Richmond, Virginia 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell is sponsoring a measure that could lead to a second vote on the $565 million One Casino and Resort project, which local voters defeated 51 percent to 49 percent in November.
At the same time, state Senator Joe Morrissey announced he will propose a bill allowing Petersburg, 20 miles south of Richmond, to hold a casino referendum that would prevent a second Richmond referendum for five years.
The ballot measure vote, which failed by 1,500 votes, clearly was divided along racial and geographic lines, with voters in Richmond’s majority white precincts voting 2-to-1 against the project. Voters living closest to the proposed casino location in South Richmond overwhelmingly voted for it.
Morrissey supported the One Casino project, but he said allowing Richmond to vote again would be undemocratic, adding politicians and business leaders would be allowed to continue campaigning on an issue that has been settled.
“That’s not the democratic process. Reva Trammell should know better. I’m a little disappointed. I expected more from her,” Morrissey said.
In response, Trammell stated, “I’m doing what my people have asked me to do. I don’t know why Joe would say that. He knows how bad people wanted it.”
According to Trammell’s bill, city voters would vote on the same project, which would be built near the Phillip Morris manufacturing campus. It was proposed by Urban One and Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, owner and operator of Rosie’s Gaming Emporium and the Colonial Downs racetrack, who pledged to give the city $25 million if chosen. The plan was selected from among other proposals in a competitive bidding process last year.
Project supporters said the casino would provide significant economic benefits for the area, especially for the poor and minority families that live there. Opponents raised concerns about gambling addiction and whether the development would deliver all of its stated benefits, such as 1,500 new permanent jobs, $500 million in tax revenue over the next decade and financial support for city schools and community organizations.
Immediately following the referendum, Trammell began collecting signatures to hold another one and Morrissey began looking into how Petersburg, population 33,000, could hold a casino referendum. Previously, Morrissey and Petersburg officials said they have discussed a casino project with Urban One representatives, but it’s not clear if Urban One wants to try again so soon. Recently they said they will invite multiple proposals if state lawmakers allow the city to hold the referendum.
Following the November vote, Urban One Chief Executive Officer Alfred Liggins wrote an op-ed in the Richmond Free Press, commenting, “The state of Virginia has had a dismal track record when it comes to economic inclusion for African-Americans, especially as it pertains to the award of meaningful contracts and providing equal access to economic development opportunities to Black businesses. While this may be our history, it does not have to dictate our future. The Richmond casino license represents the last opportunity for Black inclusion in Virginia’s casino gambling gold rush.”
