Fairfax County Supervisors Weigh in on Tysons Casino
Posted on: January 29, 2024, 03:34h.
Last updated on: February 2, 2024, 10:37h.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors says they weren’t privy to legislative discussions about potentially allowing a casino resort in Tysons. That’s before a powerful state Senator filed a bill in Richmond earlier this month.
On Friday night — facing the wrath of residents for seemingly not taking a position on Virginia state Sen. David Marsden’s (D-Fairfax) public support for a casino in Tysons — Fairfax supervisors told their constituents the legislative push was news to them, too.
What happened here is that people in a vacuum worked on a plan and went to Richmond without coordinating with Fairfax County,” Jeff McKay, the chair of the county board, told DC News Now. “None of those groups have come formally, sat down with me and said, ‘Hey, here’s what we’re proposing. This is what our bill looks like. Will Fairfax County engage in conversations with us?'”
The majority of the county supervisors expressed opposition toward a possible casino in Tysons. The supervisors subsequently drafted and sent a letter to several state lawmakers to express the county’s hostility to Marsden’s gaming legislation.
County Submits Position
In the county’s letter by McKay, the supervisors say they didn’t immediately take a position on the rumored casino legislation. That’s because Virginia is a Dillon Rule state that restricts local governments’ authority. The chair said that’s why the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors doesn’t typically embrace or oppose legislation.
However, when it comes to a possible casino, the supervisors say they should have a seat at the table.
“Unlike other jurisdictions that received the authority to hold a referendum to host a casino, Fairfax County did not seek such authority and has not been substantively involved in the development of the casino concept envisioned by stakeholders and the patron of the legislation,” McKay wrote to House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria), House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon), and Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville).
It likely comes as no surprise to you that the location and concept included in the legislation and reported in the media has generated significant community concern and opposition,” McKay continued. “Furthermore, since a community engagement process was not conducted prior to the bill being introduced as it was in other jurisdictions, we believe the bill in its current form is likely to result in strong community opposition to the future referendum.”
McKay countered Marsden’s claims that a casino is needed to save Fairfax County’s property tax base, which was dealt revenue setbacks because of COVID-19 and more workers being allowed to telework. McKay said the supervisors “are confident that Tysons is poised for continued success” and will continue to attract new businesses to its many office buildings.
McKay didn’t ask for any action by the lawmakers but instead said the board decided to submit the unsolicited testimony about its stance on the casino dilemma.? ?
Widespread Opposition
County supervisors said Friday that they’ve fielded a slew of opposition from community members and little support.
“I’m not hearing a lot of different things from my constituents. I’m hearing uniformed opposition,” said Fairfax Supervisor James Bierman, representing the Dranesville District.
McKay said the four other casinos approved in Virginia receive just a quarter of the gross revenue won by the house.
“If this casino generated $200 million and only $50 million of that came back to Fairfax County, and I was left with all the problems related to a casino? That’s not a good deal for my taxpayers. We’re not in this to be the state’s ATM.”
Marsden said he’s been publicly discussing the idea of authoring legislation to designate Fairfax as a casino host for over a year. He says the casino would be only one element of the project, as the destination would also bring much-needed nightlife, entertainment, and a large convention center to Tysons.
Marsden says the casino would also give people in Northern Virginia a place to gamble other than traveling to neighboring Maryland.
Marsden’s Fairfax casino statute, Senate Bill 675, passed the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee last week by a 10-4 vote. The bill has since moved to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
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Last Comments ( 11 )
The commenter, Mike, who is concerned about Prince Georges County folks is not the same Mike who included the word "seamlessly" in his comment. Fairfax County residents need to speak out against this casino now, rather than wish later they did something other than what they did.
Referring to people as trash is disgusting. Those who do this have a greater problem than a casino coming. Gambling is never the answer to a revenue problem for the people. It addresses the revenue issues of the owners.
JD, there is a reason Dave Marsden waited until after the election to publicize his proposal that's been in the works for a year.
Jill, here's the remedy. Follow the same roadmap to success that is being used in State College, Pennsylvania in an ongoing two-year battle against a planned Bally’s Casino just four miles from Penn State University. Launch the iPetition. Create a public Facebook group page as seen at the website described below. Inspire like-minded casino opponents to write Letters to the Editor. 88 letters published in Happy Valley are posted on the website. Long story short (too late for that), the unprecedented website is saynocasino.org. It's the most comprehensive all-in-one-place resource for casino/gambling opposition in our nation's history. It's the roadmap to stopping casino chaos in your community.
Ewww. Keep that PG County filth on their side of the river.
Mike, Agree with you 1000%. The current efforts and infrastructure, even with the good-intentioned Reston coalition folks, are ill prepared and resources to handle what's ahead. What do you suggest as a remedy to pull disparate opposition groups and influencers together?
Why would anyone want the trash that comes along with a casino, especially one that would be metro accessible. Keep this trash as far away as possible.
Casino opponents in Fairfax County communities should focus closely on the following: To stop a proposed casino, the community needs a grassroots casino opposition campaign with at least five or six continually dedicated members. A genuine 100% effort is required -- nothing less will stop the chaos a casino can bring to your community. For those who refuse to devote any of their precious time to meet such a challenge -- ask each of them if their most recent performance evaluations at work contain a phrase mentioning they can be relied upon to SEAMLESSLY achieve any objective. Yeah, except in the case of something like their mailbox at home being damaged by a snowplow. A ratchet strap is a good enough fix, right? Roll the dice if you choose to not demonstrate strong community opposition to the casino. You'll cringe at the round of applause the casino executives receive at the casino's grand opening ceremony. The casino developers will have seamlessly achieved their goal because they were unopposed.
Couldn’t agree more JD!
Sorry to say this but I've seen stuff like this before, not casino related, but other stuff where something was proposed in Fairfax County with resident opposition and in the end the County won so this casino fiasco is going to happen. Good example of this is the recent decision by the B.O.S. that approved the 110-foot data center near Stonecroft Blvd and Rt.50. Residents opposed but the tax revenue spoke louder than the Residents. Don't even get me started on the ridiculous housing that B.O.S. allows to be built.
Casinos are a blight and NOVA is doing just fine without it. As a life long democrat and NOVA resident, I will vote against any democrat in any primary or general election who supports this obscene legislation, period. This goes double for any contribution I might make to democrats at the state level. Not doing it while this POS legislation is on the table in Richmond.It's just another transparent developer attempt to bribe politicians with tax "free" revenue that is corrupting and anything but free.