Richmond Casino Second Effort Dealt Bad Hand, as Bill Seeking Revote Ban Advances

The Richmond cassino referendum inwards VA that failed lowest November, the outcome resulting inwards a proposed $565 one thousand thousand adventure called ONE Casino + Resort existence rejected, has been dealt in time another badness hand.

Richmond officials this calendar week voted inwards favor of moving forrad with a indorse local voting on the casino project. The November election resultant of rough 1,500 votes against the gambling casino out of to a greater extent than 77,000 votes cast of characters prompted the capital of Virginia City Council into labor an exertion to expect metropolis residents to reconsider their position.

But legislating on the body politic take down introduced past Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) seeks to mental block a second casino balloting in Richmond from occurring. The appraise — Senate Bill 203 — would amend the state’s commercial-grade gaming practice of law to grant nearby Petersburg Campaign to debate a gaming development. It would also preclude capital of Virginia from holding another gaming referendum balloting for a minimum of pentad years.

Virginia’s 2020 cassino greenback allowed quintet cities that met a slew of hardships to mull a cassino resort hotel evolution inwards prescribe to acantha regional economical activity. capital of Virginia is the sole urban center that rejected its casino opportunity.

People Have Spoken

Morrissey explains that piece he was supportive of ONE Casino + Resort coming to Richmond, the people’s vote should be respected and upheld.

“The people spoke. Over 1,500 was a margin, not a great one, but 1,500 said no, they make not require the casino,” Morrissey explained this hebdomad during a committee audition regarding SB203. “So, we pivoted to Petersburg.”

Morrissey says efforts by Richmond councilmembers are undemocratic.

They need a do-over. Essentially, it says, ‘Well, we lost. Let’s have got a do-over.’ If they turn a loss again, how nearly another do-over and another one?” Morrissey questioned. “That’s non the way the democratic unconscious process works.”

Morrissey’s Petersburg cassino vizor made get on yesterday with unanimous approval from the Senate General Laws and Technology’s Gaming subcommittee. The statute now moves to the full citizens committee for review.

Morrissey was pardoned past outgoing Old Dominion State Gov. Ralph Northam (D) earlier this month for his 2014 violation conviction for having a sexual affaire with a adult female who was only when 17-years older at the time. Morrissey, who was 57 at the time, ended upward marrying the woman — Myrna Pride — in 2016.

Richmond officials, including Mayor Levar Stoney (D), say a s vote is warranted. Backers of the revote title that the economic and community of interests benefits that ONE Casino would have brought the uppercase metro should experience been break presented and explained.

To dulcify the deal, Stoney has suggested that if the gambling casino is authorised inwards Richmond, urban center residents would live now rewarded with a two-cent on the buck holding task reduction.

Dillon Rule State

Virginia is i of 40 states that adheres to the Dillon’s Rule principle, which limits the force of local governments. Dillon’s Rule, named for St. John the Apostle Forest Dillon, who was the chief justice of the Ioway Supreme Court and a US Circuit Court jurist inward the 2d half of the 19th Century, greatly distrusted local governments.

During his clip as chief justness inward Iowa, Dillon was a cay determinator in legal complaints regarding whether a commonwealth or urban center has sheer(a) force o'er a municipality. Dillon inwards an sentiment said that “those topper fitted by intelligence, business sector experience, capacity, and lesson character” run not to hold local business office but nation positions. He summarized that local municipality leaders tended to follow “unwise.”

If Morrissey’s SB203 passes and is signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), Richmond’s city ordinances calling for a arcsecond casino voting would be annulled.