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No Casino in My Neighborhood Mr. Mayor! 20,000 signatures grace a petition against the construction of a casino at The Gallery

By  VINCE LATTANZIO

Updated 5:28 PM EDT, Wed, Nov 12, 2008

WCAU

Over 20,000 city residents signed a petition against the construction of the Foxwoods Casino at The Gallery at Market East.

 

Hundreds of Center City residents presented Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter with a hefty petition Wednesday afternoon.

Mayor Nutter Responds to Petition Against Foxwood Casino

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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter responds to city residents who oppose the move of the proposed Foxwoods casino from South Philly to The Gallery at Market...

The petition’s goal is to stop zoning legislation that will allow the Foxwoods Casino to be built at The Gallery at Market East at 8th and Market Streets.

Over 20,000 people signed the petition opposing the casino, which was originally approved to be built along the Delaware River waterfront in South Philly.

The mayor promised he would consider their issues, but noted that a city as old as Philly has seen many tough issues and controversial projects before.

“I think what’s most important is that people feel that their voices are being heard, that they are not being disrespected in the process and regardless where we end up that there are numerous opportunities,” Nutter said during a press conference.

Neighborhood residents and community leaders said they fear the casino would bring gambling addicts and alcoholics to their doorstep.

In contrast, executives from Foxwoods said the casino would bring jobs and economic growth to a barren stretch of Market Street East.

Comments (8)

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  • yes we can Sunday, Nov 16 at 12:21 AM FLAG COMMENT truth and justice: how about taking the ethnicity (oh btw, you did know there are other ethnicities that live and do business in chinatown right?) out of your argument. how about just realizing that this casino proposal is too close to a neighborhood/community that has homes, schools, and places of worship. stop being a xenophobe.
  • truth and justice Friday, Nov 14 at 11:00 AM FLAG COMMENT The Chinese expand Chinatown ONLY when it benefits them. The streets are dirty,sidewalks filthy. Mexicans drinking and doing drugs everywhere. Illegals run the ILLEGAL casinos in Chinatown. If the so called PCDC would get it is nose out of it's rearend then may be they could get the streets cleaned with casino money. Even the Chinese do not go to Chinatown. Stop trying to use gambling to blame for spousal abuse. It already exi ... MORE >
  • Chris Thursday, Nov 13 at 9:27 PM FLAG COMMENT Hey BOB: theres a tiny difference between that metropolis of Bensalem and downtown Philadelphia. Studies after studies have proven there is a net-job loss in local areas. Not to mention a spike in crime, homelessness, and utter filth. The slots in Bensalem, yeah you have to drive to get to, it is secluded. I guess the city is too clean now..unemployment was too low here. Thank God Fat EDDIE RENDELL is looking out for us!!! Fir ... MORE >
  • yes we can Thursday, Nov 13 at 4:25 PM FLAG COMMENT i'm glad that bensalem is not feeling any negative affects of the casino there but we must realize that this is a casino that they want to place in an urban mall which sits on top of a transportation hub. a transportation hub that is used by thousands of students to get to school and home. there havent been any studies done about the cost-benefits.. and that's why this process sucks. the city has nothing and yet they're saying ... MORE >
  • klara Thursday, Nov 13 at 12:38 PM FLAG COMMENT There are so many empty buildings in North Philly. I don't understand why City Hall isn't interested to revitalized these part of the city? The casinos couldn't make this areas worse that they are, except bringing some jobs and life.

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