Sign up for e-mail updates about news in the 182nd District!
Notice: Undefined variable: Miscellaneous1 in /var/www/vhosts/solutionmedia.net/httpdocstemplates/BJ-detContent.php on line 13
HARRISBURG, Dec. 11 – State Reps. Mike O'Brien, Bill Keller, Mike McGeehan, Robert Donatucci and Babette Josephs, all D-Phila., today praised their House colleagues for unanimously joining them in their fight to reverse a decision by the city of Philadelphia allowing a casino to be built on land owned by the state. The House approved a resolution calling on the attorney general to seek a restraining order and file an appeal with the city over what the lawmakers deem an improperly issued land license.
"This is not a fight against casinos in Philadelphia, or in my own district in Fishtown," O'Brien said. "We'd be having this same discussion whether someone wanted to build a casino, a nightclub or a house and a license were issued in the same way this one was. We all understand that casinos are coming to our city. What we have a problem with is the city overstepping its authority in granting a license to build on submerged land that it doesn't have jurisdiction over. That land is owned by the state, not the city."
"The Philadelphia Department of Commerce acted a few weeks ago to grant a right that has always been granted by this House, an act of this legislature," Keller said. "The city ignored all law, all precedent, to grant these riparian rights, and we are calling upon the attorney general to rectify this abuse of law. If we don't act, who will protect this chamber from acts of abuse and illegality by the city of Philadelphia?"
The city Department of Commerce recently issued a "Submerged Land License" to HSP Gaming Inc., which plans to open the Sugarhouse Casino at the site of the former Jack Frost Refinery on the Delaware River waterfront, which is in O'Brien's legislative district. HSP Gaming sought the license under a 1907 act of the General Assembly that grants Philadelphia the authority to construct "pier, wharves, docks and harbor structures." The intent of the legislation was to expand the port facilities at the turn of the 20th century and to increase "water-borne commerce."
"I approve the use of casino-generated gambling funds to help reduce the Philadelphia wage tax and property tax in the rest of the state. But I will not allow that to happen on the backs of the citizens of Philadelphia who have kept their neighborhoods clean and wholesome," Josephs said. "Are neighborhoods going to be ruined by casinos? Don't bet on it!" Josephs serves as chairman of the House State Government Committee and opposes selection of casino sites without public input.
© 2006 - 2007 State Representative Babette Josephs. All Rights Reserved. 215-893-1515 | 717-787-8529