Mayor Michael Nutter's Campaign Promises on Casinos

Casino-Free Philadelphia received the following responses from Michael Nutter on April 30, 2007:

I will VOTE YES on ballot question #1 — either voting at the booth or outside at a ballot box – to create a minimum standard in keeping casinos at least 1,500 feet away from schools, places of worship, homes, parks and playgrounds.

YES

As Mayor, I would work with civic associations and community groups to prevent the building of casinos that violate that standard.

YES

As Mayor, I will attempt to keep casinos from being built within Philadelphia.

YES

As Mayor, I will be supportive of efforts to amend Act 71, the original gambling act, to establish minimum standards to protect neighborhoods and to oppose efforts to take away local zoning control.

YES

What have you done to support the referendum? Or what have you done to ensure reasonable standards in casino development? I have spoken out in support of the referendum. I have not put forth any policy plans that rely on casino revenues.

CBS 3 aired an Mayoral debate on October 30, 2007 and asked the following casino question:

Moderator: We asked viewers to submit questions to CBS 3.com. The number one issue that was asked about — we received more questions on this then any other question: Are you committed to preventing Foxwoods and Sugarhouse casinos from building at the currently proposed sites or indeed within 1,500 feet of any Philadelphia neighborhood and, if so, what will you do — if elected mayor — to move them away? (Mary)

Nutter: I'm supportive of the legislation to prevent siting these facilities within 1,500-feet of any residence. That legislation is now sitting in Harrisburg. I've been supportive of it.

The impact... The potential negative impact of casinos in Philadelphia I think we've not fully come to grips with: traffic, congestion, gaming addiction, as well as crime. It was not the best idea. It's certainly not the way to try to develop our waterfront.

And I would use every power within the Mayor's office to prevent their siting.

Moderator: Real quick. Mr Nutter you were a big proponent — and you pushed for the no smoking legislation — if the casinos did show, no smoking on casino floors?

Nutter: Absolutely

Michael Nutter's written response to the Crosstown Coalition's question on casinos

It should be a well-planned zoning process that promotes the health, safety, and welfare of Philadelphia residents. I do not support gambling as an economic development tool or as a way to fund ongoing government programs, no matter how worthy.

There is highly controversial evidence about whether the benefits are sustainable over time and whether those benefits exceed the substantial costs of gambling and the facilities that house it. One of my opponents supported this policy in the General Assembly and that is one of many differences between us. But this debate is properly one to be held in Harrisburg.

What does concern Philadelphia is the process by which casino gambling is coming to our city. That process is flawed and inappropriate. Of the many problems in that process, the most consequential was the link made between operators and locations in the awarding of licenses, which obscured any thoughtful debate over neighborhood impacts.

Philadelphians are right to protest the decisions made under that flawed process. I support placing the question on the May ballot, as voted unanimously by City Council last week. That question does not challenge the state’s basic proposal for casino gambling in Philadelphia, but rather addresses only the specific question of location.

The state Supreme Court was very clear in its decision stating that if the legislature wanted to take away our zoning powers then the legislature must provide the City with clear standards. In response, the legislature did not take away those powers or provide clear standards, but simply rushed an expedient and half-baked amended version of the gaming legislation. That amended legislation does not do want the Court told the legislature to do. In effect, we still have our power to control the land use aspects of gaming in the City, including the siting of the casinos.

The legislature dropped the ball. The citizens of Philadelphia have picked it up and I support their thoughtful and energetic campaign to fix the bad decisions made by a flawed process. I am confident that the Supreme Court will, in fact, uphold the zoning rule reflected in the referendum as a legitimate exercise of our zoning powers. This may well force the legislature to take them away. But I welcome the open debate that would follow such a heavy-handed exercise of raw power by the legislature.

Assuming that the referendum passes, and I believe it will overwhelmingly, then the issue will be to quickly find new locations, ones that follow the new 1500 foot rule, for the two existing operators. This should be done quickly in order to pursue the policy goals that the Governor and legislature have every right to legislate. Our fight is with the process. The referendum will allow is to fix its biggest flaw: the marriage of operators and locations and I ask Philadelphians to vote yes on the ballot question.

—Michael Nutter, April 2007