Right now 1.2 million Pennsylvanians lack basic health care coverage. Those of us who are insured face rising premiums, shrinking coverage, and bureaucratic obstacles to treatment. Prescription medicines are too expensive and preventative health care has become a thing of past. Those families that are unfortunate enough to be struck with a serious illness or a health emergency often face financial ruin and bankruptcy.

We’ve entered an ugly phase in the fight against casinos. Our lame duck mayor has tried to paint the city into a corner through backroom deals. The casinos, desperate to break ground before Mayor Nutter takes office, have their public relations machines beating the drums of inevitability in the hopes that the citizens will simply give up. Furthermore, a recent spate of articles have attempted to brand those of us who continue to oppose these casinos as a bunch of crazies who care more about traffic congestion or saving the “soul” of the city than cutting property taxes and creating jobs.