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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMFebruary 14, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
Casino-Free Philadelphia - Press Release
February 14, 2007 * www.CasinoFreePhila.org
Media Contact:
Daniel Hunter, cell 267-825-0807
What: Press Conference followed by Submitting Petitions to City Clerk
Where: City Hall, outside Room 402 (City Clerk's office)
When: Wednesday February 14th @ 10:00am
At the press conference we will announce the exact number of signatures obtained and deliver them publicly to the City Clerk's office.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Should a casino be built next to a school or across the street from where people live? The people of Philadelphia may have a chance to vote on that question this May. That's if the twenty-seven thousand people who signed petitions have their way.
These citizens are attempting to put on the ballot in May a legally binding referendum that would disallow the zoning for casinos within 1,500 feet of a neighborhood, school, church, mosque, or synagogue. To support that, they unearthed a city law to allow citizen-initiated referendums. It would require 20,000 signatures and 9 city council votes.
Signatures came from all walks of life and all parts of the city. Occupations listed include teachers, electricians, plumbers, police officers, first responders, retirees, carpenters, students, homemakers, "da streets" and more. Petitions were passed around at 5-year-old birthday parties, religious services, civic association meetings, and even a funeral.
Each signature represents a citizen deciding to join a movement to give the voter's of Philadelphia a say on casinos. The two steps are getting the community support and then the city government support.
They have now made the first step. On Wednesday they will submit over twenty thousand signatures to the City Clerk's office. (Exact number to be released at the press conference.)
This campaign to gain enough signatures is a mere three-weeks old. Yet in that time it pulled in dozens of civic associations, citywide community groups, and support from various politicians. During this past weekend only -- the campaign's last weekend -- over ten thousand signatures were gathered with the help of over one hundred citizens in teams in every neighborhood in the city.
"People have the right to determine the future of their neighborhoods. This referendum returns the power back to the voters to influence the future of our city -- not a corrupt political process bought by corporate money," says Daniel Hunter, coordinator of Casino-Free Philadelphia.
Casino-Free Philadelphia's lawyers worked carefully to devise a plan that uses the city's zoning control but in a way that does not directly challenge the state's use of Act 71. In the same way the city can say bars should not be placed right next to a school, so the city can make similar laws for casinos -- a much bigger, and less desirable neighbor to a school.
"This referendum would not eliminate casinos from the city. Instead, it would make sure they are built away from people's homes and schools," said Jethro Heiko, an organizer with Casino-Free Philadelphia. "Given the negative impacts of increased crime, traffic flow, gambling addiction, and alcoholism, this is more than reasonable."
Nevertheless, Casino-Free Philadelphia expects a challenge from the casino industry and has lawyers lined up to defend the signatures, if needed.
"We are prepared for a legal challenge. In fact, we expect the casino companies to see this for what it is: a threat to their current sites, which were selected without meaningful input," adds Daniel Hunter. "If they have good intentions, they shouldn't be afraid of the chance for the public to give input."
Groups that have put effort towards the petition drive include:
- International Longshoreman's Association
- Two locals of DC47, Tom Cronin, and CLUW
- Neighborhood Networks
- Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront
- South East PA ADA
- Pennsport Civic Association
- East Passyunk Crossing
- Whitman Council
- Passyunk Square Civic Association
- Pennsport Civic Association
- Northern Liberties Neighbors Association
- Queen Village Neighbors Association
- Fishtown Neighbors Association
- Society Hill Neighbors Association
- Bella Vista United Civic Association
- New Kensington CDC
- Design for Social Impact
- Philly for Change
Casino Free Philadelphia is a network of civic, community, and small business working to protect
Philadelphia's neighborhoods from the negative impact of the casinos. More at: www.CasinoFreePhila.org
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