Speaking at a community meeting in the city district where national media conglomerate Urban One has sought to build a nearly $600 million casino resort, Liggins said he has asked the city to suspend its plan to hold a second casino referendum this year because of the legal situation and uncertainty about whether it could be litigated and resolved before the election process begins next month.
People are also reading
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
After 51% of Richmond voters rejected the casino plan last year, the Virginia General Assembly in June adopted a budget that included a provision prohibiting Richmond from holding another referendum until 2023, and only after the state completes a study about the potential economic impact a casino located in Petersburg would have there, about a 30-minute drive south of Richmond.
This has created a legal conflict and a huge cloud of doubt, Liggins said before an audience of approximately 100 people at the Satellite Restaurant and Lounge on Richmond Highway, about one mile from the proposed casino location at the Philip Morris industrial complex off Interstate 95.
We dont think that a protracted legal battle is in the best interest of the city of Richmond and the state of Virginia, and also would probably not get decided in time for us to have early voting in late September, he said.
In a statement Thursday evening, the city announced it would file a petition to remove the question from the ballot for this years election.
Understanding Urban Ones reason, the city stands ready to move the proposed One Casino and Resort forward in 2023, the statement reads. This temporary delay will not deter Urban One or the City of Richmond from working together to ensure a bright future for our residents.
After last years referendum, several state lawmakers and officials from the city of Petersburg pushed to amend the states new casino gambling law so that Petersburg residents could decide whether a casino should be built there.
The casino law, originally adopted in 2020, authorized only Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, Bristol and Portsmouth to permit casinos with the approval of local voters. Voters in every locality but Richmond have since approved casino plans in their communities.
While legislative efforts to add Petersburg to the list failed earlier this year, Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, and other lawmakers sought to block a second Richmond referendum this year through a budget amendment.
Richmond officials said at the same time that they wanted to roll the dice again, often highlighting how $30 million in projected annual tax revenue for the city had been left on the table. Seeking to make the project more appealing to voters in a second vote, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also proposed cutting the citys real estate tax by 2 cents if the referendum passes.
Urban One and city officials have contended that the budget provision was unlawful, as the Richmond City Circuit Court had already granted the citys request for another ballot referendum prior to the adoption of the state budget.
In a joint statement after the state budget was passed, both Urban One and the city said they would work together to resolve the issue, potentially through litigation, to still hold the referendum this year.
Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor, said the law is clear that Richmond cannot hold the referendum this fall.
The budget would generally supersede any prior court order, and someone would probably challenge Richmonds efforts to conduct the referendum, if the city decides to proceed, Tobias said in an email Thursday. If there were no court challenge and the referendum passes, a court might nullify it.
Just hours before the meeting Thursday night, Morrisseys office disclosed that he and Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie, had sent a letter to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin asking him to intervene if the city moves forward with holding another referendum. Both lawmakers districts include Petersburg.
Though Morrissey had supported the One Casino and Resort project in Richmond last year, he has since advocated for allowing Petersburg to hold its own referendum.
In the letter to the governor, the two state legislators said they had contacted Keith Balmer, the citys elections director, to determine whether the city has ordered him to include the referendum question on the election ballots for this year. The letter says they were not provided a definitive answer, as Balmer said the city had not told him what to do yet.
We find this answer unacceptable and shows Richmonds intent to possibly ignore the law, the letter to the governor says. We are respectfully requesting that you direct the Attorney Generals Office to utilize its legal authority to prevent Richmond from placing the above mentioned referendum on the November, 2022, ballot.
Balmer told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in an interview Wednesday morning that he had asked city officials to let him know within the next three weeks, as he must soon print the ballots so that the citys office of elections can be ready to send out mail-in ballots and begin early in-person voting on Sept. 23, in accordance with state election law.
In an interview Wednesday, before he and Taylor sent the letter to the governor, Morrissey said city leaders have been making a mistake in continuing to promote the idea that another referendum could be held this fall.
