Foxwoods To Be Relocated To… The Gallery?
Now, just hold on a second. Before you call up Casino-Free Philadelphia and pledge your undying support to no casinos nowhere never in Philadelphia (a noble desire, but really now), consider this: The Gallery At Market East is already the unconscionably embarrassing piece of shit of that we’re assuming any Philly casino would wind up being anyway. And when you add that to these facts…
It is owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, whose chairman and CEO is Ronald Rubin, who is part of a local group behind Foxwoods. Others include Comcast/Spectacor chairman Ed Snider, and Connecticut’s Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Rubin is also a close ally and campaign contributor to Rendell, whose tax-relief plan depends on 14 casinos statewide, two in Philadelphia.
… well, you might as well get your little bucket of quarters out, Pops. Finally, you’ll be able to get something other than Gordon Gartrell sweaters at 8th & Market.
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September 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
“The Gallery, on the north side of Market Street near Ninth, is joined with SEPTA’S Market East Station, abuts the Convention Center, and is close to the Vine Street Expressway and I-95.”
Not to mention the easy access to the Bus Terminal and the Chinatown bus! This is slots guys, not a real casino.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Wouldn’t the whole selection process be based on site sensitive criteria? IOW, how can the state (even with Foxwoods agreement) simply approve a shift of location without de-legitimizing the initial selection.
Don’t get me wrong – I think that Mr. Lightstone’s comment above is correct in suggesting that this is a vastly better site to put the slot parlors. But I think it’s better for Foxwoods too. If I was Sugarhouse I would be complaining — let alone if I was the Donald (whose candidate was initially rejected).
Even more unseemly, Ron Rubin’s investment trust owns The Gallery. Its value has undoubtedly ebbed in recent years. He wants to bring in a slot parlor? Doing a favor to the city? Even if the result is superior, me thinks this decision was motivated by more than civic pride.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Once again, I can’t believe that the legislature restricts these casinos to slots only, when table games like Blackjack and skill games like Poker are a better bet for its citizens. I would be very much pro-casino if poker was allowed. Instead, it’s just another tax on stupid people and grandparents who like watching reels spin. Guess I’ll keep taking my money to las vegas, atlantic city and fulltiltpoker (which pays no US taxes thanks to our myopic government).