Casinos & Citizenry: West Philly town hall
Location
Politicians and casino lobbyists would have us believe that casinos in Philadelphia are a done deal.
They give us a grim choice: higher taxes and soaring unemployment, or predatory gambling that tears our community apart with higher crime and personal debt, family strife, and displaced spending away from local businesses. (One need only look at the example of Atlantic City, where one-third of the city's retail businesses closed within just four years of the casinos' arrival.)
But we've been here before:
- Three years ago we were told casinos were a "done deal," and the state refused to make public the most basic documents about the casinos' plans. Citizens mobilized, and after significant pressure, thousands of pages of documents were released.
- Two years ago, unaccountable bureaucrats pushed through casino licensing without any public input. A grassroots force of Philadelphians gathered 27,000 signatures in 21 days to put the casino question on the ballot. Despite the efforts of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to subvert our democracy, Philadelphians sent a clear message when they voted 95% in favor of banning casinos from residential neighborhoods.
- One year ago, the governor began asserting that casinos would be the answer to our economic woes. Casino-Free Philadelphia did its own study and uncovered the hidden costs that neither the governor nor the city has been able to refute.
In each case, Philadelphia residents refused to be cowed into submission by politicians claiming things were over and done with. The situation is no different today. We know that in times of crisis, we need strong communities — not broken communities rendered debt-ridden for profit and greed. Politicians should be focused on preserving essential services through a shared burdens of all citizens, not exploiting our most vulnerable communities and deepening the need for the very social services on the chopping block.
Join us in West Philadelphia as we explore the ways you and your neighbors can continue prevent predatory gambling from coming to our city. And learn about Beat the House, our upcoming June 6 event, where we'll gather inside a slots parlor near Philadelphia to declare our continuing defiance to the predatory gambling trade. Sign up below, or just show up with your friends!
Three years ago they said casinos were a done deal. Our communities know better.
Transit: SEPTA's 34 trolley and 64 bus both stop at this intersection.
