I stopped keeping up with this journal while I ran for office. I did not win, but did, by most accounts, a respectable job. I will write more in the next few weeks about that experience, it was most enlightening.

Since I last wrote, among other things, the State Supreme Court removed the referendum from the May ballot. To this day, not only have Philadelphians not been able to vote about gambling, their voice continues to be ignored. That is the official State strategy. Works for Bush, why not Rendell and Street?

Went to the Foxwoods hearing today in front of the PCPC, Janice Woodcock presiding. I had to leave before it was my turn to speak. I’ve spoken in dozens of venues on this issue over the last year, given public testimony, as have my fellow citizens. We’ve talked about the pathetic traffic plans, the lack of planning for emergency response, the social impacts, the environmental impacts, the economic impacts including the obstruction these casinos pose to the expansion of the Port. Thousands of Philadelphia residents have come out over the last year- in rallies, in the PennPraxis value sessions, to sign the petition to put a referendum on the May ballot for a casino buffer zone which was passed unanimously (twice) by our City Council, nearly 13,000 voters in Phillys Ballot Box, and countless polls. And yet the City and State continue to ignore us as if we will just go away.

Woodcock mentioned that objections had been “heard”. “Hearing us” is not good enough. “Hearing us” but not responding and adjusting the casino plans in response to a litany of legitimate concerns is completely irresponsible and unjust and is a farce of democracy. What do we have to say to get through to these people? We don’t want casinos in our neighborhoods. We don’t want to raise our children in the shadow of slot barns. We’re not going away because we’re fighting for our homes, our families and our neighborhoods. We demand a say in the development of our city, as we have the greatest stake.

The whole process is compromised, and by compromised, I mean corrupt.

Why does every public hearing have to play out like an eagles game, only whoever screams loudest and longest wins? And why in this city is it enough to say “X equals jobs” (especially when most people with jobs can’t make it to public hearings in the middle of the day to be heard) like that’s the last word in rationality? And since the city just approved 5000 new condo units, where do the building trades get off? They have plenty to keep them busy. Site the casinos responsibly, away from neighborhoods, and they can have those jobs too.