by KYW's Mark Abrams
An organization called "Casino Free Philadelphia" is calling on governor Ed Rendell to debate what it says are the true costs of casinos for the city.
Protesters marched from City Hall to the governor's center city offices a few blocks away at the Bellevue hotel, demanding that he engage in a dialogue about the harm casinos will cause.
Hotel officials said Governor Rendell wasn't there. Rally organizer Daniel Hunter claims casinos proposed by Foxwoods and Sugarhouse along the Delaware waterfront will cost the city more than $50 million for police, gambling addictions and related expenses:
"He's never acknowledged the ways in which casino development harms neighborhoods, harms the city and harms the fabric of our community."
The governor's spokesman is Chuck Ardo:
"He's spoken to the opponents, he's spoken to the proponents. He's been very active in the issue. You know, these folks want to hear what they want to hear and that's not likely to happen."
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