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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wynn Interrupted By Protests At State Gaming Control Board

Steve Wynn, the billionaire casino innovator, was just cut off by a Casino-Free Philadelphia protester as he started speaking.  “We do not want you in our city," said the woman, who identified herself as Andrea Preis. "Please go back to Las Vegas. We do not welcome you."

Police escorted her out of the building as other protesters cheered.  Wynn resumed and another protester started interrupting him, reading from a script.  Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt repeatedly warned the protesters that they could not interrupt the meeting and then called a break.

Wynn seemed to take it all in stride.  "Usually it takes people a few days after they know me to not like me," Wynn joked to the board."

The meeting resumed and more protesters stood to interrupt.  Fajt warned that they would be arrested, while Casino-Free Philadelphia attorney Paul Boni stood and claimed that was incorrect.  "You'll be next," Fajt, asking an officer to escort Boni out.  Boni then spoke to the officer and was allowed to remain in the room as more protesters were being led out.,

Wynn Resorts announced last week that it had signed a letter of intent to become the managing general partner for the stalled South Philly casino project known as Foxwoods. It will be the fifth casino company to control the site since 1995. A group of local investors partnered in 2005 with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which runs two casinos under the Foxwoods brand in Connecticut. They paid $64.7 million for the land, with the local investors taking a 70 percent share and the tribe taking a 30 percent share. Those shares are expected to shrink, with Wynn taking at least a 51 percent stake for his new role.
Posted by Chris Brennan @ 10:41 AM  Permalink | 27 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:11 AM, 03/03/2010
    While I understand the fear of having a casino in your neighborhood, I do not agree with the blatant NIMBY attitude. We need the construction JOBS and the casino jobs. This city needs to support private enterprise. Are you the same people complaining about your property taxes and wage taxes? Do you dislike the 8% sales tax we pay in the city? Sorry, you can't have it both ways. Either you support progress or you support the continued slow death of a once great city...
    — Getinline
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:13 AM, 03/03/2010
    So much for Wynn being welcomed. He will regret trying to force his way into Philly just as Bluhm does.
    — Jethro Heiko
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:19 AM, 03/03/2010
    I'm sure Steve Wynn is doing this to help create construction jobs for one year and $7.50/hr jobs for citizens. And I am sure all the businesses and real estate values will double in value with the first class big spending customers that I am certain will pay tribute to a South Philly casino ..And I am sure the Eagles will win the Super Bowl every year until 2020.
    — Sports4Life
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:20 AM, 03/03/2010
    Wynn is not forcing himself into Philly! Many of us welcome him with open arms and high hopes.
    — Hunter
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:26 AM, 03/03/2010
    I am proud to have NIMBY attitude. It shouldn't be in anyone's back yard. Do you really think the construction jobs and casino jobs will answer this city's tax woes? I agree this city needs to support private enterprise, but a casino is not the type of business for a city that respects itself. Personally, I think we should pay more in taxes, if it would prohibit ticks like this coming into the city. Casinos are an uncreative way to increase revenue. You can be sure someone is getting a favor or two as well, that's the way politics work. For them.
    — TheLowDown
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:34 AM, 03/03/2010
    These small group of protestors appear to be well funded with there ability to fly airplane banners with anti-casino messages over our city. The majority will of the city will prevail and this casino will be built. I again call on Casinofree, in the spirit of transparency, to disclose its list of donors so the public can see if they are being funded by Atlantic city casino interests.
    — equalityman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:41 AM, 03/03/2010
    People who say that we need the casinos because we need jobs have no idea of basic economic cost-benefit analysis. Jobs are an INPUT, a cost, not an output. Obviously jobs are a good thing, but unless there is a resulting social benefit jobs are a basic pecuniary transfer. Otherwise we would just pay people to dig holes during the day, and pay someone else to fill them up at night. There's your jobs. When you pay someone to build a house, you get a house. When you pay someone to build a car, you get a car. There are benefits. When you pay someone to build a casino, you get a casino. So you have to consider the BENEFITS of having a casino, beyond the fact that it creates jobs. When it comes to casinos the direct benefits are small, and the negative externalities are massive. Unless we can get money to come in from out of the state (ie gamblers from new jersey) we are just pushing money around and paying high transaction costs to have it done. We call that waste.
    — joho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:50 AM, 03/03/2010
    Yeah, I'm sure casinos can make Philly any worse that it is..
    — phillysteev
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:59 AM, 03/03/2010
    Steve Wynn is the premier real estate developer in the USA. Our city should embrace him and what his vision brings to the area. Casinos will draw visitors to Phialdelphia that might decide to extend their stay when planning to see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, etc. They are another attraction that puts Phila on par with other destinations, such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, Chicago. These convention cities boast very accessible gaming venues and offer mulitple entertainment choices to convention attendees.
    — Joe Gonnelli
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:01 PM, 03/03/2010
    While I agree that Casino's are not the answer to the cities economic woes, their existence is well past enevitable. We need to stop fighting them in vain and start working with the developers to make sure that the neighborhoods benefit from their existence.
    — BLKMD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:08 PM, 03/03/2010
    Just a few loud mouth losers trying to get their fifteen minutes. That hardly represents the vast majority of Philadelphians that want this casino built, and now with Steve Wynn involved I'm sure it will be - and it will be a great space.
    — SoundGround
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:19 PM, 03/03/2010
    BLKMD..I totally agree with your statement. The casinos are a foregone conclusion. Hopeful the area around the site will be developed with nice restaurants and better stores. Otherwise, it is a wasted opportunity.
    — spreadheadpa
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:32 PM, 03/03/2010
    I hope Steve Wynn BUILDS the casino right there in South Philly and MAKES SURE NO ONE from that zip code gets a job in the casino...Paybacks are a .......
    — kingofpoker
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:41 PM, 03/03/2010
    I can't think of a better place in PA to put a casino than South Philly, on the Delaware River waterfront. I live in South Philly, and the waterfront has been a mass eyesore for the ten years I've lived here. This will tip the scales finally, forcing the state and city to finally get the promised trails, parks, transit, highway upgrades in place, because Steve Wynn will angrily demand it for his business. Wynn is going to be a force for development and renovation, the opposite of stasis, stagnation. For too long, Philly residents have tried to stay frozen in time. We have to move on. We can't just give AC all our gaming dollars anymore and say we're too precious for this industry to be here. Sugar House is coming, now Foxwoods will bookend the waterfront that will be like it should have been 20 years ago, like Chicago's waterfront, like San Fran's Embarcadero. We can do this. We have to. Our survival depends on it.
    — CleanupPhilly


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About The Philly Clout Team
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Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics ­– which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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