I dont know what to say. ... Theyre misleading their constituents, he said. It shows complete and utter disregard for the laws of the commonwealth.
Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, spoke during a community meeting at Satellite Restaurant and Lounge on Thursday.
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, listens to Councilmember Reva M. Trammell speak during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. She called the meeting to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.
See the rest here:
- Monarch Casino hiring 300 workers; Jobs offered on the spot - 9News.com KUSA [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Fresnos Club One Casino allowed to move with one stipulation - YourCentralValley.com [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Caesars Entertainment holds community meeting to gather input on new casino site in Danville - WFXRtv.com [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Perfect the Pokies with PlayCroco Online Casino - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- MGM Springfield to welcome poker back to casino by end of year - The Patriot Ledger [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Try Your Luck at These Bossier Parish Casinos - Be Bossier [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Chile regulator reaches agreement to boost casino industry transparency - SBC Americas [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Rivers Casino hotel makes strides, new zoo CEO, fly cheap to Phoenix and more in ETC. - NEXTpittsburgh [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Vandergrift's Casino Theatre receives Westmoreland Cultural Trust art installation - TribLIVE [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- PokerStars Strengthens Oracle Red Bull Racing Partnership with Hybrid Poker-Casino Promotions - Pokerfuse [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2022]
- Macau Casino GGR Forecasts Are Cut, COVID-19 Is Cited as the Main Cause - GamblingNews.com [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2022]
- Why Citigroup Is Feeling Lucky on These Casino Stocks - 24/7 Wall St. [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2022]
- Deadwood Casino Patron Charged with Grand Theft Pleads Not Guilty - Casino.Org News [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2022]
- Award-Winning Country Superstar Blake Shelton Headlines Grand Opening Festivities at the New Table Mountain Casino Resort - PR Newswire [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2022]
- Hustler Casino Live Regs Having Success in WSOP Main Event - PokerNews.com [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2022]
- What's The Time? It's Casino'clock! - Hackaday [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Temporary casino in Lincoln could be open in just over 2 months - Lincoln Journal Star [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Saratoga Gaming hopes to close on Magnolia Bluffs Casino purchase in last quarter of this year, official tells Rotarians - Mississippi's Best... [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Billings Women Admit Armed Robbery of Heights Casino - newstalk955.com [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Casino mini-games and how to play them - Business Insider Africa [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- MGM Resorts Expresses Interest in Thailand Casino, Steady on Macau - Casino.Org News [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Blake Shelton to replace Toby Keith for Spotlight 29 Casinos Veterans Day concert - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Best Online Casinos in Canada: Reviewing the Top 20 CA Casino Sites Online - News 3 WTKR Norfolk [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- From an HVAC tech to a casino facility director: Eric Daniels from Spuyten Duyvil makes his move to Empire City - The Riverdale Press [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Caesars' Isle Casino opens up as rebranded Horseshoe Black Hawk property with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Colorado - Yogonet International [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- 2 wounded in ambush of armored vehicle at Hustler Casino; suspects at large - KTLA Los Angeles [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Palms officials working to restore disrupted casino website - Las Vegas Review-Journal [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2022]
- BUNNY IN THE CITY: HUGS' Masquerade Boo Bash and Casino Night - Connect Savannah.com [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2022]
- 5 Movies with the Best Casino Scenes - The Movie Blog [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2022]
- LA's card rooms and tribal casinos at odds over Prop 26 - KPBS [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2022]
- Kenner's Treasure Chest casino breaks ground on $100 million land-based gambling hall - NOLA.com [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2022]
- Best Online Casinos 2022 | Top 10+ Casino Sites Ranked [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2022]
- Casino - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2022]
- Casino (1995 film) - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2022]
- Decos Alex Miranda hosts Winterfest black tie ball at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ahead of Winterfest boat parade this Saturday - WSVN 7News | Miami... [Last Updated On: December 6th, 2022] [Originally Added On: December 6th, 2022]