Michael Nutter had it right when he was a candidate. He not only actively supported keeping casinos out of neighborhoods he rightly stated that casinos are bad economic development and that he would not use their revenue for government services, no matter how worthy these services are. As a candidate and in his first year as Mayor, Nutter was poised to become a champion, to stand up to the predatory gambling trade and the corrupt governor, Senator, legislature and Supreme Court that has been pushing for years to make Philadelphia the largest US city to host casinos.

After a week of denying that his position had changed, Mayor Nutter finally admitted that it has. In the Daily News article this morning Nutter's spokesperson stated that Nutter's "comments this week on his position on casinos were about his time as mayor, not when he was a candidate." Of course, as the article makes clear Nutter answered "yes" when asked "As mayor I will attempt to keep casinos from being built within Philadelphia" making this explanation from Nutter nonsensical. But the biggest problem here is not that the Mayor's position changed but that he was wrong to change it.

The proposed casinos will create a net economic loss for the city, potentially costing us more than $200 million dollars each year in law enforcement costs alone (Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperative Authority report, 2007). Mayor Nutter, by reversing his position on casinos, has put the city's long term economic future further in jeopardy in a perilous time. And by reversing his position he also threatens other important priorities such as: reducing crime, government transparency (he has now had a number of secret meetings with both casino operators), developing a world-class, sustainable riverfront on the Delaware, preserving the historic resources of our city, and much more.

Nutter is wrong to change his position and wrong to support this regressive form of taxation. He should stand up against predatory gambling and the industry and governor who continue to try to push it into our communities and homes.