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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMApril 6, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
Casino-Free Philadelphia - Media Alert!
April 5, 2007 * www.CasinoFreePhila.org
Media Contact:
Daniel Hunter, 267-825-0807
PHILADELPHIA -- TODAY the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board attempted to prevent a referendum on casinos to go to Philadelphia voters. The PA Gaming Control Board claims that they have been vested with "sole authority to determine the location of such facilities" and therefore can overturn City Council's decision to put a referendum on the ballot.
The ballot question, if passed by voters on May 15th, would prevent casinos from being built within 1,500 feet of residential neighborhoods, schools, and places of worship.
"Our right to vote is under attack by an out of control board. Here we have the PGCB doing the casino's dirty work," said Daniel Hunter, coordinator of Casino-Free Philadelphia. "We have a right to vote. And we have a right to set standards when the PA Gaming Control Board doesn't."
Casino-Free Philadelphia has previously sued the PGCB because they claim no social standards were put in place about how and where casinos should be placed.
"As a result of this poor process, the PGCB made what are widely seen as terrible decisions," said Jethro Heiko of Casino-Free Philadelphia. "The PGCB has been hostile to all social standards. Our referendum would be the first specific standard to establish where casinos should be built."
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