Mayor concerned about promised money for the Hill
Mayor hopes to chat with casino owner about $3 million pledge
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hopes to meet with casino owner Don Barden as soon as tomorrow in an effort to ensure that $3 million in development money pledged to the Hill District remains available for use in the city.
Last week, Mr. Barden filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board asking permission to eliminate a pledge in his casino license application to put $3 million over three years into development in the Hill.
"I just want to have a conversation with him about some of the amendments that he proposed, just make sure that the interests of the taxpayers are protected in these discussions," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "I would anticipate that in some way, shape or form, if his proposal is not to use the $3 million in the Hill District, that it will be used in some capacity in the city of Pittsburgh."
Ed Fasulo, the Majestic Star Casino general manager in Pittsburgh, could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Barden had expected to be involved in what was then a proposed $350 million development adjacent to the new $290 million Penguins arena in the Hill District. Now the Penguins are leading that development push.
Mr. Ravenstahl said he assumes Mr. Barden will take the position that his $3 million pledge was "contingent upon [Mr. Barden having] development rights, which we know didn't happen, but that's a discussion we'll have."
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Tonya Payne, who represents the Hill, couldn't see a good reason for withdrawing the $3 million pledge.
"He's got the [casino] license, so he should have to live up to his commitments, right?" she said. "I think a promise made should be a promise kept. If he made a promise to the Hill District, he should keep that money in the Hill District."
She said that even if Mr. Barden doesn't want to give $3 million to a development with which he's not involved, there are plenty of other good uses for the money.
"All the social services in the Hill, housing development, commercial development -- there's a whole host of things it could be used for," she said.
Mr. Ravenstahl said that uncertainty about the $3 million should not derail efforts to reach an agreement with Hill District groups regarding guaranteed neighborhood benefits stemming from the arena.
"I think the discussions that we're having with the Hill District community are going well, and hopefully we'll be able to reach a community benefits agreement in the very near future," he said. "None of those discussions centered on, nor included, discussion about this $3 million."
It is up to the gaming control board to rule on Mr. Barden's request to amend terms of his application. His Pittsburgh entity, PITG Gaming LLC, expects to open the Majestic Star Casino on the North Shore next year.
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hopes to meet with casino owner Don Barden as soon as tomorrow in an effort to ensure that $3 million in development money pledged to the Hill District remains available for use in the city.
Last week, Mr. Barden filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board asking permission to eliminate a pledge in his casino license application to put $3 million over three years into development in the Hill.
"I just want to have a conversation with him about some of the amendments that he proposed, just make sure that the interests of the taxpayers are protected in these discussions," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "I would anticipate that in some way, shape or form, if his proposal is not to use the $3 million in the Hill District, that it will be used in some capacity in the city of Pittsburgh."
Ed Fasulo, the Majestic Star Casino general manager in Pittsburgh, could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Barden had expected to be involved in what was then a proposed $350 million development adjacent to the new $290 million Penguins arena in the Hill District. Now the Penguins are leading that development push.
Mr. Ravenstahl said he assumes Mr. Barden will take the position that his $3 million pledge was "contingent upon [Mr. Barden having] development rights, which we know didn't happen, but that's a discussion we'll have."
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Tonya Payne, who represents the Hill, couldn't see a good reason for withdrawing the $3 million pledge.
"He's got the [casino] license, so he should have to live up to his commitments, right?" she said. "I think a promise made should be a promise kept. If he made a promise to the Hill District, he should keep that money in the Hill District."
She said that even if Mr. Barden doesn't want to give $3 million to a development with which he's not involved, there are plenty of other good uses for the money.
"All the social services in the Hill, housing development, commercial development -- there's a whole host of things it could be used for," she said.
Mr. Ravenstahl said that uncertainty about the $3 million should not derail efforts to reach an agreement with Hill District groups regarding guaranteed neighborhood benefits stemming from the arena.
"I think the discussions that we're having with the Hill District community are going well, and hopefully we'll be able to reach a community benefits agreement in the very near future," he said. "None of those discussions centered on, nor included, discussion about this $3 million."
It is up to the gaming control board to rule on Mr. Barden's request to amend terms of his application. His Pittsburgh entity, PITG Gaming LLC, expects to open the Majestic Star Casino on the North Shore next year.