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March 29, 2007
TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA:
I am returning herewith Bill No. 070112 which would put before the voters a proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter to prohibit City Council from taking any action that would permit licensed gaming within 1500 feet of a residentially zoned district, an Institutional Development District or certain residentially-related and other specified uses and prohibit the Department of Licenses and Inspection from issuing any license or permit authorizing licensed gaming within such areas. If enacted, the Charter Change Referendum would effectively prohibit licensed gaming on the two sites selected by the Gaming Control Board (GCB) or at any location in Philadelphia where gaming is economically viable.
The City undertook an unprecedented public process. Supporters of the proposed Charter amendment argue the residents of Philadelphia deserve to be heard on the issue of gaming. They have been. Gaming appropriately is authorized at the state level. Nowhere in the country do cities undertake gaming without state authorization. Pennsylvania is no different. Philadelphians through our representatives in the General Assembly voted unanimously in support of gaming in the City.
Residents of Philadelphia have been afforded the opportunity to substantially influence the development of gaming facilities. I remind you, beginning with my appointment of the 47 member Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force in January 2005, thousands of Philadelphians have weighed in on the issue: hundreds of residents participated in a series of 10 public hearings in neighborhoods across the City; thousands more have met with City officials in a series of meetings with effected business, community and other stakeholder groups; others used the Task Force website to offer input; and 598 residents expressed their opinions through a scientific poll in which 83% of those polled in...
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