2 in Council seek hearing on city-linked casino plan

City Councilmen Kenyatta Johnson and James F. Kenney are calling for a hearing to consider a proposal from Penn National Gaming Inc. to use profits from a casino to help fund city schools and the municipal pension fund.

Johnson will submit a resolution for a hearing at the Dec. 6 Council session.

Penn National is one of six groups vying for the city's second casino license. Under its proposal, the company would create a nonprofit to hold two-thirds of the equity in the casino.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger, Johnson and Kenney said that while they had not endorsed any application for a casino license, they think the Penn National idea should be explored. Greenberger has questioned the legality of such an enterprise.

   - Jennifer Lin