Senate Bill 862, which passed the State Senate unanimously a few weeks ago, may be the single worst piece of legislation I have ever seen in Harrisburg.

First, the bill takes away the right of Philadelphia to control zoning around the casinos and gives that power to the Gaming Control Board. It is bad enough that we in Philadelphia have no right to control where the casinos go. We must have the right to zoning not only so that we can minimize the impact of the casinos on the surrounding communities but so that we can ensure that all Philadelphia have access to a critical part of our natural heritage—the Delaware riverfront.

Second, the bill takes away most other regulatory authority of the city over the casino sites. City building and fire codes will not apply at the casinos. Water and sewer regulations will not apply there. Our smoking ban will not apply there. Nor will our billboard law. Some lawyers even think that the rules and regulations of the state Department of Environmental Protection will not apply there. Rule and regulations in these areas will be made, if they choose, by the Gaming Control Board.

Third, the law gives the Gaming Control Board authority not only over the casino sites but over adjacent sites, those that are “adjoining, including connection by a pedestrian walkway, bridge or easement, to the land-based location of the licensed facility.” Because of this language, if casinos purchase property—or just easements on property—up and down the riverfront, control over our waterfront will be turned over to the Gaming Control Board. If they buy property across Columbus Boulevard, the authority could encroach on the adjoining neighborhoods and then reach into Center City.

SB 826 makes Gaming Control Board Chair Tad Decker what Matt Ruben has called an Imperial Viceroy over a major section of the city—an unelected, uncontrollable, and irresponsible ruler over whom we the people have no political control.

You can also CALL your elected representative in Harrisburg. Their phone numbers are listed in the “find by” section — http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm

“Residents of neighborhoods that are near the potential casino sites have raised some very legitimate concerns about the impact on their communities,” Fumo said. “I also had legitimate concerns about how local zoning ordinances might be used unfairly to place unnecessary obstructions in the way of casinos.

“But because of the strong community opposition, I am willing to try local control.
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Next week, the Senate expects to remove the House-passed language and reinsert the provisions that it had passed on September 27, with several changes. In addition to restoring zoning control to local authorities in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia…