Groups petition residents to take stance on gambling
BROWNSVILLE – Residents from throughout Fayette County are being asked to take a stand either for or against Indian gaming in Brownsville. “I think the important thing is really doing some research into the views of the community,” said Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan.
However, Ernest Liggett, who recently announced his intent to sell his Brownsville properties to a Native American corporation for gaming purposes, said public opinion is not a factor in the Department of Interior’s determination of off-reservation gaming sites.
“The only criteria is the impact of the removal of the lands from the tax rolls. The last tabulation we have on those taxes is $40,400,” Liggett said. “It has never been my or my wife or the Indians that I am associated with intention to use petitions, because petitions create a divisive situation for all parties.”
Liggett said applicants for off-reservation gaming sites also need to address the cost of the impact
a casino would have on a community.
“Obviously, the impact payments are substantially higher than the loss of those taxes,” Liggett said.
Several sets of petitions are being circulated and others already have been submitted to state lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell. Brownsville resident Stella Broadwater said she sent two sets of petitions to the governor and several area state legislators with signatures from Fayette County residents supporting gambling in Brownsville.
Broadwater said she is circulating another petition to gather more signatures.
The petitions are for all Fayette County residents and state, “If you would like to see gaming come to Brownsville, Pa., sign below.”
A newly formed group, Brownsville First!, which includes several area ministers and other area residents opposed to gambling, also is circulating separate petitions for Brownsville residents and those from surrounding communities, asking them to oppose the expansion of legalized gaming into Brownsville.
A news release issued by Liggett stated that 1,500 signatures were sent to the governor, state Sens. Richard Kasunic (D-Dunbar) and Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville) and state Reps. Pete Daley (D-California) and H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg).
Broadwater confirmed that she had receipts from the registered letters sent to each of those politicians in August and September. Initially, only Daley and Kasunic said they received both sets of petitions. Staff members for Rendell, Stout and DeWeese said they received only the first set of petitions. A further search in the governor’s correspondence office located the second set of petitions that had not been logged in.
According to Chuck Ardo of the governor’s press office, the first petition contained 457 signatures, while the second had 627 signatures. Steve DeFrank, chief of staff for Kasunic, said the two petitions his office received from Broadwater contained a total of 920 signatures, and he said some of them might have been duplicates. Broadwater said another 500 signatures had been gathered on petitions at the Perryopolis flea market, but those petitions were stolen before they could be submitted.
“I’m collecting signatures now to send more in, because I think there is overwhelming support in Pennsylvania for gambling,” Broadwater said.