced FHWA痴 Context
Sensitive Design initiative committed to changing the way highway
projects are developed, constructed and maintained. Context
sensitivity emphasizes the broad nature of solutions to
transportation needs by focusing on enhancing the quality of life
across the Commonwealth for transportation users, communities and
the surrounding environment."

On another page of its website, PennDOT states: "The CSS
initiative focuses on applying the flexibility in design
standards to meet local community needs, promote joint use of
transportation corridors by pedestrians, cyclists and public
transit vehicles, develop a comprehensive transportation program
and allow sufficient flexibility to encourage innovative or
unique designs for particular situations."

With a proposed lifespan of 75 years, the bridge will
inextricably alter the neighborhoods and the lives of their
residents it connects. We cannot let this happen. Action must be
taken to mitigate its potential disastrous effects.

The proposed bridge has a projected lifespan of 75 years. 75
years is a long time to be stuck with a bad bridge. Particularly
if the proposed bridge turns out to be not just bad, but a
terrible bridge. For this reason, we must take the time to make
sure we get the design right. To quote Ben Franklin, "a stitch
in time saves nine."

Thank you for your assistance.

I'm disgusted, as the wife of a medal awarded vet, that Anna
Verna picks an uneducated, unqualified member of her vote getting
organization to fill the city Veterans' Affairs Office.

It's not like she didn't have choices -- the other man applying
for the job has a college degree, and experience running and
starting programs for vets, often an intractable source of
homelessness, addiction, and untreated mental illness.

Here's a link to the initial coverage of this scandal:

//www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/16173387.html

www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080304_VET_AFFAIRS.html

It's scandalous, and horrifying that the local problems of
homelessness, mental illness, addiction, and PTSD among other
problems in those who served this nation from Philly are HARMED
because local party hack Democrats don't care enough to choose
the most qualified person for the job, and don't even care enough
to try to find someone who doesn't have to learn from an entry
level position (read: receptionist) how to serve Veterans.

If Ms. Verna wishes to give Mr. Howard a job for his service, she
can certainly bring him onto her own overpaid staff. No? He's not
able to handle your needs because of his skill level and experience?

Precisely.

I request that my state reps and elected officials forward this
matter to the new ethics position for investigation. It's a
violation of the quid pro quo prohibition under the new ethics
rules. You can't hire someone as a reward for political service,
especially if they are so obviously unqualified, which simply
makes it obvious that this is a pay-to-play issue. Howard paid
with his Ward work, he plays with an overpaid job that he is
going to be an obstacle in.

I yearn for the day when local Democrats have enough self-esteem
to run on their record of service and accomplishment and don't
need to pay off a machine.

Immediate sanctions, just as is the case in other political
corruption matters, is fair and correct. One politician can't be
the fall boy for a whole party's way of doing things.

Rule enforcement is critical, just, and essential for a party
that makes a city we can point to the rest of the nation as a
vanguard, not a punchline.

This hiring is a violation of Chapter 20-600 Standards of Conduct
and Ethics of the Philadelphia Code, where:

ｧ 20-603. "Post-Employment Representation.

(1) No person who has served for compensation as a
member of Council, City officer or employee shall assist, at any
time subsequent to his City service or employment, another
person, with or without compensation, in any transaction
involving the City in which he at any time participated during
his City service or employment.

ｧ 20-604. Gifts, Loans and Favors to City Personnel.

(1) No member of Council or other City officer or
employee, shall solicit, accept or receive any gift, loan,
gratuity, favor or service of substantial economic value that
might reasonably be expected to influence one in his position in
the discharge of his official duties, from any person, firm,
corporation or other business or professional organization.

(2) No person, firm, corporation or other business or
professional organization shall offer, make or render any gift,
loan, gratuity, favor or service of substantial economic value to
any member of Council or other City officer or employee which
might reasonably be expected to influence such officer or
employee in the discharge of his official duties."


It is a violation for an elected official to hire a long time
serving ward leader for a city position that is a gratuity, a
favor, and provides a "substantial economic value" which is then
beholden entirely to the Council person for their intervention to
prevent the hiring of a more qualified candidate. It is a
violation for a City Council member or staffer to assist in any
person getting a city job. No member of Council shall assist
another person in any transaction involving the city in which the
member has participated. The wording is clear.

Is Nutter going to enforce this without regard to his history of
working with Verna? Is he able to have the new Ethics Board work
blindly to favoritism? Like lady justice herself, she holds the
scales and is blindfolded.

The test of the new administration's commitment to ethics is how
it responds to flagrant violations by old friends.

