Casino032009

 Copied from the email from Helen Gym on March 20, 2009

March 20, 2009

Dear Members and Friends of the No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition: The two Philadelphia slots parlor licensees have been called to Harrisburg to explain why they have not yet opened their slots parlors, two years after their licenses were granted. There will be a **public meeting in Harrisburg on April 8th at 11 am** where the casinos will explain the status of their projects and where the Gaming Control Board will ask them about the delays.

Our presence at this meeting can make a statement that the casinos can expect continued obstacles to their construction in Philadelphia. We can also provide an important counterweight to the pressures being exerted by the Governor, some state legislators, and other slots boosters for Philadelphia to rush its process and to get slots parlors up and running (without careful study or an open and transparent process).

Please join us to analyze these developments and to plan what action we will take on April 8 and in the next few weeks.

Wednesday, March 25th at ****10am **** Arch Street United Methodist Church **//(SE corner of Broad and Arch Sts.)//
 * NO CASINO IN THE HEART OF THE CITY COALITION MEETING ****

We hope to see you on Wednesday. Please call Ellen with any questions, 215-925-1538.

Sincerely, Ellen Somekawa, Asian Americans United Pastor Ellis Washington, Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity Rev. Robin Hynicka, Arch Street United Methodist Church

[|__http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/?pr=253__]

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18th, 2009

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Gaming Control BoardP.O. Box 69060Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060

 CONTACT Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

 Philadelphia Slots Operators Licensees To Provide Public Update On Projects At April 8th Meeting of PA Gaming Control Board Board Chair Mary DiGiacomo Colins says representatives of HSP Gaming, LP(SugarHouse Casino) and Philadelphia Entertainment & DevelopmentPartners, LP (Foxwoods Casino) will be given the opportunity to not onlymake a presentation but also answer questions from the Board. âMany questions have been raised as to why they have not yet startedconstruction, even two years after the licenses were granted,â Colinssays. âThe Board wants to know what the obstacles are and what theoperators plan on doing to overcome these and deliver their projects toPennsylvania.â Colins says the Board will look to receive information on eachlicenseesâ efforts to move forward with its projects including thesecuring of permits, as well as their plans to start construction, andtheir abilities to deliver gaming to Philadelphia as contemplated in theGaming Act. Due to the anticipated interest in this meeting, the venue has beenchanged to the State Museum Auditorium in Harrisburg. The meeting isscheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. =
 * HARRISBURG, PA:* The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today requestedthat representatives of the two holders of Philadelphia slot machinelicenses appear before the Board at its April 8, 2009 public meeting andprovide a full and complete update on the status of their projects.