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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMApril 29, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Casino-Free Philadelphia - Press Advisory
April 29, 2007 * www.CasinoFreePhila.org
Contact:
Daniel Hunter, 267-825-0807
Citizens group Casino-Free Philadelphia will unveil Philly's Ballot Box, a bold new plan to allow all Philadelphians to cast a citizens ballot on the casino issue in an election that will coincide with the May 15 Primary. Anticipating that the state Supreme Court will deny Philadelphians the right to vote on whether to allow these and future slots parlors placed inside Philly neighborhoods, Phillys Ballot Box will staff voting locations throughout Philadelphia and offer secure online voting through the PhillysBallotBox.org website.
There will be citizens ballot boxes located in all of the city's 28 state house districts and in high traffic areas through out the city, where voters will be able to vote on a referendum identical to the one placed on the primary ballot by city council. More details will be disclosed at the following press conference:
BALLOT BOX UNVEILING CEREMONY AND PRESS CONFERENCE
WHERE: City Hall Dilworth Plaza (across from the Clothespin)
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1st, 10:30 AM
Earlier this year, 27,000 Philadelphians signed a petition calling for a vote on whether to have a 1,500 foot buffer zone between casinos and homes, schools, parks, playgrounds and places of worship.
On March 15, 2007, Philadelphia's City Council voted unanimously to place this referendum, Question #1, on the May 15 ballot. The referendum would be legally binding, using the city's local zoning control, which was upheld by the PA Supreme Court. Now, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court is threatening Philadelphia's right to vote on whether we want casinos in our neighborhoods. They have put a preliminary injunction that is likely to keep a referendum question on casinos off the May 15 ballot.
"The voters in this city demand to be heard," said Casino-Free Philadelphia Co-Coordinator Daniel Hunter, "Our right to protect our neighborhoods should never be trumped by a sleezy casino industry."
The Philly's Ballot Box campaign will staff ballot boxes throughout Philadelphia and secure voting online. There will be citizen's ballot boxes located in all of the city's 28 state house districts, in high traffic areas through out the city, and through the PhillysBallotBox.org website. More details to follow at the press conference.
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