PGCB Unfazed by Strident Anti-Casino Bombast
As published in an e-mail blast two days ago, Casino-Free Philadelphia is planning to aggressively prep protesters for a trip to Scranton on October 2nd to (once again) voice their displeasure directly to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board about the locations of the SugarHouse and Foxwoods casino, the unfairness of the approval process, etc., etc.
The PGCB is adamant that CFPites can’t address the board publicly, but insists they’re not disrespecting citizens’ rights — they’re just following orders. In an e-mail to the Daily Examiner, PGCB communications director Douglas Harbach shared a letter sent to CFP that the board considers the best representation of its position:
At this time, there are petitions pending before the Board for each of these two license holders approved to operate slot machine facilities in the City of Philadelphia. As such, it is inappropriate for the Board to accept public comment regarding the Philadelphia Category 2 licensees.
We welcome you and others to come to our meeting so you can witness the business of this Board. In addition, we will be offering some presentations that I am sure will be of interest. I certainly hope that those individuals for whom you are associated will show the proper decorum expected at a public meeting of this nature.
Harbach told the Daily Examiner yesterday that although the PGCB is aware Casino-Free will be in attendance, the course of action the board will take if there’s another public disruption occur hasn’t been discussed. “We have a lot of important matters here,” Harbach said. “We have regulations that have to be approved, we have presentations some that failed to go off last time, we have our work to do to prepare for a public meeting, which is our obligation first and foremost.”
Harbach added that he feels the PGCB has been and is currently “very transparent” about its policies and how it’s handled the SugarHouse and Foxwoods casino motions.
It’s probably a safe bet Casino-Free Philly feels differently about that fact.
September 20th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
The “proper decorum expected at a public meeting of this nature” *is* for the public to be allowed to speak.
That’s why we call them public hearings. That’s why we created laws like the Sunshine Act that puts in law people’s rights to speak at meetings.
ps: AJ, are you now “associated” with us as Doug says by extension