Big news, and increased commitment

Yesterday, the corrupt Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board somehow found "good cause" to extend Foxwoods' license for two years and insisted that the casino stay on Columbus Boulevard. This is one of the most significant political decisions in our 38-month effort to keep Philadelphia casino-free. So what does it mean?

It means two casinos are now once again proposed for our historic Delaware waterfront in violation of the citizen-driven civic vision. It means that the politicians who once stood with us on the principle of keeping casinos out of neighborhoods (they all supported the 1,500-foot buffer referendum) need to explain why they oppose a casino in one neighborhood but support a casino in Chinatown, Fishtown and Northern Liberties. They need to explain why they continue to sponsor a predatory industry that wasted their time, our money, and that seeks to push people further into foreclosure, bankruptcy and a life of poverty. We will demand these answers.

Fortunately, through hard work, citizens continue to grow stronger. The so-called power of our elected officials, on stage at a City Hall press conference one year ago, has been exposed as an illusion by the truth and tenacity of our coalition partners and allies, who are now permanent parts of our movement.

Many forces boost our struggle. Indeed, we earn our rewards, which now come in the form of the predatory gambling trade tanking nationwide. Suffering delay after delay, both Foxwoods and SugarHouse are now badly wounded financially. Read more about their troubles in the statement we released yesterday prior to the PGCB hearing. Now, with your help, we will work even harder to finish them off — and we'll do so by sticking by our principles. We'll continue to speak the hard truths, as we did yesterday to the Associated Press.

A growing commitment of citizens, like you, will lead us to eventual victory. If you are opposed to casinos in Philadelphia, if you are in favor of open government and an engaged citizenry and if you believe that you can determine the destiny of your city, we need your help now, more than ever. We are calling for everyone across the city, no matter where you live, to sign our pledge to take part in actions against the proposed casinos. We will not relent until they leave South Philly, until they leave Northern Liberties and Fishtown, and until they leave our beloved City of Philadelphia altogether.

If you cannot lend us your time, please donate to our cause and, together, we will keep Philadelphia casino-free.