Philadelphians Challenge Foxwoods Plan: Demand Accountability from Planning Commission
In this short clip, Debbie Wei, Principal at F.A.C.T.S. Charter School in Chinatown, testifies in front of the City Planning Commission. The testimony came on Tuesday, as the commission was deliberating on whether to approve zoning to allow Foxwoods to open the casino in the former Strawbridge & Clothier department store at 8th and Market streets. In her testimony Ms. Wei discussed how gambling puts youth at risk, and preys on vulnerable communities. She went on to remind members of the commission of the American Planning Association's code of ethics, of which they were bound. In the code all planners must "give people the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the development of plans and programs that may affect them..."
Wei was one of several Philadelphians who came out to ask the Planning Commission to not vote this zoning change through. No one testified in support of the zoning change.
Ultimately, the Commission voted 3-1 to approve zoning for the Foxwoods Casino on Market Street. The one dissenting vote came from commission member Natalia Olson de Savyckyj who explained, "as a planner, it's really tough for me to approve this, I try to study the area before I make a decision."
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