In Norfolk, Virginia, a group that began a petition drive to slow down efforts to bring a tribal casino to the area said they have collected more than half the signatures required for a referendum. Volunteer Ashley Barnett said about 100 volunteers have gathered 2,000 of the 4,000 required signatures.
“We have people canvassing neighborhoods. I’ve gone out with a sign on the sidewalk and asked people, people are pulling their cars over to the side of the road to sign the petition when I’m out,” she said.
City Council recently voted 7-1 to allow the sale of land to the Pamunkey Tribe to build a $700 million casino resort near Harbor Park. Councilwoman Andria McClellan cast the lone vote against the sale. She said she and the group behind the petition effort do not want to block the project—they simply want to slow down the process. “To so hastily make a decision where the public is not informed, it’s not just unwise, it’s unfair,” she said.
McClellan recently held a town hall meeting to discuss the topic, and another one is planned for October 15. Regarding the first meeting, she said, “I think the feedback was good. The fact of the matter is people have more questions and I just wanted to make sure they saw the information that council presented and I wanted them to think through some of the questions that I’ve asked.”
McClellan said she invited the other council members to attend, but none showed up. Chesterfield Heights resident Erik Barrett said he attended to support McClellan. “We’re concerned that our representatives didn’t come to speak to us. The mayor has not come to speak to us. That’s one of the main issues. What are we getting from this deal? Is this going to benefit us or is this going to hurt us in the end?” he asked.
However, Grandy Village Tenant Management Corporation President Raytron White called the meeting “a political stunt” that McClellan is “trying to pull on low-income people.” He added, “I applaud everybody who voted for the casino because, in the long run, I think this is going to be a win-win for Norfolk.”
