Coming Up Lemons

South Philly residents say they don't want slot parlors there.

by Mike Newall

Charlie Petronis is known to speak his mind. So last Wednesday night, the fiery 68-year-old took the mike at a public hearing to discuss the two proposed slot parlors expected to land somewhere in Philadelphia by 2007.

"We don't want the damn things in our neighborhood," said Petronis, who lives on Dickinson Street in South Philly. "We don't want the traffic, the drugs or the violence that will come with 'em. Put them somewhere else. Please."

The crowd of more than 150 erupted in applause.

Held at the Seaport Museum on Penn's Landing, the forum was part of series of public hearings organized by the mayor's Gaming Advisory Task Force. In the last month, forums were held in each of the city's 10 council districts. The Seaport Museum gathering was significant since the majority of the rumored slot parlor sites fall within the boundaries of the 1st Council District, which covers large portions of South Philly, Center City and the lower Northeast. Among the rumored sites are the 80,000 square foot parcel of land along Columbus Boulevard owned by Caesars Entertainment and the land along the Delaware River just north of Penn Treaty Park, owned by Ameristar Casinos.

"It's a safe bet that at least one, if not both, of the casinos will wind up in this district," said 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco.

The city has no authority over where the two slot parlors will eventually be built. That decision belongs exclusively to the state Gaming Control Board. In February, Mayor Street formed the Philly task force to ensure that the city maintained some type of a voice in the process. The task force is drawing up an official report examining all rumored sites. Initial findings will be presented to Street in June.

"The public forums are a way to test the public's temperature," said task force member Paul Levy.

If Wednesday's forum was any indication, the temperature in the 1st District is mighty hot.

One after another, dozens of residents expressed anger; their concerns ranged from traffic congestion and crime to blight and gambling addiction.

"We understand the need for continued development along the waterfront," said Rene Goodwin of Pennsport, "but must you sacrifice the quality of life that exists in our communities?"

For his part, DiCicco has long been a proponent of legalized gambling, arguing that the projected revenue could be used to restore some of the funding for city services like recreation centers, libraries and the fire department.

"Of course, I understand the residents' concerns," he said afterwards. "And I will make sure that they are heard."

Traffic congestion could prove a stumbling block for the Caesars site, said DiCicco, adding that the waterfront land between Washington Avenue and Spring Garden Street should be left to residential development. He said a long look should be taken at the old incinerator site north of Penn's Landing since it is owned by the Penn's Landing Corporation and could be sold or leased to a developer.

"Unfortunately," said DiCicco, "the way the state statue is written, we have a real limited say in the process."