Call And Response: Head Of The The Anti-Casino Movement Doesn’t Wanna Hear It
On Sep 30, 2009, at 10:31 AM, Jethro Heiko wrote:
Joey,
Normally I think your posts are great. But how about asking me/us before regurgitating false claims about who we employ. Did Dan Fee crawl up your ass lately? Right now we employ one organizer, Lily Cavanagh. We have always been a city-wide group and our goal was not to make this a neighborhood fight, because although Fishtown, my community may be fucked, so is the entire city if these casinos ever open. The riverfront is for all of us, the city is for all of us. That is the way it is. We would love to hire many more people, you know any funers that want to protet the city from this bullshit? Yesterday we had people from all over the city in the blockade and there to support us. Two casinos were a done deal three years ago and they and their 10,000 slots were supposed to be up and running by now. They are not and they never will be. We may not stop Sugarhouse from opening (but we may) but the future of Philadelphia will be casino-free.Here is my number next time you have a question about how we work or what we are doing: [REDACTED]
Jethro-
As I’m sure you are aware, I am on your side when it comes to this issue. Probably more than any other media outlet in the city, Philebrity has taken the casinos and local government to task over the way they’ve steamrolled in, misinformed whosoever would allow it and so on. So please pardon me, but I find it frankly repulsive that the ONE POST I think I’ve ever posted that questions the viability of the anti-casino movement has aroused such ire in you. It’s a fucking bummer, man. Are you not a pro? Don’t you think this movement would have worked a little better if some more Joe Sixpack types were on board? That’s all I’m saying. Take your goddamned lumps.
Love,
Joey
September 30th, 2009 at 11:22 am
The transplants are here to save us from ourselves, because we obviously were knuckle dragging illiterates before they arrived! THANK GOD!
September 30th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I think [professional organizer/activist] Jethro’s missive here shows exactly why the CasiNO self-discovered “leadership” failed to keep a critical mass engaged on this.
I’m just wondering how he divided his time between this and G20.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I guess the question is whether Philebrity should print a retraction, even for one post. The published statement was: “Maybe it’s because this is what you get when you employ professional activists, and not generations-deep natives to lead an effort like this.” Clearly the facts are that the anti-casino movement in Philadelphia is the opposite, i.e., that it is comprised entirely of grass roots natives.
I don’t think anyone is busting on Philebrity. To the contrary, we think so highly of it that we want it to maintain its usual high standards, which includes correcting misstatements when appropriate, and hopefully mis-impressions too. Sometimes love does mean having to say you’re sorry.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I don’t know, Philebrity. You might have needed some more coffee and a hug before you wrote that doomsday casinos-are-coming-Casino Free-must-have-failed post. To call their work a failure is completely unfair. Their effort appears to me to be one of the more creative, persistent, comprehensive and inclusive organizing efforts I have seen. They are up against millions of dollars going into campaign coffers — which is probably the biggest, toughest political foe in the world. Cut them some slack.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I don’t know, mogs. I thought the turnout at the demonstration was “decent” for what I thought was a neighborhood initiative. Based on Jethro’s boast that the group was a citywide effort … well, then the turnout more accurately reflects the cause disintegrating connection with the city’s inhabitants.
Paulboni, CasiNo’s self-appointed spokesman Jethro seems pretty transparently pissed off that Philebs wrote an editorial on the matter and didn’t copy verbatim his org’s carefully crafted, reeking of “pro organizer speak” talking points. Maybe Philebs opted not to because it has a better understanding of the deep routed psychic quirks of Philadelphia in a way most of us transplants, like Jethro, do not.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
@paulboni
Please define “native”.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Way harsh post, I thought as well. Not every loss/failure is the fault of the organizers. Rather than pick on them (and from someone who has never organized more than a DJ party), some encouragement would have been nice.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
This is stupid. I can see the justification in posting Jethro’s email…but your response? Come on…wah wah, this is just the typical philebrity “can dish it out but can’t take it” attitude that gets on everyones nerves.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
@everyone: Please note that the post in question here was more or less the first-ever post on Philebrity that was in any way critical of the anti-casino movement and did not single out any one particular anti-casino group. And as far as the whole charge of dishing it out but not being able to take it: Commenter, please.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
When I say natives I am referring to people who live here and care about Philadelphia because it is their home and they care about the fabric of our communities and the future of our city.
