"Shame on you!" chanted several of the nearly 200 people who had gathered in Council chambers for the five-hour hearing before Council's Committee on Rules.
"Is this the process?" other people yelled.
The day started with about 600 people marching to City Hall from Chinatown. Many were children holding signs that read, "No casino."
About 60 people then testified before the committee, many of them Chinatown residents fearful that the proposed casino would harm their community.
Some offered cautionary tales of gambling addiction, others voiced concern that children who frequent the mall would be exposed to alcohol and prostitutes, and a few expressed dismay at the perceived speed of the process that could usher in Center City gambling.
In September, Foxwoods Casino said it would move its proposed slots parlor from a riverfront location in South Philadelphia to Center City. This was after several delays and challenges from the city.
"What's the rush to introduce zoning changes so quickly?" asked Ellen Somekawa, executive director of Asian Americans United.
Andrew Altman, deputy mayor for planning, said the process was more rigorous than people seemed to believe.
"We haven't yet agreed this is the location," he said. "This deal is not done, and the conclusion is not foregone. We must consider social impacts and costs."
James F. Kenney, a councilman at-large, told the audience that the zoning legislation must pass before detailed studies and a plan of development could be done.
"This legislation only marks the beginning of the process," said Jim Dougherty, president and chief executive officer of Foxwoods Philadelphia. Audience members hissed when he was introduced.
Throughout the hearing, various Asian community leaders spoke intensely of families being torn apart and people committing suicide because of gambling.
