The ruling was a relief for a broad coalition in Philadelphia that included dozens of neighborhood groups and community organizations, health care professionals, social workers and community volunteers. The coalition formed to oppose Foxwood’s attempts to enter the center city Philadelphia.
Board Chairman Gregory C. Fajt told Foxwoods’ executives that any attempt to relocate the proposed slots casino to 8th and Market Streets in center city would be a “fool’s errand” and that enough is enough. Fajt said no more evaluations would be given to any alternative locations to the site that the Board had previously approved for Foxwoods in South Philadelphia at Columbus Boulevard and Reed Street.
“I cannot be any more emphatic,” said Fajt.
According to Adam H. Cutler, lead attorney representing the coalition’s efforts, the Board’s unanimous decision to rule against Foxwood’s relocation plan was the result of cumulative efforts by the community’s citizens. Over the past 12 months, dozens of meetings with city planners, public hearings, community forums, and protests were held to thwart Foxwood’s plan of relocating to center city.
The site under consideration was first Market East Gallery at 11th and Market Streets, and then the former Strawbridge & Clothier department store at 8th and Market. Both are close to Philadelphia’s historical China Town. This drew vigorous protests and criticism.
The coalition efforts originally aimed to help preserve the historical China Town but gradually evolved into fighting for a larger issue—the quality of life and the public health of the city’s residents.
Mary Yee, President of the Chinatown Preservation Alliance said, “Our position is that no casinos should be located close to any residential neighborhood.”
Yee, a long-time Asian American community leader, was one of the first women to graduate from Princeton University’s East Asian Studies in 1970. She earned a Master’s degree in City Planning from University of Pennsylvania. She encourages new immigrants to participate in America’s civic life and public process.
The Chinatown Preservation Alliance was among the first to vigorously oppose the Foxwoods casino’s bid to move into the Center City.
“We will continue our efforts to ensure that any casino company entering Philadelphia will pay in full for the costs of gambling addiction prevention and treatment services, any decline in neighborhood quality of life, and increased crime, so that the financially strapped city of Philadelphia and its many citizens who suffer the negative impacts of casino gambling are not left to foot the bill of this predatory industry alone,” Yee said.
Cutler, who is the director of the Public Health and Environmental Justice Clinic at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, said the social-economic costs of addictive gambling should not be taken out of the equation when assessing gambling’s economic viability.
“It creates a major threat to public health and spiraling costs associated with it,” Cutler said. Cutler’s view is shared by many health care professionals.
Dr. Ronald Comer, Associate Professor and Director of Behavior & Addictions Counseling Program at Drexel University, said health care services available to victims of addictive gambling is far from adequate.
He was especially concerned about casino companies targeting specific locations and groups such as Chinese, who have demonstrated more vulnerability to addictive gambling than others in research studies. Dr. Comer said choosing a site nearby China Town and making a special gambling area for Chinese people are some of the common business practices for casino companies.
On October 9, 2008 at a town hall meeting held in China Town, a Chinese woman burst into tears while telling her family’s story of how a relative gambled away the family’s life savings built up from working at restaurants.
"I understand," responded Philadelphia City Councilman Frank DiCicco at the meeting. "My father took his life because of a gambling addiction."
Among the audience members, State Representative O'Brien said he too understood. "My father was a compulsive gambler. I know what it's like to go to bed hungry at night."
According to Yee, a number of slot machines in Canada have been taken down because the social-economic costs are just too high to be offset by the revenue stream. “It is just not worth it,” she said.
Yee added that casino cannibalizes other entertainment business such as movies, sports, shows, and theme parks. “People’s disposable income is fixed. Spending on casino takes away the spending on other entertainments,” Yee said.
Yee also questioned the casino’s economic viability and benefits touted by proponents of the gambling industry as a source of revenue for the city and state.
There are several times when the coalition was told that Foxwood’s relocation to Center City was a done deal. Cutler said he never believed it, as it was such a fundamentally flawed move from a business, moral, social, and economic perspective.
Yee attributed the thwarting of the said done deal to the power of the grassroots community efforts.
“It is all about ‘We the people,’” she said.
According to Yee, the Chinatown Preservation Alliance, along with many other community organizations in Philadelphia, will continue to support the residents of South Philadelphia in their fight against the current Foxwoods casino location.