Hot air from Rendell?


From the Inquirer


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Rendell affirms sites for casinos

He said his remarks about finding new locations were "overblown" and that the sites were "well chosen."

By Angela Couloumbis
Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau

Gov. Rendell
HARRISBURG - Gov. Rendell said yesterday that he believes Philadelphia's two Delaware River waterfront casino sites were "well chosen," and that his recent comments to neighborhood community groups about finding new locations for the parlors were "overblown."

During an early August closed-door meeting with representatives of the Delaware River Neighborhood Alliance, members said Rendell told them he would support moving both casinos more than 1,500 feet away from neighborhoods if viable alternative sites were found.

The alliance, which includes residents opposed to the proposed casino sites in South Philadelphia and Fishtown-Northern Liberties, also said Rendell told them that he would urge the casino developers to consider alternative sites and would make state resources available to help the process.

At the time, Rendell would not comment on the meeting, but his statements surprised many in Philadelphia who wondered if he was now unhappy with the Gaming Control Board's decision in December to award casino licenses at the two sites.

It also raised hopes among community groups that the governor was opening the door to relocating the casinos.

Yesterday, Rendell said: "I think the strong likelihood is the two casinos will remain where they are and I wanted to talk about how we ameliorate . . . concerns.

"But they didn't want to do that," the governor said of the community groups. "They wanted to talk about resisting."

So the governor said he told them to assemble a list of alternative sites and that he would take them to the two casino developers, SugarHouse to the north and Foxwoods to the south.

Said Rendell: "But I told them that if they [casinos] say no, there is nothing under the law - or anywhere else - where I can force them to resite. And I said to them my belief is that they are not going to resite, so we've wasted this meeting."

Members of the Delaware River Neighborhood Alliance said they were working on a list of alternative sites, and would be presenting it to the governor soon.

"We would like to work with him, but these comments make us question how committed he is to a fair, open and transparent process to consider new sites," said Debbie King, a member of the neighborhood alliance and vice president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, who lives five blocks from the SugarHouse site.

Both casino developers have said they do not want to relocate.

Rendell yesterday did seem to leave the door slightly open.

"Anything can happen," he said.


http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070818_Rendell_affirms_sites_for_casinos.html

"The issue of re-siting is over."
- Ed Rendell


From the Inquirer

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Posted on Wed, Oct. 10, 2007


Rendell says casinos stay; neighbors vow to fight on
By Jeff Shields

Inquirer Staff Writer

Gov. Rendell yesterday declared the search for alternate casino sites in the city "over," urging neighbors to join in discussions about what happens when - not if - the slots parlors are built.
In a letter to Gaetano Piccirilli, an activist in Bella Vista, Rendell wrote that he had no power to force Foxwoods Casino to move from its chosen site in Pennsport, or SugarHouse from its location in Fishtown and Northern Liberties.

Neighbors say the sites are too close to homes and will create unsolvable traffic problems, and Rendell had promised them that he would ask the casinos about moving.

The casinos responded that they would not.

"The commonwealth has no authority to require them to accept alternate sites," Rendell wrote. "Therefore, I must reluctantly inform you that the issue of re-siting is over."

He offered to meet with residents to discuss "other issues of casino development," including traffic, parking and crime.

The casinos welcomed the governor's letter.

"We appreciate the governor putting this issue to rest," said Maureen Garrity, Foxwoods spokeswoman. "It brings us one step closer to building our casino and generating thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues for Philadelphia and the commonwealth."

"SugarHouse is thankful to the governor and is looking forward to getting our project under way," SugarHouse spokeswoman Leigh Whitaker said.

But neighbors yesterday refused to give up.

The governor's decision to finally stake a position will draw the battle lines more distinctly, said A.J. Thomson, a Fishtown resident.

Jethro Heiko and Daniel Hunter of the anti-casino group Casino Free Philadelphia wrote in a letter to Rendell: "We reject your declaration that you have no power over re-siting and consider it abandonment of your roles and responsibilities for which you were elected."

City Councilman Frank DiCicco, whose district includes both casino sites, said he was digging in his heels.

