UPDATED: Mayor Stoney releases statement on ' failure of the casino gaming referendum'
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Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney issues a statement on the failure of the casino gaming referendum. He is proud of transparent and public process and the economic development team who negotiated the project and Richmond City Council, which overwhelmingly supported it. Stonyy's administration will continue to pursue other economic opportunities.
Preliminary results of the city's casino referendum showed them ahead by 2,200 votes. Most of precincts in Richmond's West End and North Side voted against the proposal, while most of South Richmond voted for it. Media conglomerate Urban One was seeking approval for its plans to build a $565 million casino with a 250-room luxury resort hotel off Interstate 95 near Walmsley Boulevard and Commerce Road. The casino project owners spent approximately $2 million campaigning for the project. The opponents raised about one-tenth of that amount.
Voters in Richmond were reminded to vote yes for the casino on the back page of their voting form. Veronica Hicks, who lives in Henrico County, was unable to participate in the referendum. She supports the project because she is a frequent visitor to casinos in Maryland.
Voters in Richmond voted against the casino gaming referendum. Mayor Stoney released a statement on the issue. Debra Winston voted for it because she thinks it will bring jobs to the area.
Richmond, Danville, Bristol, Norfolk and Portsmouth approved casino ballot measures last year. The city rejected six casino proposals and chose Urban One project. If approved, Urban 1 will become the first Black majority owner of a casino since the late Don Barden. It will also generate $25.5 million in annual tax revenue for the city. A majority of the votes will be from the black population. This is a key goal of Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. They want to see more minority ownership of new and expanding business opportunities.
Richmond For All opposed the referendum because they consider casinos exploitative. Some South Richmond residents and civic organizations in the area near the proposed Urban One casino declared their support for the project earlier in this year.
