In Norfolk, Virginia supporters and opponents of the proposed Pamunkey Indian Tribe casino are taking action. The city council voted 7-1 on September 24 to sell city land near Harbor Park to the tribe for its proposed $700 million casino development.
Now the group Say No To The Norfolk Casino is gathering signatures on petitions to reverse the land deal. The group said the council’s vote was rushed, citizens don’t have enough information and the city hasn’t researched the possible impact of the casino.
On October 11, the group said it had 2,000 signatures—half the number required for a city-wide referendum on the casino issue. The deadline is October 25 for collecting the 4,000 verified signatures. A section of the city charter allows residents to organize a petition drive; if they collect enough signatures a judge could order a referendum on the council vote.
The petitioners recently posted a victory. City spokesperson Lori Crouch said she’d received calls from four citizens who changed their minds about signing the petitions. So she emailed a form developed by the city clerk and city attorney allowing people to remove their names from the petitions. However, the petition group posted on Facebook that by emailing the form, the city wanted to “discourage people from participating in our efforts to overturn the casino vote.”
Mayor Kenny Alexander said he ordered the form removed as soon as he heard about it. He said he supports the casino resort, which would boost economic development. However, Alexander stated he supports residents’ right to seek a referendum. He said it was an emblem of the democratic process and he would let the petition process move forward without interference. He noted, “For people who feel pressured or intimidated, there should be a mechanism to remove their name, so the form is the mechanism. But that form should have gone directly to whoever complained.” On its Facebook page, the petition group praised Alexander’s actions.
Also in Norfolk, a new pro-casino group has formed, All In For Norfolk Casino. Its website states, “Don’t let the naysayers block our opportunity to create jobs, generate money for schools and make our city the leading tourist destination in Virginia. Join the growing list of people who are All In For Norfolk Casino.”
