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to promote civic engagement in the Philadelphia region.Gov: Foxwood willing to consider other sites
Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pm - by Matt Campbell. Filed under: Casinos.
Foxwoods could still move. That’s the take-away message Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter gave to the press this afternoon. But I’m not so sure we’re in a dramatically different place than we were before today’s Gov/Foxwoods meeting. Take a look at the bolded words in a carefully worded statement released this afternoon by the casino.
“Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia has delivered a world-class casino project with significant value to the City and the Commonwealth, and was awarded a license in an open competition by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board at our South Columbus Boulevard site. We have remained open to others’ responsible ideas, suggestions and concerns and have examined many alternatives to improve the value we will bring to the City and the State. We have shared with City and State officials the obstacles that resiting would entail. Following those discussions we have agreed, in principle, to consider other alternative sites and ways that we can mutually overcome those obstacles. We are committed to continuing those discussions, while preserving our rights to the South Columbus Boulevard site.”
Say what you will Philly, but the chances of Foxwoods spending the next few months looking at abandoned sites, redrawing their casino design, all while risking a re-bidding war for its license makes me think Foxwoods issued a polite statement after meeting with the state’s highest elected official. Also, Foxwoods is unlikely to do anything until Sugarhouse meets with the Gov sometime after Labor Day. If Sugarhouse hunkers down, Foxwoods ain’t moving.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Well it’s good they are “considering” other locations. But either way you look at it, the community will either be for or against the location. I believe S. Columbus Blvd would’ve been a great location just because of the waterfront and all the other attractions/shops in the area.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Who is this reporter? He’s insistent that nothing can change. What a pathetic rehash of the “let’s -frame-every-victory-as-defeat.” Get off it.
Word to the wise: it’s our city, dude. Stop hatin’. Go Guv, Nutter, and others. Move them.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:55 pm
This is a great forum. I’m glad WHYY has this outlet for discussion.
Yes, there are many obstacles to resiting to better locations. However, I am not sure what the author means by referring to a re-bidding war for the licenses. If the reference is to the possibility that the losing applicants will file lawsuits claiming that they should have the chance to own at any new location, I do not believe that that is a realistic threat. At today’s press conference, both Rendell and Fumo said that they were not concerning about lawsuits from the losing applicants. This is because the current Gaming Act includes a provision to allow licensees to move to new locations for “good cause shown,” with approval of the Gaming Control Board. So it is perfectly within the law for a licensee to move to a new location.
One realistic obstacle is that even though the casinos may select a new site that is off the waterfront, any new site also has to be remote from residential neighborhoods.
Of course the good folks at Casino-Free Philadelphia believe that the costs of casinos in Philly far outweigh their alleged benefits. If an objective cost/benefit analysis would be performed, we wouldn’t have casinos in Philly.
Anyway, let’s see what happens next. And let’s see how the citizens react. That’s the key.
Thanks WHYY.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
Beyond the reporting is a more interesting story, the story of citizens taking strategic action, sticking up for what is best for the city and state and moving stubborn pols to begin to do the right thing. Right now it is still just words by the electeds. Given all the work taken by citizens and citizen groups it would be nice to see some real action in the efforts to stop these casinos from those we elect to represent us.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
We’re in a vastly different place than we were before: one of the casinos has agreed in principle to talk about resiting, there’s an upcoming meeting with the other casino, state and city law makers including the Governor and the Mayor are now talking about resiting and the neighborhood voice is now being heard clearly.
Just a few short months ago Foxwoods was set on staying at their site and Rendell was naysaying about the possibility of moving the casinos.
Rewind a little more than a year and there was “growing support for casinos in neighborhoods,” we had a Governor and mayor that were pushing the development.
Resiting won’t be easy and it will take time but this is the first step and we should applaud it.
Morgan Jones
Fishtown
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
I should acknowledge that the rhetoric over Philadelphia’s two planned casinos has changed. Morgan is right to say just a few months ago both the casinos and the Gov were both saying resiting was a non-issue. So yesterday’s meeting did change how we perceive both the Gov and Foxwoods. On the surface, both giving us the impression that they are taking local concerns seriously and willing to look at other sites. But can someone please tell me what Foxwoods has to gain by agreeing to move? Won’t they find local opposition at another site? Isn’t the cost of re-designing a casino expensive? What will happen if Sugarhouse doesn’t move? Please help me understand how yesterday’s Gov/Foxwoods meeting is going to result into a shiny new Foxwoods/Airport Wetlands Casino Resort?