Casino Activists, Casinos To Fight Under Queensbury Rules

Lawyers from Philadelphia casino bid winner SugarHouse have filed suit against the petitions essentially banning casinos from the city, citing “widespread and pervasive fraud” in the petitions.

Pennsport and Fishtown residents worked together earlier this year to get 27,000-plus signatures on a petition for a ballot question to be voted on while citizens choose their next mayor on May 15. Although they only needed 20,000 signatures to get the question before City Council — who must pass it by majority vote to put it on the ballot — lawyers for SugarHouse (who chatted with Foxwoods lawyers, too) say only 25 percent of them can be validated, leaving them far short of the 20k total.

While in the Inquirer yesterday noted bisexual/Philly for Change founder Anne Dicker said, “I don’t think a grassroots group should have to face this onslaught by corporations,” Casino-Free Philadelphia organizer Daniel Hunter has taken on a more chipper tone: “Some people have said this [referendum] won’t stand up in court or that the state will merely come in and take over. The ferocity with which they’re attacking us is a sign that this is a real threat to them.”

Okay, so, as expected, the signatures will be battled in court, probably one-by-one and blah blah blah. So where does this take its usual ridiculous Philly twist? Oh, right here: One of SugarHouse’s lawyers is also an investor in the casino. And he’s, of course, Vince Fumo lawyer and Queensbury rules boxer Richard Sprague.

Casino alleges foes’ petitions are fraudulent [Inquirer]
Casino foes smell fear [Metro]
Feb. 9: Richard Sprague To Defend Fumo, Gentleman Jim Corbett