Jan 24, 2008 11:54 pm US/Eastern
Nutter Revokes License For Waterfront Casino
PHILADELPHIA (CBS3/AP) ―
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Michael Nutter invited the owners of the SugarHouse Casino to reapply for a license for the waterfront site so the city could examine the effect on traffic, roadways, stormwater and other infrastructure.
CBS
The city's new mayor revoked a license Thursday to build a slots casino on wetlands along the Delaware River, chiding the previous administration for rushing through the approvals.
Mayor Michael Nutter opposes the waterfront sites of both casinos slated to be built in Philadelphia, saying no one had fully studied their potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
Nutter invited the owners of the SugarHouse Casino to reapply for a license for the waterfront site so the city could examine the effect on traffic, roadways, stormwater and other infrastructure.
The mayor, who took office this month, called the building license issued Nov. 27 by the city Commerce Department under his predecessor, Mayor John F. Street, "an abuse of discretion."
"This is not just about money. It's about process and procedure, and how we conduct ourselves in the city of Philadelphia," Nutter said at a news conference.
Given the revocation, he asked that state courts declare moot a lawsuit over SugarHouse's license filed last month by seven state lawmakers.
Nutter's announcement is the latest move in a long fight between city and state officials over the location of two casinos licensed by state gambling regulators on land along Philadelphia's riverfront.
SugarHouse Casino CEO Greg Carlin released a statement that read in part: "the City's action to rescind our submerged lands license is contrary to law … it is regrettable that this action has overturned a well reasoned and thought out decision by the former Director of the Commerce Department, Stephanie Naidoff."
Should the casinos open, Philadelphia would become the nation's largest city with casino gambling.
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(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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