While the state Supreme Court has ruled that the city can't control where a casino is built, DiCicco said the city could hold up construction if the casinos didn't offer real solutions to traffic and other problems.



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Contact staff writer Jeff Shields at 215-854-4565 or jshields@phillynews.com.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/20071010_Rendell_says_casinos_stay__neighbors_vow_to_fight_on.html

Casino-Free Philadelphia responds to Ed with an open letter.


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Dear Ed Rendell,

We reject your declaration that you have no power over re-siting and consider it abandonment of your roles and responsibilities for which you were elected. Apparently, you forget that we still live in a democracy under the rule of law.

You write, in your October 9th letter, that "the commonwealth has no authority to require them to accept alternative sites." We were not aware that we had elected the gambling industry to run Pennsylvania. As Governor, we know you still have the power to affect siting.

Therefore, it raises the question of why you would suggest otherwise. Perhaps the $2 million in campaign contributions from 1999-2002 by racetrack owners, casino executives and other businesses holding gambling interests poured into state political coffers has swayed your mind. Over $800,000 of those contributions have gone directly to your campaign. [Bob Warner, "How Gambling $$ Funds PA Politics - & Rendell," Philadelphia Daily News, 3/3/03]

Or perhaps your own close affiliation with the investors has blinded you, such as your relationship with Neil Bluhm, Richard Sprague, Ron Rubin, and Ed Snider.

You've tried to strip the city of authority -- though we finding more strength than you believe. Now you strip yourself of authority? You are acting foolishly and recklessly to believe the casino industry is unaswerable to no one -- not the city, the state, or the commonwealth.

We urge you to commit to supporting #1477, which is an example of what the commonwealth can do by creating a buffer that is widely supported by Philadelphians.

You should be pleased to know, however, that we will not keep hope dead, which seems to be your mantra. We will persevere and continue to fight for re-siting. We believe in the power of the commonwealth, even if you do not.

Sincerely,

- Daniel Hunter and Jethro Heiko
Casino-Free Philadelphia


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Both SugarHouse and Foxwoods count big Rendell contributors among their core groups of investors:
FOXWOODS INVESTOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO RENDELL

Ronald Rubin - PA Real Estate Investment Trust - $10,000 1/15/03
Melissa Katz - Homemaker - $25,000 5/21/03 (Daughter of Lewis Katz, her married name is Melissa Silver. She runs the Silver Family Foundation)
Ed Snider - Chairman, Comcast Spectator - $5,000 6/30/05

SUGARHOUSE INVESTOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO RENDELL
Neil G. Bluhm - President JMB Realty
- $10,000 12/22/00
- $20,000 5/1/02
- $25,000 6/29/05
- $4,159 6/23/05 (Catering)
Richard A. Sprague - Sprague & Sprague
- $25,000 12/31/04
- $5,000 12/15/02
- $25,000 10/15/02 (in the name of Sprague & Sprague)
Greg Carlin, Managing Director, Lamb Partners
- $1000 6/29/05
Robert Potamkin, President Potamkin Dealerships
- $25,000 10/12/02
- $3,000 6/25/01

(This list is not intended to be exhaustive.)

Dear Dan, Jethro, et al:

I would urge you to use Spellcheck when firing off an angry missive to a public official. I might then be inclined to take you seriously. As others have stated, but which you and your cohorts refuse to acknowledge, this deal was done a long time ago. Had you paid attention to my first campaign for Governor, you would have heard me mention something about bringing gambling to our fine Commonwealth. There's lots of money to be made. In fact, the revenue generated by the other slots parlors that have opened across the state have far exceeded our inital projections. Once we get them up and running on the waterfront, I'm quite confident we'll all be elated at the results. I've promised my constituents significant property tax relief (you know, the other 66 counties outside Philly) and, frankly, they're tired of waiting.

The final hurdle to be cleared will occur in November when all my hand puppets on City Council grant the necessary zoning changes. Frank has asked me to wait until he's been safely re-elected before this occurs. Rest assured, though, it will happen.

Hope to see you on opening day.

Regards,
Fast Eddie