Nutter and Casino Neighbors Go Behind Closed Doors
Chinatown neighbors fighting Center City casino
By LYNN BERRY and KAREN ARAIZA
Updated 2:01 PM EST, Sat, Nov 15, 2008
First it was an idea.
Now it seems imminent.
Neighbors in Chinatown went behind closed doors on Saturday to meet with Mayor Michael Nutter about putting a casino basically in their backyard.
Council approved a bill earlier this week that would change zoning so an entertainment complex could could be built in the Gallery area. That puts Foxwoods one step closer to making the casino a reality. In fact a casino might end up right on top of the Gallery at Market East. Mayor Nutter has not signed the bill yet.
To say neighbors in Chinatown are upset is probably an understatement. Basically, they feel like the whole deal evolved without their input, even though they are the families who would be affected the most.
About 15 Chinatown residents met with Mayor Nutter on Saturday, vowing they will not go down without a fight.
Earlier this week, over 20,000 city residents signed a petition against the construction of the Foxwoods Casino at The Gallery at Market East.
Supporters say a casino in the city would revitalize the area and bring much-needed jobs.
Mayor Nutter told the group on Saturday that he'll take their concerns into consideration and will make a decision on the bill in the next few weeks.
If he signs it, Foxwoods would then draw up plans which still have to be approved. Bottom line: There is still much more to do.
Mayor Nutter says he understands the community's concerns, but it seems to be a Catch-22. No matter where a casino went down, someone would be unhappy. Nutter asked folks to try to understand the benefits.
First Published: Nov 15, 2008 11:07 AM EST
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