Today's Other Things

• Gaming news:
  
  
  
  1. Harrisburg legislators are considering removing the provision of gaming regulations that allows local officials to own a (small) portion of casinos in the state. They passed such a measure 18 months ago, but it opened the door to unlimited investment by relatives of officials (ahem). It's unclear whether they'll manage a better approach this time. Given the thousands of hours going into attempts to stave off corruption and crime, you can really see the benefits that the gaming industry is already bringing to Pennsylvania...
     
     
  2. Just to raise one's sense of comfort with the Gaming Board, a fifth member has been arrested for questionable behavior.
     
     
  3. Dan at YPP is concerned by a report that casino companies are trying to woo their prospective neighborhoods with gifts and promises of community investment. He's afraid that their strategy of creating divisiveness among community groups will lead to the worst proposals being enacted.
     
     
  4. The anti-casino riverfront group will be having a rally Thursday at noontime. (See the link for more information, if interested.)
  
  
• The Sunday Inquirer featured a column looking at New Jersey's attempt to reform its eminent domain laws. Specifically a new report prepared for the governor recommends defining more carefully when a property may be considered "blighted," and better compensating property owners when their property is ceased. A good explanation of the problems, and seemingly an excellent vision of how the abuses of eminent domain can be prevented without entirely removing this tool from the civic toolbox.
  
  
• Above Average Jane offers two posts on blogs and their relationships with politicians and campaigns: a quick guide to "using" her blog (much applicable to interacting with any local blog) -- what you can expect and what might be expected from you -- and a question for other bloggers about what they think they owe to the candidates that they support. Interesting questions...
  
  
• Finally, Albert offers a glimpse of a different kind of Memorial Day celebration (in contrast to, say, those here) via a Revolutionary War tribute re-enactment in Washington Square. Lucky for us that he stumbled upon it!