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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Fumo: The Cavalry or Quixote?

State Senator Vince Fumo continues his transformation from chief casino advocate in the Assembly to defender of neighborhoods with Senate Bill 1487, "which would establish a collaborative process to find new locations for Philadelphia’s two licensed slot machine gambling facilities."
    

The bill would allow casinos to move to the area around the airport, which has been proposed by House members. Current law doesn't allow casinos in that area because they are too close to Harrah's Casino and Race Track in Chester. Fumo was happy to say that "the entire Philadelphia Senate delegation signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. They are: Sens Tina Tartaglione, Shirley Kitchen, LeAnna Washington, Mike Stack, Vincent Hughes, and Anthony Williams."

Neighborhood groups have been trying to move the two planned casinos SugarHouse in Fishtown/Norhtern Liberties and Foxwoods in Pennsport. Mayor Nutter has also gotten behind the movement, particularly regarding Foxwoods. Gov Rendell has promised to veto any such legislation that comes his way, and it's questionable whether the rest of the Senate would support Fumo's measure. You can bet on Republican Senators Dominic Pileggi, the Senate Majority Leader from Chester, and Robert M. "Tommy" Tomlinson, whose district includes Philadelphia Park, to oppose the measure as contrary to the deal they struck in the slots law of 2004. Fumo was the chief architect of that bill.

Read more here.

Posted by Jeff Shields @ 4:46 PM  Permalink | 1 comment
Comments   
Posted 11:31 AM, 06/27/2008
lpeagle
I live in the Southeast Delco Region and I just received my School Property tax bill. Imagine my surprise when I noticed a $323 drop in my taxes naturally I figured there was a mistake taxes never go down! Looking through the bill there was a notification that my taxes had gone down due to the Gaming Bill that was passed in a nutshell Casino’s! I would like to thank Senator Fumo for being the author of that Gaming bill. I can really use the money. I also understand and agree with Senator Fumo’s fight to keep the Casinos out of South Philly. That area is a traffic nightmare already I do not understand why they cannot just build them in another location
1 comments
About Inquirer City Hall Staff
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff Shields, Marcia Gelbart, and Patrick Kerkstra take you inside Philadelphia's City Hall.
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