I pretty much agree with you, except for court rulings; state vs. local zoning is about 50/50 in regards to supreme court rulings, with a slight edge to local municipalities.

I am not in favor with casinos, but I was not giving a single dime to the extremists who have lied for their cause, and already said they would use left over money "to fight other local problems"-so I should give them money to go after my business down the road? Thanks, but no thanks.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

Are you aware that the International Longshoreman's Union is part of the "anti casino coalition"? There is concern about the location of Foxwoods because it could impact port expansion plans. Do you know that the "anti-casino coalition" is not really anti-gambling? The communities along the river front are not opposed to gambling or development. They are opposed to the location of the two casinos being so close to their communities and how haphazardly they were planned if they were planned at all.

Most, if not all, council members voted for it to push the issue back to the state, and they were successful in doing so. The important thing is that they did it and it was within it legal authority to do it. I'm still not clear how the state can remove a local referendum simply because they don't like it.



You are wrong on that. Local zoning is local zoning and for the state to get their way they have to deny zoning and land use through legislation. ACT 71 doesn't include anything close.

Up till now the argument against the referendum is that it will force the state to pass preemption and then the City will have no say. Now, the state is saying that they already have preemption so the City has no say anyways. Nice try on their part.

If the state wins it is because the fix is in.

With all due respect, are you an attorney? Have you read the gambling law? There is nothing in the present form of the bill that denies the City local zoning and land use. The City is within its power to identify other sites for these casinos and the State would have to deal with it. In fact, the courts made it that way when they struck an attempt at preemption from the original bill. The State proceeded as if nothing changed. Even as late as 11/06 the state was trying to ammend the gaming act to include a preemption clause. Couldn't gain the support of the Philly delegation so it didn't happen. If the courts now agree that the State is able to preempt the City then they will have directly contradicted their earlier decision on the matter.

And you don't see the Gaming Control Board as being bullies? What exactly has been obnoxious about the "anti-casino" coalition? And again, the coalition is not anti-casino, just anti-location, and pro-planning.

I feel kind of odd saying it, but I agree with everything you have said recently!
Philadelphia should vote straight republican in the upcoming election, just to throw these maggots out! And also to give this corrupt one party machine a kick in the a#@!
How could some of us possibly of thought that Diccico was sincere in his fight against these casino locations?
Everyday it becomes clearer just how sneaky these animals are! Frank answers to Vince and Vince alone, and Vince answers to no one, God willing he will at some point be answering to the Federal Govt. and hopefully justice will be served!(139 counts, something has got to stick) How is Act 71s legitimacy not called into question by the mere fact that one of its main authors is indicted on 139 counts of corruption!

The thought of people falling all over the place in these casinos is GREAT! Whether you realize it or not , if these corrupt politicans and these parasitic casinos get their way and deny the people their vote then I guarantee, you will have started a wave of insurance claims with this idea ! I for one will drink all the liquor they give me, fall down , sue them for my pain and then sue them for serving me too much booze ! Brilliant! I also have plenty of friends and neighbors who would enjoy nothing better than drinking their booze and then suing the sh#* out of them!

It is a sad day in America when some of its citizens are happy about corrupt judges, politcans and big buisness joining forces to deny American citizens a vote!

Lied for their cause? When? What was lied about?

Left over money? What money? These people are fighting the well funded casino operators and state government on barely a shoestring.

When was something said about fighting other local problems? Sounds inconsistent with their effort to date.

Thanks.

Fantastic! How can anyone rationally argue with this!

Philadelphia 1776 the birthplace of our nation!
Philadelphia 2007 the begining of the end of our nation!

The restrictions imposed by the referendum on where slots parlors can be placed amount to a de facto prohibition on the opening of slots parlors. The intent of the proponents of the city refererendum is to make the city's zoning code so onerous as to make the placement of slots parlors financially undesirable, thereby discouraging their opening in the first place. Such intent is directly contrary to the intent of Act 71.

