Their Secrecy, Our Right to Know
Four weeks ago today we sent an ultimatum to Chairman Tad Decker of the PA Gaming Control Board (and we sent a copy to the Governor too) to release documents about what is being proposed in our neighborhoods. Despite our right to know, the Gaming Control Board continues to hide these documents, like updated traffic plans and impact studies.

Which leads us to December 11th
Two weeks from today, on Monday, December 11th, Philadelphians and our friends from across the Commonwealth are taking a historic action in our State Capitol.

Please join us in Harrisburg to help us liberate the documents and create a more democratic process. For background on Operation Transparency, go to http://www.casinofreephila.org/Operation%20Transparency.html.

The Plan
We will be leaving by bus at 8 AM, and holding a rally at the Gaming Control Board. The rally will support the core objectives of Operation Transparency: a meaningful public process and debate based on real information before the licensing of casinos.

It will also support the direct action of a handful of Philadelphians who are signing up to go into the offices and search for the documents. For every person we have taking part in what we are calling the “citizen document search” we would like at least 10 Philadelphians attending the rally in support. That means we really need your help. If you are committed to the efforts to protect our neighborhoods and city, our riverfront and homes we need you to join us on this day. Please email Jethro at jethro@actionmill.com or call him at 267-984-3493 to sign up for the day of action.

We plan on being back to Philly by dinner time. We know for many of us that this is a work day, we are asking you to consider taking the day off.

Training beforehand
We would also like you to join us on Sunday, December 10th for the direct action training. We're finishing details on the timing, but probably 1pm to 6pm. (Please email Daniel at daniel@democracyguard.org to learn more and sign up). To participate in the citizen’s document search you must attend the training. The training is open to people interested and to people who just want to play a support role (supporters are encouraged to attend, in fact).

Finally, in order for this action to be successful we need your help in reaching out to your friends and neighbors. Please download, print, copy and distribute the action flyer, http://www.casinofreephila.org/Home_files/Citywide%20Flyer-1.pdf.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email or call us. And if you have time to volunteer over the next two weeks we would very much welcome your help.

Bottomline
1. Please block out December 11th to travel with us to Harrisburg
2. Let us know you're coming and if you can attend the December 10th training, expected hours 1pm to 6pm. (E-mail jethro@actionmill.org or daniel@democracyguard.org).
3. Pass this e-mail or the flyer to your friends to let them know.

All the best,
Daniel Hunter and Jethro Heiko
for Casino Free Philadelphia

ps: Please check out the latest news about Operation Transparency in this week’s City Paper, http://citypaper.net/articles/2006/11/23/Gaming-the-Casino-Board.