Third hearing date added on proposals for second Philly casino

As the public signs up to testify about opening a second casino in Philadelphia, state officials have added another day for the hearings that begin in April.  

 

William Ryan, chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, says the commission will hear testimony over two days in April as well as May 8 at a venue outside Center City.

“We just decided it would be better and more fair if we gave the people who live down in that area in South Philadelphia an opportunity to come to a location closer to home to express their views, not just about the three (proposals) in the stadium area but all six,” Ryan said. “We just thought it was the right thing to do.”

Ryan says in the first few hours of registration, about two dozen people signed up to speak.

“The board wants to hear from interested individuals, representatives, members of community groups, public officials because we want to know what the public is thinking, what they think about all of these projects,” Ryan said. “That’s what the purpose of the input hearing’s for.”

The April 11 and 12 hearings will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. On May 8, the hearing will take place at Lincoln Financial Field.