Richmond Casino Referendum’s Uncertain Fate as Polling Shows Split Support

New polling on next month’s Richmond gambling casino referendum suggests it’s anyone’s venture as to which side will prevail.

Early voting inward the VA capital is underway on the proposed $562 jillion cast existence presented by Urban One, Inc., inwards partnership with First Duke of Marlborough Downs, Inc. While the mass of the ballot will come on Election Clarence Day on November 7, Richmonders are already casting their ballots inwards deciding whether capital of Virginia will go a cassino innkeeper destination.

National polling outlet co/efficient recently gauged bread and butter for the casino, the second clip inwards tierce years that capital of Virginia residents are existence asked by the City Council to clear a gaming resort. The poll, first obtained past WRIC ABC 8 News in Richmond, reveals a stock split electorate.

More than 900 potential voters inwards capital of Virginia were polled, and slightly to a greater extent opponents than supporters of the casino expressed their opinions. The pollsters said 43% of the respondents would “definitely voter turnout no” on the cassino question. Just 39% said they will “definitely voting yes.”

Richmonders are being asked the following ballot question:

“Shall cassino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming ecesis inwards the City of Richmond, Virginia, at 2001 Walmsley Boulevard and 4700 capital of New Jersey Avenue, Virginia, 23234, as may be approved past the Old Dominion State Lottery Board?”

Critical Vote

If Richmonders clear the casino — something they failed to perform during the 2021 election by a slim 51%-49% outcome — Urban One and John Churchill Downs officials say the benefits the resort hotel would make for to the capital letter subway would live substantial.

The gambling casino developers get sworn to hire 1,300 people, with most existence brotherhood jobs with an average out one-year compensation of $55K inwards pay and benefits. The project, called capital of Virginia Grand Resort & Casino, would also live expected to redeem the city $30 million a yr in local taxes.

The Richmond City Council and Mayor Levar Stoney (D) say often of that assess do good would turn toward supporting ahead of time childhood programs.

There are, of course, plenitude of opponents to the capital of Virginia casino.

‘No Means No’

The military campaign against the capital of Virginia Grand has accented that a second vote on the cassino goes against the democratic process. group A recent case from local activist St. Paul Goldman and his “No Means No Casino” organization successfully won its case, arguing that he was improperly denied voter lists made uncommitted to the pro-casino groups.

The opponent has also uttered concerns that a casino on Richmond’s Southside would negatively wallop Negroid communities, which are to a greater extent susceptible to gaming and play disorders, according to behavioural wellness experts. Researchers at Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies say Shirley Temple people make over twice the rank of play addictions compared with white-hot people.

But Stoney and the Richmond City Council, including Reva Trammell, who represents the 8th District Southside, say the cassino would make for much-needed economic investiture and good-paying jobs to the area.

Richmond Fifth and Final City

Virginia lawmakers inwards 2020 passed legislation allowing voters inward five cities that met certain economic hardships to count a casino to ignite their local economies. Four of those cities, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Danville, held referendums that November where locals backed allowing a commercial-grade casino.

Richmond, which garnered the to the highest degree involvement from cassino companies, delayed its gaming referendum to 2021 to appropriate a free-enterprise(a) summons treat to play out. Richmond’s metropolis administration finally picked Urban One despite the Black-focused media conglomerate’s deficiency of get underdeveloped or running a casino.

The 2021 ballot was mostly split up among wealthy neighborhoods magnetic north of the Henry James River that opposed the casino. Areas in the south of the urban center more supported the Urban One pitch, which, at the time, was in alignment with Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. Urban One is now teamed with John Churchill Downs after it acquired to the highest degree of Peninsula Pacific’s assets inwards 2022 for $2.5 billion.

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