Gaming Control Board Rejects Slots Parlor Near Historic Gettysburg Battlefield

Civil War Preservation Trust ^ | 12/20/2006 | CWPT Press Release

[PhilipFreneau]

GAMING CONTROL BOARD REJECTS SLOTS PARLOR NEAR HISTORIC GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD

After 20 months of debate, the Control Board concludes that Gettysburg and gambling don’t mix.

(Harrisburg, Pa., 12/20/2006) – During a public hearing today, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board rejected a proposal to build a 3,000-machine slots parlor one mile from the Gettysburg Battlefield. James Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT), issued the following statement in the wake of the vote:

“This is a great day for Gettysburg and for preservationists throughout the nation. By not allowing gambling to encroach on this famous town and battlefield, Pennsylvania has sent a clear message that it cares deeply for its historic treasures. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the most significant battlefield preservation victory since the defeat of Disney’s proposed theme park at Manassas in the early 1990s.

“Together with the many thousands of Americans who have anxiously awaited this decision for some 20 months, I applaud the members of the Gaming Control Board and thank them for recognizing that Gettysburg and gambling don’t mix.

“I also want to thank the tireless volunteers of No Casino Gettysburg and recognize the work of our other partners in the Stop the Slots Coalition. There is no question that this victory was a team effort.

“I sincerely hope this vote will serve to motivate preservationists to redouble their efforts to save the remainder of the Gettysburg Battlefield before it is lost forever. The casino proposal itself was merely a symptom of a larger development problem plaguing Gettysburg and many other Civil War battlefield communities. The Civil War Preservation Trust is committed to working with other preservation groups to protect the Gettysburg battleground.”

Since the Gettysburg slots parlor was first proposed in April 2005, CWPT has been one of the leading voices against the casino. Earlier this year, the organization identified Gettysburg as one of the most endangered battlefields in the nation because of the slots proposal. CWPT members collected more than 34,000 signatures in opposition to the casino. Together with the National Parks Conservation Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, No Casino Gettysburg and Preservation Pennsylvania, CWPT is proud to be a member of the Stop the Slots Coalition.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is a 70,000-member nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War sites. Since 1987, the organization has saved more than 23,000 acres of hallowed ground throughout the United State, including 697 acres in and around Gettysburg. CWPT’s website is located at www.civilwar.org.

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For media inquiries, contact:
Jim Campi, 202-367-1861 ext. 205
Mary Goundrey, 202-367-1861 ext. 231

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Jim Campi, Policy and Communications Director
Civil War Preservation Trust
1331 H Street NW
Suite 1001
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 367-1861
http://www.civilwar.org

[PhilipFreneau]

Note: this press release was not on the Civil War Preservation Trust web site at the time of this post.

[kerryusama04]

Breaking news?

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Breaking news?<<<

I think so.

[SittinYonder]

I'm very glad to hear this. I imagine they'll sue, get a judge to allow the slot machines, and win in the end. But it's nice to see a victory for now.

[Tribune7]

ping

[Ciexyz]

The PA Gaming Commission voted to put the Pittsburgh slots parlor on the North Shore, between the Carnegie Science Center and the West End Bridge, along the Ohio River. Just what we need in that area: busloads of out of state gamblers rolling into town beside pimps, prostitutes, drug dealers, right across the street from busloads of school kids going to the science center on a field trip.

[baclava]

Who cares about that? If we lose the Pens I'll be pissed.

[Ciexyz]

The people of PA (some of them, at least) want gambling. So Ed Rendell is giving the fools what they want. May they enjoy the downside of their dreams. Horrible traffic jams, increased crime and corruption...we'll have to keep our fingers crossed that it won't be as bad as Atlantic City and their depressed environs.

[fatima]

Thanks for the ping.Goode made his decision too,both on Delaware Ave but I am not sure where.

[GATOR NAVY]

I was in Gettysburg this summer. Judging from the yard signs, the town looked pretty split on the issue.

[Rabble]

IMHO -- The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) is the single most significant event in the history of this proposal, as it was the blow than would eventually kill this obnoxious plan.

As we all know this "Slots" proposal in Gettysburg and the others within the state is a veiled attempt to get their foot in the door. Eventually in a year or two the slots parlors would in some way or other become full blown gambling casinos. Too much money is behind the developers and in a not too distant future would sway our legislators to support all that the casino owners desire. Along with the casinos would come all the negative factors that accompany them -- as Atlantic City as aptly shown. The negative element of people that go hand-in-hand with the gambling parlors is incompatible with the folks that visit the hallowed ground located in Gettysburg, and of course would have eventually lowered the quality experience one expects when visiting the town.

Thanks to the CWPT, it's leaders, and all their members for throwing their significant weight against the proposal.

[Rabble]

Should have read:

IMHO -- The response by the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) was the single most significant event in the history of this proposal, as it was the blow than would eventually kill this obnoxious plan.