PITTSBURGH -- Mayor Tom Murphy formed a gaming advisory panel Thursday to plan for the arrival of legalized slot machines in Pittsburgh.

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"I've asked a group of men and women to begin to, in a very public and transparent way, discuss who ought to have a (gambling) license, what are the proposals and what is the best opportunity for Pittsburgh," Murphy said.

The 23-person panel consists of education officials, business people, labor groups and city leaders.

They are:

Co-Chair -- Ronald Porter, Heinz School of Public Policy and Management
Co-Chair -- Anne Swager, American Institute of Architects Pittsburgh
Dr. Esther Barazzone, president, Chatham College
Rick Belloli, executive director, president, South Side Local Development Co.
Mark Broadhurst, Eat N' Park
Carol Brown, former president, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
John Craig, Riverlife Task Force
Clarence Curry, CFC3 Management Services
Mike English, executive director, PUMP
Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Councilman
The Rev. David Gleason
Dr. Herman Jones, Slippery Rock University
Linda Lefever, executive director, Northside Community Development Fund
Barbara McNees, president and COO, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Greg Morris, University of Pittsburgh
Mary Navarro, senior program officer, The Heinz Endowments
Sarah Radelet, arts consultant
Mark Schneider, president, The Rubinoff Company
Daniel Shapira, Marcus and Shapira LLP
Jack Shea, president, Allegheny County Labor Council
Rich Stanizzo, business manager, Building Trades
Sala Udin, city councilman
Andre Young, president and CEO, Sincerely Yours

Murphy said the arrival of gaming in Pittsburgh requires frank discussion about gambling's impact on the city's culture and residents.

"What does this do to Pittsburgh, to our classic work ethic that was defined by the steel industry here, when suddenly, in the middle of a city where 300,000 people come to work every day in normal jobs, there is a casino they can walk over and enjoy at lunch time?" Murphy asked. "What does that do to us as a community?"

The state Gaming Control Board has final say over nearly every aspect of slots parlors. Board officials hope to issue the first licenses by the end of this year.