14 arrested at anticasino rally in Harrisburg PA

From: Philadelphia Inquirer

They went to Harrisburg to protest plans - and lack of public input - for five casinos in the city.

By Joseph A. Gambardello
Inquirer Staff Writer

HARRISBURG - Fourteen anticasino activists from Philadelphia have vowed to fight in court charges they blocked the entrance of the state Gaming Control Board during a noisy protest yesterday.

The action - during which the demonstrators attempted to execute what they called citizens search warrants and were charged with disorderly conduct - was staged to demand the release of documents about the possible impact five proposed casino projects would have on their surrounding neighborhoods.

Doug Harbach, a board spokesman, said that with the exception of proprietary business information supplied by the applicants, the information sought by the activists already is available online or at the board's offices.

But the demonstration also clearly was aimed at delaying a Dec. 20 decision by the board to award contracts to two of the casinos.

On that score, City Councilman Frank DiCicco, whose riverfront districts includes four of the proposed projects, called for a six-month delay in issuing the licenses and invited state legislators to join him in signing a petition to the board at a ceremony tomorrow.

Echoing the activists, DiCicco complained that casino developers have "significantly" altered plans since the public comment period ended June 2.

"But while they continue to make changes and address the Board's concerns, my constituents and I have not had the opportunity to comment for the record," he said in a statement. "This lack of public input creates a flawed process and will result in a flawed product."

Besides the riverfront casinos planned for Pennsport, Fishtown, Northern Liberties and Kensington-Port Richmond, a fifth is planned for East Falls-Nicetown.

The arrested activists were among 50 demonstrators who traveled in two buses from Philadelphia and rallied in a park outside the Statehouse. DiCicco donated $1,000 for the bus rental.

One of those who spoke was Lori McCole, the mother of a 13-year-old girl from Port Richmond, who is concerned about the traffic, noise and social problems associated with gambling.

In an interview before the rally, she wondered about how many drunken gamblers will get behind the wheels of their cars and drive through her neighborhood, possibly when her daughter was walking to or from school.

"This is going to bring more problems," she said. "They say you can't fight City Hall. Why can't we?"

"We don't want these casinos in our neighborhoods," the Rev. Jesse Brown, who lives near the East Falls-Nicetown site, told the rally. "We don't want what casinos bring."

After the rally, the protesters, carrying signs, colored flags and two giant papier-mache magnifying glasses marched across the street to the gaming board offices and massed in the entranceway, where activists read from their warrants and asked to be allowed in.

"Let them in. Let them in," the crowd shouted.

Police arrested 11 protesters and took them to a nearby station, where they were issued summonses for disorderly conduct and released. Two women in wheelchairs and a third protester were issued summonses at the scene.

Before boarding their buses home, the 14 agreed they would plead not guilty and fight their charges.

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