City government

I came across this mind blowing article in The Bulletin newspaper about a new high-end real estate project on Rittenhouse Square. One thing that is particularly surprising is 300 people showed up for the unveiling including Dwight Evans, Chaka Fattah, Lynne Abraham, and Michael Nutter. What a strage array of folks for the opening of a condo building. What kind of interests are really involved here? Where is the money coming from? As one of the new purchasers quoted in the article "The general rules don't apply in this case". Fascinating!

When 200 residents of the Lindley Court Apartments in Logan lost their homes with two hours’ notice on Saturday, June 21st, the building' fire alarm system didn’t work, raw sewage festered in the basement, putrid garbage piled up atop overflowing dumpsters, and there was no water because the copper pipes had been stolen.

Late last week we got word that the City Council Rules Committee cancelled tomorrow's meeting which for months was billed as the hearing that would move Sugarhouse casino forward. Due to continued opposition to both casinos the Sugarhouse casino asked to cancel this meeting as they still have not been successful at forcing the various community groups they need to get on board to the table on their terms. Check out www.casinofreephila.org to learn more. And please sign up to join us next Tuesday. We are taking a trip to Scranton to shut down the PA Gaming Control Board hearing. Training is Monday night. Please join us.

I left up the following post as I think it provides some helpful background information. In April 2006 when we were first reaching out and getting the lay of the land when it came to the casinos being proposed in Philly's neighborhoods we were told that there was nothing we could do and that casinos would break ground by Spring 2007. With fall 2007 just getting started the casinos, backed by some of the biggest names in the legal and political donor circles in this city, continue to be responded to with organized opposition. In the past few months this opposition has grown and I am writing to encourage you to join us. Just last week residents shut down the Gaming Control Board hearing that was taking place in Philly and a few dozen citizens went to the Governor's house to pay him a visit-the Governor afterall has been the biggest booster and champion for this disaster.

In the past few months we have learned from a state agency (PICA) that casinos will cost at least one job lost for every job that they create and that casinos will cost the City $200 million due to increased crime (money that is not planed for in any City budget being proposed). We have elected officials, including the Governor, talking about resiting casinos outside of residential neighborhoods (which would reduce some costs and preserve the quality of life in Philly's neighborhoods) and the head of the PA Gaming Control Board, Tad Decker resigned his post to return to Cozen O'Conner law firm, which represents Sugarhouse casino company (the company behind the proposed casino in Northern Liberties/Fishtown).

the first meeting of the zoning code commission is next week and is open to the public. it is absolutely essential that citizens engage in this process. will try and make it out if i can. here are the details:

In the May election Philadelphians voted on a referendum to overhaul the Phila zoning code (more on why this is a good thing). A reformed zoning code could potentiallyhelp developers and average people avoid the Kafkaesque red tape of the current zoning system but also give communities a healthier role in developing their neighborhood.

Some of you might be interested in this discussion happening on the Young Philly Politics blog about the city's declaration of the area around Broad and Washington as a redevelopment zone.

Casino-Free Philadelphia calls on supporters to gather at City Hall on June 13th to demand that City Council vote against zoning bills legalizing the construction of SugarHouse casino within two hundred feet of a residential community.

At the same City Council Rules Committee hearing, we will ask them to send the 1,500-foot buffer zone - supported by the majority of Philadelphians - to council for passage. In our Philly's Ballot Box election, 95% of the voters expressed their support of this buffer.

The pro-SugarHouse bills were introduced by a lame-duck at-large Councilman at the request of a lame-duck Mayor and Sugarhouse, and in direct contradiction of the overwhelming public consensus that casinos do not belong in residential neighborhoods.

With your help, we can and will make a difference on the outcome of this vote.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO EVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN PHILADELPHIA

The Community Preservation Network has prepared the advisory below for your immediate attention. If you care about being able to control development in your community - wherever you happen to live or work in Philadelphia - then you have ONE week to contact your district Councilperson, at-large Councilpersons and the mayor to STOP this legislation from being passed.

Listen to an excerpt from a community meeting at Songhai City Cultural Center about the Industrial Transformation District Bills currently before City Council. The speaker is Al Alston of the African American Business and Resident Association.

Please attend the city council hearing on February 7th, at 10 am, City Hall room 400.