Rolling the Dice on Charter Change
In addition to the mayoral primary, it looks like Philadelphia voters will have a chance to vote on an amendment to the city’s home Rule Charter that would make it illegal to put casinos near schools, churches and residential neighborhoods. Various authorities have said that, given other existing restrictions, that would make it pretty much impossible to put a slots parlor anywhere in the city, and would definitely rule out the two sites that have already been selected by the state gaming board. The city’s legal advisor has said that even though he’s pretty sure the proposed charter amendment would ultimately be ruled illegal by state courts, he can’t prevent the vote. It’s kind of an interesting element of the judicial review process – the courts can’t stop the legislature from passing a bad law, they can only prevent a law that’s been passed from taking effect.
I’m still trying to figure out where I stand on the proposed amendment. I’m not against legalized gambling in principle. It’s an activity that has its dangers, but so do drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and playing the lottery, and all of those things are legal. And if people are going to gamble, I’d prefer that the city and state get some of the revenue benefit from it. (I will also admit, in a totally tangential way, that the introduction of slots gambling to the race track right outside Philadelphia has caused an increase in the number of bus routes running through my neighborhood, so I’m happy about that.) But there is a larger issue at stake, in that once again the state government is coming in and taking control of important civic decisions away from Philadelphia, its citizens, and its government. And I’m thinking that it might be worth voting for this charter amendment just as a way of registering my complaint on that score and not making it easy for the state to keep barging in.
About Dave Thomer
Born and raised in Philadelphia. Studied philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx, where I made many great friends and met my wonderful wife. We moved back to Philadelphia, where I studied philosophy some more and became a teacher. Online and off, I'm looking for ways that we can be better citizens and build stronger communities.