Anti-Casino Activists Fought The Law, And The Law Lost

A district judge yesterday acquitted the 14 anti-casino activists of all charges. They were arrested on Dec. 11 for attempting to learn things about the casinos coming to their neighborhoods.

The district judge, Joseph Solomon, later managed to shit all over the casino process to boot! “Their intent was to go there to get information that they had been previously denied,” Solomon told the Associated Press. “I didn’t feel it was appropriate for the gaming board to deny what I perceive to be public information.”

Take that, millionaires and politicos! How are you going to live with yourselves on your giant pile of money! Oh, wait.

The decision came on the same day that Chester’s new casino opened. It wasn’t due to open for another day, but the state gave them the okay to start raking in the dough and there were apparently already people waiting outside even though it wasn’t going to open for another day. There was a couple hundred people stacked up and looking to come in,” a Harrah’s exec said. “I guess they must have just hoped.” Ain’t casinos grand?

Anyway, this acquittal is a great thing. That’s right: No charges for my favorite anti-casino activist, Jethro Heiko. And, really, it’s good to see all these people released: They commited no crimes.

Well, maybe crimes of fashion, but “NO DICE” hats will be in one day, I swear.

Chester slots parlor opens one day early [Daily News]
Chester slots parlor opens one day early [Inquirer]
Archives: Jethro Heiko

Casinos: It’s All In The Marketing

A quote from anti-casino activist and Philadelphia Will Do Person of the Year Jethro Heiko in a story about how neighbors are fighting the casinos:

“Who’d want to live across from a giant box with neon towers, 24/7 liquor licenses and free drinks?”

Nobody answer that.

Done deal on Delaware? Don’t bet on it! [Daily News]
Dec. 7: PWD People Of The Year: Jethro Heiko

PWD People Of The Year: Jethro Heiko

Yesterday, protesters of the city’s coming casinos ventured to Harrisburg to attempt to execute a “citizen’s search warrant” and 14 of them were arrested, of course.

Among those arrested was Jethro Heiko, who Metro published this Carolyn Kaster AP photo of today. And her expression, outfit and “No Dice” — is that like “No Fear”? — headgear are more than enough to make her one of the Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year, instantly.

Oh, and yes, there are going to be days where more than one of the People of the Year are revealed. Because, well, come on, if I did one a day I’d be going well into 2007, and that’s just no fun.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Anti-slot activists rebuked, arrested [Metro]