Council crumbles over casinos

The election is over, and suddenly so is Philadelphia City Council's unified opposition to casino construction.

A package of bills introduced yesterday by lame-duck Councilman Juan Ramos would, if passed, give the city's blessing to the proposed SugarHouse casino in Fishtown.

The bills, which were introduced by Ramos at Mayor Street's request, are a sharp departure from Council's pre-election casino moves. Until yesterday, Council members had unanimously sided with anti-casino forces in vote after vote. They had even voted 17-0 to put the ill-fated casino referendum on the May 15 primary ballot - before courts removed it.

There was no certainty that the Ramos legislation had the votes to pass. But it was clear nonetheless that Council members - most of them now safe bets to return for new terms in January - were rethinking their blanket opposition to the proposed slots parlors.

In interviews yesterday, several Council members mentioned the advantages of casinos, such as more money for the city's schools. Some said that community opposition to the SugarHouse site was diminishing, while others suggested it was time for the city to accept slots as inevitable, and to cut the best deal possible.

Still, the bills were a surprise inasmuch as they appear to violate the longstanding Council tradition of deferring on development questions to the district Council member who represents the area in question - in this case, Frank DiCicco, Council's leading opponent of the proposed casinos.

"I would hope that my colleagues recognize this is my district and I've been working on this for the better part of 18 months," DiCicco said before yesterday's meeting.

Ramos noted that, per custom, he had supported DiCicco's casino strategy in the past. But then Ramos pointed out that he lives near the SugarHouse site, and he said community support for the project was building.

"There are now strong voices around the SugarHouse site of people that are interested in the jobs that the casinos would bring," Ramos said. "I think that their voices need to be heard."

The move took anti-casino activists by surprise. A small group in attendance at the Council session called out "Shame, shame" when Ramos introduced the legislation.

"I think it stinks," said anti-casino activist Caryn Hunt, who lost her own race for Council-at-large last week. Hunt said waterfront residents were being "mowed down, railroaded, sidelined and marginalized every step of the way."

That Mayor Street selected Ramos to sponsor the bills is a testament to the political risks of being viewed as pro-casino. Ramos was one of three Council members defeated in the May 15 primary, and he will not return for another term.

Asked yesterday why he picked Ramos to introduce the measure, Street initially said, "no one else wanted to," then added the fact that Ramos lives near the site.

The bills in question would grant SugarHouse certain rights-of-way and change the site's zoning to "Commercial Entertainment District." The bills do not affect the proposed Foxwoods casino site in Pennsport.

Street said he pushed the bills because "It's going to happen sooner or later."

The mayor also said, "I understand there are people who don't like it," but suggested the city could not afford to lose out on gaming money. The city's five-year plan, which must be finalized by the end of June, includes an anticipated $150 million in slots revenue.

There are 10 district members on Council, including DiCicco. For the Ramos bills to pass, at least a few of them would have to vote against DiCicco. It's a major hurdle: In the interest of maintaining control over development in their areas, district Council members almost unfailingly yield to each other on development matters.

For instance, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell - who represents West Philadelphia - said before yesterday's meeting that she was reluctant to cross DiCicco on waterfront development, lest it lead him to meddle with development legislation affecting West Philadelphia.

Still, there were signs that some on Council are warming up to the notion of casinos.

"What appeals to me about the casinos is the additional dollars they will bring to the Philadelphia public school system, and we have to be responsible and acknowledge that," said Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who added that she still needed to review the bills.

Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, who represents neighborhoods near the SugarHouse site, said he, too, had detected greater community support for slots in recent weeks. Clarke did not say how he would vote on the bills.

The measures will be taken up by Council's rules committee, where Dan Fee, a SugarHouse spokesman, said he hoped "to get a fair hearing."

Indeed, Council members were sounding more receptive then they had just a few weeks ago.

"I think that people realize that inevitably the casinos are going to happen," said Councilman Frank Rizzo, who as a Republican is one of the few Council members facing a competitive race in the fall. "We need to make sure we get the best package we can get."