In my mind, this can be someone who has been here a relatively short time and whose parents were born elsewhere. In fact, I think a couple of years ago the Inquirer ran a story called, “Influx of newcomers fueling Phila. activism” which I can’t seem to pull up right now (can anyone else?), suggesting that new blood is an incredible value.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
fine fiiine….it was your use of the word ‘repulsive’ that just irked me.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
It’s not about “one post.” It’s about admitting you’re right or wrong. I read exactly three blogs, this one included. The reason is because I trust their gut(s).
I truly believe casinos here will be no big deal. Don’t like ‘em but don’t really care.
But dude, you fucked up on this one.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Philebs, like so many Philadelphians (both new and old), often shows a tendancy to immediately believe (or at least profess) the worst in a given situation. Its a knee-jerk reaction that’s kinda understandable in a city that’s had more decades of shit thrown at it than almost any other. A coping mechanism, to deal with lost jobs, population and status.
But that coping mechanism needs to be pulled back a little, cuz it only leads us as a city to accept even more stupid and desparate ideas. Its what makes us accept that any development is good development. Or that casinos in residential neighborhoods is some sort of “done deal.”
Joey, I get the whole “its too late, shoulda done this, coulda done that” coping mechanism, and lots of us read Philebs for that special Philly atty-tude. But, dude, your gut feelings aren’t fact. Fact is that CasinoFree has members who just arrived AND members who are life-long Philadelphians. It has members in directly affected neighborhoods and members across the rest of the city and even region. Some members have experience in grass-roots activism, most have none whatsoever. It exists because of volunteer efforts, not paid professionals. This is what seperates it from astroturf efforts like Maggie O’Brien’s.
And dude, Sugarhouse ain’t built yet, and can easily be closed even if it does open its doors. Its a tie score in the third quarter – so why you calling the game lost?
September 30th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Well said, arcticsplasher (a phrase I never thought I’d use…) Can we all at least expect a thoughtful response by 4:30 or 5, Philebs?
We all know you’re very cool, so don’t worry about that. Just write. Writers write, but good writers …
You know the rest
September 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
MAN…serious nerd rage going on in these comments! love it.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Having worked in politics & advocacy for just five years, I’ve seen that “done deals” often can be unraveled with serious citizen power. Casino Free is doing a lot of that, and doing it well. Casinos suck.
That said, the whole Philly native vs. transplant thing is a tricky issue. I agree with Paul Boni’s point that people who may have only lived in Philly for 2 years can genuinely care about the place they live in. I know that if I had to move – I would become a fierce advocate of my new community because decisions made in City Hall affect my well-being. Philly is territorial – people have pride, traditions, as all communities and cultures do. I get that.
I have had many problems with the activist community here – particularly the West Philly activist community. It’s too polarized, too self-serving, and too pretentious. The best community organizers – even the white ones from New England who come to Philly and try to change things – are those who admit to their wealth and privilege, and acknowledge the fucked up hierarchy – but don’t pretend to look and dress like homeless people. There’s nothing genuine about MOST of the crust punks who hang out at the Satellite and come up with elaborate demonstrations for the G20 or the SOA.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
@tips, no one is calling Philebs pro-casino. We’re just saying maybe you don’t need declare the good guys failures quite so easily. Casino Free, and all the anti-casino groups (are there others?) have done this city a great service. Say thank you and back down, man.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
PaulBoni’s point was well-intended, but it was his misuse of the word “native” in his description of CasiNO as a movement of grassroot native Philadelphians that he fails. Philatrash, you may get how a newcomer throwing on the “native” badge is a bonermove, Boni and Jethro don’t seem to. Anyone can look at the diminishing return turnout at each anti-CasiNO event can tell, however “passionate” and “earnest” or even “right” the anti-CasiNO movement may have on its side, the support of the actual people of Philadelphia has slipped dramatically over the past few years. Despite Philly’s multistoried activist communities, this movement could only pull up 14 people _citywide_ to play mugshot with the Civil Affairs unit? End of story, literally.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
The support has dropped unfortunately due to one simple and glaring reason: the economy. People are desperate for jobs – the state and city are hard pressed for revenue. While morally most people are still opposed to a casino and the shit it brings – the lure of jobs shines far too bright. The casinos win the populist argument.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Forgot to add – they win the populist argument even though the long-term effect may be costlier in terms of addiction and law enforcement. Populists just don’t think of the long-term in any political argument.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
The lure of “jobs” only affected a component of the Philadelphia population that the anti-Casino folks had trouble courting from the getgo because of their culturally tonedeaf attempt at proselytizing to that component. Otherwise, there are plenty of professional and economic sectors represented by the native and transplant people of Philadelphia, and their numbers shrank too.