Please support the passage of House Bill 163, which was
amended in the House Transportation Committee to include
amendment A00702, which renames the bill "Lacey's Law", in
honor of Lacey Gallagher. I am requesting that you vote "YES"
to House Bill No. 163. I believe that by enacting stricter
laws regarding young, inexperienced drivers, the General
Assembly can prevent another tragedy such as the death of
Lacey Gallagher and all other teens who lost their lives due to
inexperienced teen driving.

Please support the passage of House Bill 163, which was
amended in the House Transportation Committee to include
amendment A00702, which renames the bill "Lacey's Law", in
honor of Lacey Gallagher. I am requesting that you vote "YES"
to House Bill No. 163. I believe that by enacting stricter
laws regarding young, inexperienced drivers, the General
Assembly can prevent another tragedy such as the death of
Lacey Gallagher and all other teens who lost their lives due to
inexperienced teen driving.

Dear Governor Rendell:

I am writing as one of the 1.5 million constituents of our
courageous City Council led by Councilman Frank DiCicco and our
elected representatives in the General Assembly (Senator Fumo,
and Representatives O達rien, Keller and Josephs) and of our
newly-elected Mayor Michael Nutter, who are united with PNA in an
effort to re-site the casinos.

Your intemperate and misplaced attack this week is not
appreciated by the residents of Philadelphia, who have worked for
over a year to relocate the two casinos in Philadelphia away from
neighborhoods.

You, and the casino operators, stand alone in the way of moving
these slots parlors to more appropriate locations. Please direct
your efforts, and the considerable goodwill you have as the most
popular politician in Pennsylvania in the last thirty years, to
finding a better location for the casinos and for creating a
waterfront which will be a valued legacy to good planning and
good government.

Respectfully,
Scott Seiber
Fishtown

Dear Governor Rendell:
Enough is enough. Our people and our elected officials continue
to vehemently oppose the siting of casinos in poorly chosen
areas by unscrupulous casino developers. To "suck it up" as you
propose is no way to speak to the people and no way to run a
state or local government. You are out of order.
Matt Sandler

Dear Governor Rendell:

I am writing as one of the 1.5 million constituents of our
courageous City Council led by Councilman Frank DiCicco and our
elected representatives in the General Assembly (Senator Fumo,
and Representatives O達rien, Keller and Josephs) and of our
newly-elected Mayor Michael Nutter, who are united with PNA in
an effort to re-site the casinos.

Your intemperate and misplaced attack this week is not
appreciated by the residents of Philadelphia, who have worked
for over a year to relocate the two casinos in Philadelphia
away from neighborhoods.

You, and the casino operators, stand alone in the way of moving
these slots parlors to more appropriate locations. Please
direct your efforts, and the considerable goodwill you have as
the most popular politician in Pennsylvania in the last thirty
years, to finding a better location for the casinos and for
creating a waterfront which will be a valued legacy to good
planning and good government.

Respectfully,

Beatrix Daily

Dear Gaming Oversight Committee Member:

Hey guys? What's the holdup with HB 1477?? Please put your
efforts behind moving this Bill out of Committee and put it out
on the floor for a vote. Passage of this bill into law is a
much needed basic protection for those of your constituents
forced to live near these casinos.

Democracy is alive and well thanks to those elected officials
who listen to the common constituent- the little guy who has no
great clout or a bunch of cash- rather just a voice and a vote.

Please don't give into the corporate influence and political
paybacks that are trying to jam these things into densely
populated thriving neighborhoods regardless of the
consequences. We are counting on you to protect us.

Please, it is your job to represent the common people and I
hope you will do the right thing and move HB 1477 out of
committee and pass this into law.

Thanks.
-Mary

Dear Governor Rendell:
I say the interview on television. You were a very good Mayor and are a very good
Govenor; however, you are way off base on resiting, on insisting your way or the
highway, making threats against the citizens of Philadelphia, the obvious political
payback to contributors and frinds. I understand payback is inherently part of the
process, but you utterly wrong to do it at the expense of the citizens of
Philadelphia. You saying that you can help with traffic, parking etc. implys that you
could implement something substantial and eliminate the problem is false. It will
take $100's of millions to accomplish anything substantive like mass transit and
confiscation of property along Columbus Boulevard. Nothing so far has made any
sense. The fact is resiting to the Navy Yard will allow development of many more
casinos, hotels, restruants, bars, clubs and adult activities. We could have Madi
Gras year round and generate far more income and jobs then will ever possible with
current proposals.

