By trying to hurriedly push through casino development, some state and local officials have been playing dice with Philadelphia's future.
Thankfully, Mayor Nutter recently repealed the building license awarded to SugarHouse Casino, ensuring the city won't make a hasty decision when it comes to the location of its first two casinos.
Developing a local gaming industry is a risky business, especially near residential areas. Residents in Fishtown, the proposed location for SugarHouse, have expressed legitimate concerns that the development would increase traffic congestion along the riverfront.
But infrastructure problems could be the least of the city's worries. A recent study of over 3000 counties found that in the five years after casinos opened, robberies increased five-fold and aggravated assault increased six times on average.
And for a city dealing with high crime rates, that's troubling news.
Putting casinos near family neighborhoods only magnifies these problems. By repealing SugarHouse's license, Nutter has forced the city to extensively review the costs and benefits of the proposed locations.
Casinos can certainly stimulate the economy and, if planned and placed properly, could bring jobs and tax revenue into Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Nevertheless, sticking them near residential areas is a gamble that this city simply cannot afford.
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