City Vows Control Over Casinos’ Shrubbery
April 15, 2008 –
In the wake of recent State Supreme Court decisions that all but assure that Philadelphia will have little control over the construction of two Delaware Avenue casinos, city officials yesterday vowed to, at the very least, dictate the gaming houses' choice of decorative shrubbery. "The courts have basically said that we're not entitled to have a say in this process," bristled Frank DiCicco, whose City Council jurisdiction includes the future sites of both slots parlors. "But we're not going to give up everything. For starters, we want periwinkle bushes and honeysuckle–and you'd better believe we're going to get them."
 Mayor Michael Nutter was similarly focused. "These casinos think that they operate above everything, but they're in for a shock," he said. "Especially when it comes to what kind of potted plants they're going to put outside. Actually, only when it comes to what kind of potted plants they're going to put outside." Harvey Ruark of Anti-Casino Philly agreed. "We're hearing reports now that [the casinos] want hydrangeas," he seethed. "But that is completely unacceptable. They're going to get lavender and yellowroot, come hell or high water."
Casino representatives, meanwhile, were dismissive of the local movement for greater shrubbery control. "First, they wanted us out, then they wanted us moved–and both efforts failed," crowed Foxwoods spokesman Elliot Napp. "Now they're trying to strongarm us into going along with their choice of flowers and bushes? I don't think so." DiCicco, however, was undeterred by such high-handed defiance. "What Foxwoods and SugarHouse don't get is that this is Philadelphia, and we don't just lay down when the going gets tough. And that means they can't just roll into town and install shrubbery willy-nilly–no matter what the courts might say."
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