As many of you know, the casinos made the unwise move of challenging the 27,254 people who signed to get a referendum on the ballot. Unwise because it further clarifies for people that their value of greed is attempting to trump the value of democracy.

Anyways, Jet, myself, and Anne wrote a letter to the investors... and wanted to share....

Today Sugarhouse Casino’s lawyers "in collaboration" with Foxwoods Casino‘s attorneys announced a challenge to the 27,254 citizen signatures supporting a Charter Amendment. These signatures were gathered across Philadelphia by city residents seeking to give Philadelphians a chance to vote on whether or not casinos should be built nearby residential neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, and other residential-use facilities.

We agree with the Philadelphia Inquirer article describing the challenge as "nasty." We agree, because it is a continuation of a pattern to deny Philadelphians the right to have a say in such major development. You are denying the people of Philadelphia the chance to decide for themselves. Are you truly against a democratic process?

For that reason, we would like to lay out very plainly our situation. We hope it will influence your future decisions and, in particular, lead you to refuse your current path of actions.

Most of us heard about your plans to develop casinos in the city around a year ago (some of us much later). We were promised a transparent process by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, an appointed body to oversee gaming in the state. However, it soon became clear the PGCB was not about modeling transparency but instead implemented a process that steamrolled over citizen input. The problems were numerous: we were excluded from speaking at public meetings, we were not given access to your plans as they were updated and changed, there were a lack of social and environmental standards to inform the process, and we were not heard when an overwhelming amount of the written comments from Philadlephia were against casinos or the process. A responsive process would have taken the criticism into account. The PGCB continued, unabated and unapologetic, eventually choosing your two proposals (Foxwoods and Sugarhouse).

We realize you had no formal control over this process. However, your continued silence on the question of public input suggested to us that you are not interested in being a good neighbor. We would like to be proven otherwise.

We crafted the referendum as a way to give the voters of Philadelphia a chance to have a say. Should casinos be built so close to people’s homes, churches, and other such facilities? It is a fair question. We trust the voters of Philadelphia to make a decision.

To be clear, this referendum is not an "anti-gambling" referendum – and we would appreciate you not mischaracterizing this referendum in that way. It allows voters to decide if casinos should be placed in residential neighborhoods.

We believe that casinos do not belong in our neighborhoods. They have a detrimental effect and we believe are linked with increasing addiction, crime, and traffic while reducing local jobs and threatening port jobs. They have a negative affect on property values and are not a model of positive neighborhood development – instead bringing in more problems with potentially unlimited free late-night drinks and generally supporting addictions. It's not the kind of development that fits with our vision for our neighborhood, where we raise our kids. This is an experiment to put casinos in urban residential neighborhoods and we are being forced to be the guinea pigs.

The challenging of the City Clerk’s acceptance of the signatures gathered to put this referendum on the ballot – which were obtained in the freezing cold by hundreds of volunteers – only drags your name through the mud. It gives the appearance that you have no interest in the will of Philadelphians.

It is further odd because on the one hand both casino corporations are going door-to-door trying to woo neighbors; but on the other hand you’re accusing neighbors of being involved with massive fraud. Which message will be remembered?

Our signature gathering was a collective effort over a twenty day period. If you deny us our say now, we will be forced to continue organizing for a democratic voice. We do not want to go back and get 100,000 signatures to prove the point – but are willing to do what it takes to show what is increasingly obvious: people want a say.

Our request is simple: actively support the will of the people. Withdraw your challenge of the signatures which only undermines the democratic process.

We have no wish to further engage in signatures or court for a demand that we believe to be basic to democracy: one person, one vote. However, with great commitment we will defend our city and our right to have a say.

Respectfully submitted,

- Jethro Heiko, Daniel Hunter, Anne Dicker
Casino-Free Philadelphia
www.CasinoFreePhila.org

Cc: Mayor, City Council