Why I fight casinos

I joined Casino-Free Philadelphia in the fall of 2008 — I may seem experienced to some of you, and a newcomer to others.

I got involved because my friends and neighbors asked me, and I suspect that many of you also joined because other folks you knew were involved. For a couple of years, I had seen the creative, effective campaigns of Casino-Free Philly hold off a seemingly invincible foe, one that had what looked like all the levers of power allied behind it.

Three years later, I've seen Casino-Free have some big successes, and fall short in other places. Yet at its core, it's been this network of friends and neighbors propelling the organization forward.

I've acted as a volunteer, a part-time staffer, a campaign planner, a direct action trainer, Thomas Jefferson declaring independence from casinos, a painter-of-signs and a driver-of-cars-to-Harrisburg.

But more than anything, I've been a part of a community, you and me and an organization that became more than the sum of its parts.

We have a fantastic campaign in the form of fighting quicksand credit at SugarHouse, and keeping an eye on whatever might become of the Foxwoods site — but we need your support to get to where we need to be in 2012.

Please join me in making a year-end, tax-deductible donation to Casino-Free Philly.

You've probably noticed that in the past few months, Casino-Free has been somewhat quiet. Unfortunately, we've struggled with finding the necessary resources to continue campaigning at the level that we'd have liked.

Make a tax-deductible donation to Casino-Free today, and help us build for more victories in 2012!

Anyone who's been involved in Casino-Free knows it's the community that makes us tick. Our campaigns are your campaigns, pushed forward by your creativity and courage. That's why it feels like I'm short-changing you by asking for what we really need right now — a little funding to help us pay our bills.

So please know that Casino-Free Philly not only values but is defined by all the love and dedication you put into this fight. But, quiet plainly, in these tough times, it's been tough for us too. We are now a fully volunteer organization — and volunteers have been our core from the beginning — but there are still a few bills that need to be paid.

Can you chip in a year-end contribution to help us build for 2012? Even $10 will help.

Coming early in 2012, we'll let you know about community meetings to flesh out our campaign fighting quicksand credit — and I hope to see you there!

—Ivan Boothe, volunteer, trainer, "founding father," van-driver, etc., Casino-Free Philadelphia

P.S. If you want your tax-deductible donation to count for 2011 purposes, be sure to make an online donation before the end of Saturday! You may also mail us a donation by check to Casino-Free Philadelphia, 714 Market Street, Suite 3, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Donations postmarked by Dec. 31 may be counted as part of your 2011 tax-deductible contributions.