Casino company goes to court over Council inaction

Impatient with City Council, Foxwoods Casino yesterday filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court accusing the city of "machinations" that constitute "an obvious effort to delay Foxwoods' project."

The casino company, which plans to build a slots parlor in Pennsport, expected City Council to take up this week the issue of creating a "commercial entertainment district" for the project. Such a district is a necessary step for building the casino. But that did not happen and Council is set to recess for the summer on June 14.

Foxwoods said in a news release that City Council members and the city were "improperly using their legislative and zoning authority to delay the project in violation of Foxwoods' rights." Under the state's Gaming Act, the Supreme Court has the authority to take direct action if there are delays at the city level, the press release said.

Foxwoods is one of two groups to receive state licenses to build casinos along the Delaware River. The other is the SugarHouse casino. City Council is considering a bill to create a commercial entertainment district for the SugarHouse project. - Jennifer Lin