__________________
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Buy American made products.

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Of course it isn't. The City plans to allow casinos as long as they are 400 feet below ground and 6 miles away from any residential property, including homeless encampments.

__________________
WHYY pays their CEO $750,000 a year. So WHYY should I renew my membership? Seems they have no problems finding money and spending it unwisely.


And this is why you should donate to PACCA, not PETA:

In September, PETA made headlines in Vermont and across the nation for asking Ben & Jerry's ice cream to use human breast milk in their ice cream, instead of cow milk

Casino-Free has wasted all of your Time & Money.
Hip Hip, Hooray!
LONG LIVE Sugarhouse and Foxwoods!
Hip hip, Hooray!

__________________
~Lets cut taxes and pensions out of Philadelphia.
http://www.philadelphiaforward.org

I find all of this in good fun. Really, I do.

I look at examples of how these casinos will destroy Philadelphia.

For example, The Forum. Pure depravity on Market Street, just above a major transit point in the SEPTA network, it is a nexus...

oh, wait. The Murano is going up across the street from there. I forgot. And just east of that two doors down from The Forum is a Peek-A-Boo Revue.

Hmm.

These little oddies are situated on the same main drag between PECO and Corporate America.

I can't help but be embarrassed a little bit each time I go to Trader Joe's and have to cross in front of the porno theater to take the return trolley back home. But does it have any effect, at all, on the city?

Question:

Is Harrah's causing Chester to delve into poverty, moral depravity, choking it with obscene amounts of traffic, plunging the city into chaos? No?

Chester's still the same hellhole, yeah... but did it get worse there? I can't tell, can you?

Something tells me we can still live our lives after this. I have a knack for these things... EastChestnut thinks we can all get through this.

I'll help you with the therapy. I accept Visa, MC and Diner's Club. Sorry, no AMEX--I can't take the merchant fees.

__________________
WHYY pays their CEO $750,000 a year. So WHYY should I renew my membership? Seems they have no problems finding money and spending it unwisely.


And this is why you should donate to PACCA, not PETA:

In September, PETA made headlines in Vermont and across the nation for asking Ben & Jerry's ice cream to use human breast milk in their ice cream, instead of cow milk

Blah blah blah.

Revolution? You need to layoff that nasty Canadian stuff and switch to the Jamaican weed--it will calm you down there, Che.

We have taxation with representation in this country. All of it. The people who you elect tax the sh** out of you and you stand for it.


May I remind you of people you, Philadelphia, voted for?



"Hi. I'm your senator for the Commonwealth and I brought you a 2am legislative package which bans Philadelphia from siting casinos, but it also excludes casinos in Philadelphia from having to obey the city's smoking ban! Grandmothers of America are going to be proud of me! Huzzah!"


"Hello. I'm your Governor. I used to be mayor, but then I realized how poor Philadelphia is. So I decided to run the state and get you those casinos you need so badly so you can pay those big fat city pensions you guys are making!"


"Bitch I am NOT Don King! Shoot. Yes I support Ed Rendell in everything he does. He's so loveable. I've known him a long time. A really long time. We've had some special moments together on Fire Island..."


Let's not forget some another memorable Philly character...
"Hi! I am not only helping to keep Fumo's ass out of jail, my office is also working hard to make sure SugarHouse stays in Port. Fishington. Booya!!!"


Am I being juvenile? Not one damned bit! I'm reminding you how poorly you make decisions when you vote. Stupid ass Philadelphians.

Pittsburgh does a better job of cleaning their house. You squalor in it and cry like a little baby that your rights were taken away from you.

Then you forget all about it in November. You've done this for 80 years. Haven't grown up yet, I see?

WAKE UP! Remember this day come November!

__________________
WHYY pays their CEO $750,000 a year. So WHYY should I renew my membership? Seems they have no problems finding money and spending it unwisely.


And this is why you should donate to PACCA, not PETA:

In September, PETA made headlines in Vermont and across the nation for asking Ben & Jerry's ice cream to use human breast milk in their ice cream, instead of cow milk