Asian Americans United

Neighbors and organizations fighting plans to develop two casinos in Philadelphia delivered foreclosure signs to State Senator Shirley M. Kitchen on Nov, 12th. Senator Kitchen is co-sponsoring a piece of legislation currently going through the State house that would allow the granting of credit and loans by casinos on the gaming floors.

Hey guys. A number of folks have asked me to write about my experiences in jail yesterday with the other activists from Casino Free Philadelphia. Most questions have been focused on the "what was it like" track – how did they treat us, where were we locked up. That stuff was interesting and hard and frustrating, but let’s get through it quickly. A short while after 6am Tuesday morning, fourteen protesters, including me, blocked the entrance to the Sugarhouse Casino construction site (or, as Casino Free Philadelphia likes to call it, the site of Neil Bluhm, the casino’s financier’s, future bankruptcy).

Last week marks a victory in the campaign to stop casinos in Philadelphia as the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board heard the case of Foxwoods trying to keep their license to open up slots in Philadelphia.

This Friday the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will vote whether or not to extend the license needed for Foxwoods casinos to open one of the two proposed slots parlors in city limits.  Members of Asian Americans United, Casino Free Philadelphia and other in the No Casino in the Heart of Our City Coalition will head to Harrisburg to de

This afternoon, people from all over the city gathered at the brand-new No Slots Spot, right across the street from the proposed slots parlor, for an Anti-Casino Circus. "Because when it comes to bringing slots to Philly, it's not a democracy, it's a circus!"

As the casino industry tries to push it's way into the heart of Philadelphia, communities are pushing back. In this piece, we hear highlights from a community forum hosted by the No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition, with speakers from Asian Americans United & Casino Free Philadelphia. The speakers shed light on the predatory tactics used by the casino industry and explain some of the ways that casinos encourage gambling addiction and target those who can least afford to lose.

The No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition sent out this letter today. Sugar House is presenting today to the Gaming Control Board (this time they are not walking out the back door). Also the 11th and Market relocation of Foxwoods is on the agenda for tomorow at City Council, but the coalition will not, "subject our people to the indignity of testifying before governmental bodies who have no apparent interest in what we are saying"

In this short clip, Debbie Wei, Principal at F.A.C.T.S. Charter School in Chinatown, testifies in front of the City Planning Commission.

Yesterday more than 70 Philadelphians headed to Harrisburg to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Hearing for what was supposed to be a "status update" on the Philadelphia casinos.

Instead, what many of us were greeted with was essentially an ambush - the announcement that Foxwoods used the status hearing to announce that they planned to move within a matter of months into the Strawbridge's building.

Earlier today, representatives of a 43-organization-strong coalition held a press conference to demand that city leaders take action against the predatory gambling industry. Hailing from all corners of the city, the religious leaders, students, businesspeople, and other concerned citizens have come together to oppose a casino/slots house at the Gallery at Market East, pointing out that "a slots parlor aims to take money from the pocketbooks of Philadelphians who can least afford it."