Pittsburgh Casinos Take More Direct Approach

With slot machines heading our way any minute now, the five companies bidding for licenses in order to open slots parlors are attempting to woo local support (ha!) by doing things like sponsoring small baseball teams, saving puppies from alligators, et cetera. But we

Out west in the Steel City — The one without a professional baseball team. Wait, what? They’re a pro team? — the local casinos are taking a little more direct approach:

Dozens of public housing residents were paid about $15 each to attend a rally in support of a planned casino and sports arena, a lawmaker said.

Neighborhood residents confirmed the payments to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which reported Sunday that about 80 people from the Bedford Dwellings housing complex were bused to the event last month.

”Some got paid $15, some got paid less,” said Howard Parker, who lives in the Hill District and talked to several neighbors who attended the rally.

A handful of people among the three buses supported the plan, Parker said, and though not everyone came to get paid, ”that’s the reason why most of them did.”

Ahh, come awn, Philly-area casinos! Pittsburgh gets free money! We want in on that action!

Pittsburgh slots backers paid residents $15 to attend rally, lawmaker says [Allentown Morning Call via Ferrick]