Rendell To Casino Neighbors: How About I Just Make Shit Up Because I Can No Longer Bear Your White Hot Hatred?
Anybody else seeing this? A few years down the road of major casino fuckery along the waterfront, and suddenly, Ed Rendell gives a shit about the growing throngs to the north and south who rightly think that he’s sold them out. To be fair, the casinos always were a bee in Eddie’s bonnet, but the fact that he’s listening now A) proves that the anti-casino folks have truly got the pols on the run and B) there is no limit to what this sexy beast will do to be loved by you, Joe/Josephine Philadelphian. Both are oddly (perhaps unreliably) reassuring, but holy hell it smells like bullshit in here.
Fun with quotes and timelines after the jump.
“If they say, ‘we’re worried about traffic, we’re worried about people parking in our neighborhoods, we’re worried about crime,’ I’m happy to work with city officials to alleviate those concerns. If they say, ‘we don’t want casinos in Philadelphia,’ (I) can’t help them.”
– July 20, 2007 [Source: KYW]
You preachem heap big hard line, Kemosabe. Now fast forward a few weeks:
Governor Rendell confirms that he has opened the door to discussion of relocating Philadelphia’s yet-to-be built casinos.
The Governor says during a meeting last week, he told casino foes he might consider looking at other sites for Philadelphia’s two casinos:
“We couldn’t, under the law, force the licensees to move to another location. But we would try to do it and we might even incentivize their move.”
– August 8, 2007 [Source: KYW]
Oh! That would be nice, but wait, what? You can’t do that! Why? Because the deal is already fucking sealed up! Oh, and plus? Foxwoods and Sugarhouse wouldn’t move if you paid them to. You know why? BECAUSE THEY SAID SO. Ahem:
But the issue may be moot, given the Governor’s contention that both winning applicants would have to agree to a move, something their representatives say they have no interest in doing.
What are we gonna do with you, Eddie? Seriously. Now get the fuck out of my office.
Previously: Casino Update: We Are More Screwed Now Than Ever Before
