Developer of proposed Richmond casino threatening legal action in Virginia
In Virginia, the company that is planning the One Casino and Resort reportedly said it would file a lawsuit after state lawmakers approved a law that would bar Richmond from conducting a second casino vote as scheduled in November.
The Virginia General Assembly approved language in the state's new budget that would prevent the city of almost 227,000 people from holding a second vote before November of 2023, according to a Thursday report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper. The disclosure from local radio broadcaster Urban One Incorporated came a day after that approval. Glenn Youngkin, the Republican governor of Virginia (above), still has to sign this planned obstruction, according to various observers who claim that he is still undecided.
Big plans:
In April 2020, Virginia lawmakers allegedly enacted legislation allowing Richmond and the adjacent cities of Norfolk, Danville, Bristol, and Portsmouth to operate casinos in the style of Las Vegas, provided that their respective local populations approved through individual referendums. In order to bring the $600 million One Casino and Resort with a 90,000 square foot casino, a sportsbook, and a 3,000 seat entertainment venue to a southside parcel of land currently owned by Philip Morris International, Urban One Incorporated purportedly partnered with local racecourse operator Peninsula Pacific Entertainment.
Arduous defeat
The article noted that Richmond voters narrowly rejected this initiative in November by a 49% to 51% margin, making Richmond the only one of the five Virginia cities to have been denied the opportunity to host a casino resort. At the time, opponents allegedly voiced worries that a facility of this kind may increase local gambling addiction, poverty, and crime issues and might not provide the expected $500 million in ten-year tax benefits.
Following action:
Undeterred, the Richmond City Council reportedly voted virtually unanimously in January to approve a resolution that will put the casino subject before local voters once more this September. Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond, was one of the campaign's supporters. He allegedly stated that he was running for a second term because of the closely contested election results from last November and the loss of almost $30 million in anticipated tax revenues per year.
Rival's ascent
While all of this was going on, it was claimed that the adjacent city of Petersburg stepped forward to start fighting for the right to make use of the casino licence that the Virginia Lottery Board had previously given to Richmond. This effort was allegedly sponsored by Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey, who plans to present legislation designating this smaller town as the location for the fifth gambling-friendly establishment in the state in January.
Supposedly read Stoney's statement...
We're upset that the Virginia General Assembly changed the state budget in a way that would intentionally hurt Richmond by denying its inhabitants access to the economy. While we continue to weigh our legal alternatives, we are adamant that Richmond residents shouldn't be stripped of their voting rights only months before the election.
Angry reprimand:
However, Urban One Incorporated apparently went farther, describing the Virginia General Assembly's action as "illegal," before hinting that it would sue in an effort to pass the second casino vote. The would-be developer reportedly expressed its disappointment by citing a judgement by Richmond City Circuit Court Judge Reilly Marchant from March that upheld the Richmond City Council's planned ballot measure.
According to a statement from Urban One Incorporated,
"This retroactive budget wording aims to unreasonably restrict the Virginia Lottery Board's ability to exercise its regulatory power in the same way that it does for other casinos and unconstitutionally overturn a final court judgement. We will work together with the city of Richmond, including via litigation, to make sure that the rule of law is upheld and that Richmond residents have the last say in what occurs in their neighbourhood.
Suggestion for submission:
The benefits of having a casino in Petersburg "far outweigh" any negative effects that their proposed project would have, according to Morrissey, who allegedly released a statement in which he urged Urban One Incorporated and Richmond to "move on" despite the possibility of legal action. He allegedly said that these benefits may include a 30% to 40% rise in general tax receipts coupled with the ability to avoid spending money on a "losing battle" in court.
Morrissey allegedly said in his statement...
"Okay, so [Stoney] wants to fight in court and has the desire to do so. He has already squandered city of Richmond dollars to wage futile battles, so this wouldn't be the first time.
