Statement of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruling on skill games

“I’m pleased the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that skill games are slot machines. They should not be easily accessible in neighborhoods that already face high rates of poverty, crime and violence,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “You only find them concentrated in our most vulnerable communities. You won’t find these kinds of stores – stop and go’s, smoke shops – and these slot machines – in wealthy neighborhoods. They aren’t there. It’s predatory, and it’s not right.”

“As Mayor, I don’t have the luxury of turning a blind eye to ills like street homelessness, the opioid crisis, or our housing and affordability crisis.”

“This kind of predatory activity only exacerbates seemingly intractable problems that we are challenged with solving. And no one has come running to save our city with the revenue it needs to address these systemic issues.”

“I’m going to be watching this issue very carefully. In no way, shape or form do I think these slot machines should be in our neighborhoods already struggling from socio-economic and public safety issues. If they are going to go anywhere, they should be in private clubs and casinos. They should not be accessible to our children or in our most vulnerable communities. I am lifting my voice in opposition, and I am not going away.”