Frankly, I’ve only seen the anti-CasiNO crowd succeed at making themselves look like victims, with the exception of the photo in this entry where Jethro looks like a real hard man inside the wire and all. Yes, the crowd has been good at blaming every other factor in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania besides themselves. The “offensive article” was doing a little mirror holding in asking them if they could’ve done something differently. That line of inquiry may actually prove fruitful for the future if actually followed instead of deflected by a pissy note from the man inside the wire.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Not sure how some of y’all measure a drop in support for CasinoFree, because having 16 people arrested at a 6am workday protest is pretty significant – more arrests than CasinoFree has had in any other protest. Not to mention the 50 other people standing nearby in a traditional protest makes it the largest protest I’ve seen in Philly ever.
And the tired nativist/newcomer argument is moot: CasinoFree has membership in both groups. Old-timers and newcomers alike hate the casinos, where they are, and how they were imposed on the city. Defining CasinoFree as a bunch of newcomers is simply repeating a meme the pro-casino forces started. Go to a meeting if you don’t believe.
A more interesting question might be to ask why the pro-casino forces all seem to be lifer Philadelphians? Why aren’t there many newcomers involved in bringing casinos here? What’s in it for the lifers?
September 30th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Thats the largest protest you’ve seen?!? You must not get out much, that isn’t even the biggest protest of this week.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I’m inclined to side with Joey. I used to do protest marches and stuff in college, but then I realized that these activist groups do not seem to tolerate criticism or dissent even from people who generally agree with them. Grow a spine already, the efforts to stop the Casino appear to have failed, and as the standard bearers for efforts to stop the Casino, yall in part own that failure. Personally. Thems the breaks.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Mr. Sweeney said in his original post that “Fishtown is fucked”…but I’m believe there are more N. Liberties residents living within a 1/2 mile of SugarHouse than Fishtown residents. Am I right or wrong?
I have never understood the idea that SugarHouse is a “Fishtown” casino. Somehow Fishtown owns the decisions, jobs, and overall impact because SugarHouse is located just inside and on the Fishtown/NoLibs border of Frankford Avenue (at Delaware Avnenue). Absurd.
As for motivating “Joe Sixpack” types in Fishtown…Sweeney should know that old-school Fishtown only gets super-motivated for keeping one thing out of Fishtown: minorities.
If 90% (my guesstimate) of NoLibs residents are against casinos and 50% of Fishtowners are….that’s pretty overwhelmingly anti in the immediate area.
However, SugarHouse was smart indentifying itself as a “Fishtown casino”. NoLibs is a much glitzier address than Fishtown – and on the surface it seems odd SugarHouse would identify itself as a ishtown casino.
However, this was a savvy move. SugarHouse knew it could never form a viable splinter group out of the NLNA – there would be no support for a splinter group. By calling itself a Fishtown casino – SugarHouse knew it could easily divide the FNA and perpetuate their myth that Fishtown is, in FACT’s words, that Fishtown is “overwhlemingly in support of SugarHouse”.
FACT lays claim to 700 pro-SugarHouse ribbons to back up the claim. However, on my block, I had a LONG vacant rental property with a ribbon on it. Walking around Fishtown, that # never seemed legit.
Sad all around…Fishtown was the lower middle class suckers these casino execs were looking to sucker. I mean, does anyone REALLY believe that SugarHouse CARES about the residents of Fishtown? These guys are nothing but the legalized mob. They’re not in the ‘helping’ business. They’re in the money-making business.
Time will tell the tell. Only in Philly could significant increases in traffic, drunk driving, property crime and pollution be ok.