A road trip to visit Neil Bluhm

Paul, Lily, Jethro, and me, Dan Hajdo, set out for Pittsburgh one Saturday afternoon. If you’ve never driven to Pittsburgh from Philly, the most important thing to remember is that it’s a long drive. Seriously. The next important thing to remember, however, is to go with the right people. Then the trip is more like a fun hang-out, albeit in a car. I brought a book but didn’t read more than a page. Between talking, laughing, and snacking, I didn’t even notice all the scenery.

The next day was the opening of the Rivers Casino (named, perhaps, after Gaming Board member Sanford Rivers who got extension after extension for the project?), the reason for our trip. We went to attend the opening day ceremony in the front driveway of the casino. We went not only to show support for No Dice and other casino opponents in Pittsburgh, but to send a message to someone special. Rivers Casino has one big thing in common with the Sugarhouse development here in Philly: Neil Bluhm.

The original license for a casino in Pittsburgh went to Don Barden, minor multi-millonaire, who could not secure financing. So Bluhm rode in on his white horse and saved the deal — gaining a second casino for himself. Oh, sure, the Gaming Act makes it clear that no single individual, group or subsidiary thereof can get two gaming licenses in the state. But, hey, this is gambling! Technically Bluhm’s daughter, Meredith, put up most of the money. Oddly enough, Meredith wasn’t there at the opening ceremony. The only women on the stage that day were dressed in Las Vegas–style showgirl outfits. I’m pretty sure neither of them was Meredith.

Neil, however, was there. He was introduced as the guy who “saved” the casino, revealing Meredith’s supposed role to be skimpier than the showgirl outfits.

Casino-Free Philadelphia joined with No Dice allies and made themselves heard, unveiling the trusty “Casinos = Corruption” banner. Jethro and Bruce Barron gave interviews published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and shown on local news.

Jethro and Lily also took their message directly to Bluhm, old school, as he rose to speak at the ceremony. Their loud objections got Bluhm’s attention. Also the attention of the state police who asked the two to leave, which they did.

Not to be outdone, Paul — after handing out Casino-Free Philadelphia’s slots-info tickets to the casino’s new patrons — went inside the casino. Finding Bluhm, he walked up to him and told him not to come to Philly and that we — the people of Philadelphia — would stop him.

On the way home, the news reports were already coming out — it’s fun to hear the news reports of your efforts with the events still fresh in your mind.

Who knew activism was so much fun? A couple Philly–Pittsburgh travel tips:

1. You are not risking your health if you have breakfast at the Eat-n-Park. Still, contrary to what the sign says, it’s best to park, and then eat. Then leave.

2. If you stop for dinner in Somerset along the way, go for Italian rather than Chinese even if you did eat more than your fill of yummy stuffed shells the night before.