Dear Governor Rendell:

I am writing as one of the 1.5 million constituents of our
courageous City Council led by Councilman Frank DiCicco and our
elected representatives in the General Assembly (Senator Fumo,
and Representatives O達rien, Keller and Josephs) and of our
newly-elected Mayor Michael Nutter, who are united with PNA in
an
effort to re-site the casinos.

Your intemperate and misplaced attack this week is not
appreciated by the residents of Philadelphia, who have worked
for
over a year to relocate the two casinos in Philadelphia away
from
neighborhoods.

You, and the casino operators, stand alone in the way of moving
these slots parlors to more appropriate locations. Please direct
your efforts, and the considerable goodwill you have as the most
popular politician in Pennsylvania in the last thirty years, to
finding a better location for the casinos and for creating a
waterfront which will be a valued legacy to good planning and
good government.

Respectfully,

Linda Holzwarth

Dear Governor Rendell:
I moved to Queen Village 20 years ago when it was a marginal
neighborhood, served on the neighbors association through the
Southwark revitalization (hours each week), was block captain
for 10 years, served on town watch, planted trees and flowers,
swept streets for 12 years before the City would and generally
busted my hump to make this neighorhood great. I voted for and
supported you. PLEASE DON'T THROW ALL OUR HARD WORK AWAY.
The infrastructure of this neighborhood - streets, parking,
water run off, sewage, etc. can't atand casinos on the
waterfront. And you know it. PLEASE STOP!!

Dear Governor Rendell:

I am writing as one of the 1.5 million constituents of our
courageous City Council led by Councilman Frank DiCicco and our
elected representatives in the General Assembly (Senator Fumo,
and Representatives O達rien, Keller and Josephs) and of our
newly-elected Mayor Michael Nutter, who are united with PNA in
an effort to re-site the casinos.

Your intemperate and misplaced attack this week is not
appreciated by the residents of Philadelphia, who have worked
for over a year to relocate the two casinos in Philadelphia
away from neighborhoods.

You, and the casino operators, stand alone in the way of moving
these slots parlors to more appropriate locations. Please
direct your efforts, and the considerable goodwill you have as
the most popular politician in Pennsylvania in the last thirty
years, to finding a better location for the casinos and for
creating a waterfront which will be a valued legacy to good
planning and good government.

Respectfully,

John

Dear Governor Rendell:
am writing as one of the 1.5 million constituents of our
courageous City Council led by Councilman Frank DiCicco and our
elected representatives in the General Assembly (Senator Fumo,
and Representatives O達rien, Keller and Josephs) and of our
newly-elected Mayor Michael Nutter, who are united with PNA in
an effort to re-site the casinos.

Your intemperate and misplaced attack this week is not
appreciated by the residents of Philadelphia, who have worked
for over a year to relocate the two casinos in Philadelphia away
from neighborhoods.

You, and the casino operators, stand alone in the way of moving
these slots parlors to more appropriate locations. Please direct
your efforts, and the considerable goodwill you have as the most
popular politician in Pennsylvania in the last thirty years, to
finding a better location for the casinos and for creating a
waterfront which will be a valued legacy to good planning and
good government.

Respectfully,
Mary Galiano


-----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

Dear Governor Rendell:
City Council, our Representatives and State Senator Fumo all
support resiting the casinos mandated for Philadelphia to more
appropriate locations that will not destroy thriving, family-
friendly neighborhoods. Why? Because they have listened to the
very real concerns of their constituents and their job is to
represent the people.

Our City Planning Commission rated the two waterfront sites as
the worst possible locations for these casinos. No thinking has
gone into the negative social and financial costs these casinos
bring to Philadelphia and how we will bear them. These burdens
can be offset by appropriate siting. No studies to evaluate the
impacts to existing businesses and to our Port industries, which
provide high-wage, family-sustaining jobs, have been conducted.
No credible traffic plans have been proposed that would actually
mitigate problems on our already congested Columbus Boulevard;
the street will become a parking lot! These sites are within 200
and 500 feet respectively of residential streets. Kids play on
those streets! In addition, both casinos misrepresented their
applications to the Gaming Board: as reflected in public
comments, an overwhelming majority of residents opposed both
locations, but particularly (98%) Foxwoods' location- no one is
ready to welcome them- and SugarHouse does not have control of
its site, nor good prospects for it in the near future. These
sites do not work for Philadelphia!

Resiting is the only solution that makes sense. The sooner the
casinos are resited appropriately, the sooner they will be up
and running. And Philadelphia will be able to reap the benefits,
while minimizing the harms, instead of being left to deal with
the baggage. It will also allow our waterfront to be developed
for its highest use, to become an amenity for the entire city,
and in a way that makes Philadelphia a more attractive place to
live and work, not just visit.

(Next 20 results)