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January 28, 2009
By JohnD
For PlanPhilly

Jan. 28

 

By John Davidson
For PlanPhilly

In one of its more theatrical demonstrations, Casino-Free Philadelphia staged a "Declaration of Independence From Casinos" Tuesday afternoon on Independence Mall, during which a young man in colonial garb read out a document denouncing casinos and the politicians who support them.


Jethro Heiko, a spokesman for the group, said Casino-Free organized the demonstration to announce a new campaign to oppose Foxwoods and SugarHouse casinos and to find elected officials in Philadelphia or Harrisburg who would stand with them.

"Politicians haven't been asked a lot by the media or even by citizens for that matter," Heiko said. "They've been allowed to say 'well, I'm not anti casino, I'm not pro casino,' and our feeling is that it's good to have a clear position and stand with citizens who are working to oppose them."

As part of the new campaign, which will continue until July 4, Casino-Free is working to recruit people in every legislative district and will host a series of town hall meetings beginning Feb. 18 in Center City. About 100 people were on hand for Tuesday's demonstration, after which the crowd members signed a large copy of the declaration.

Contact the reporter at jddavidson9@gmail.com

 

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Comments

by Elizabeth lee Gutman (not verified) | January 30, 2009 - 10:56am
I was there in the cold! Where were are elected officals? Rep O'Brian and Mayor Nutter should have been there.
by Propoganda (not verified) | January 30, 2009 - 8:44am
Just more proof that PlanPhilly has less to do with actual planning and more to do with spouting off the political and ethical views of the design wing of SAS. A broke city will soon have nothing to plan.
by Raymond (not verified) | January 30, 2009 - 2:26am
If we continue to oppose the Casinos in Philadelphia, let's bury the city. We need revenue from the casinos, the jobs that will come with them in construction and later on in the casinos themselves. What about the revenues we need. Wage Tax and all the other business taxes that drive industry and business to the suburbs, someone is willing to pay them. If you don't want gambling do away with lottery sales in the State, and let seniors lose all the benefits they derive from the profits. Hang your head in shame, and find you peace somewhere else and support it with your monies, without the benefit of others willing to pay some of your freight.
by Lance Silver (not verified) | January 30, 2009 - 12:05am
It's moronic to try to destroy the Casinos for many reasons. The obvious is that the law suitbt the Sugar House to the city will be in the tens of millions or more while if the Casinos are built the economic win to the city is in the tens of millions annually; duh. Mayor Nutter be a leader and pass the Casino legislation into reality ASAP.
by Matt (not verified) | January 29, 2009 - 5:47pm
This does not have anything to do with planning. Casinos are a "use" that we, as planners, must learn to work with to make sure their design only adds to the urban experience. PlanPhilly administrators: please keep philosophical debates over casinos out of this site or our (planners/designers in Phil) influence will diminish. Thanks.
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