A number of highly effective labor unions and commerce teams rallied Tuesday morning in Northern Virginia to deliver a on line casino to Fairfax County by the use of Tysons.
Some members of unions and commerce teams in Northern Virginia hope to vote on a Tysons on line casino within the forthcoming election. Nonetheless, there may be loads of opposition to permitting a Las Vegas-style resort in Fairfax County. (Picture: WSET)
Outdoors the Fairfax County Authorities Heart earlier than the Board of Supervisors’ Tuesday assembly, members of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO, Unite Right here Native 23, Fairfax County Federation of Academics, Constructing Trades Unions, and SEIU Native 32BJ touted the financial and tax advantages {that a} on line casino might ship the area. Assembled because the Fairfax County Jobs Coalition, attendees mentioned a on line casino would create 5,000 good-paying union jobs with wonderful advantages and $350 million in annual new tax income.
For those who work in a union resort or union conference heart you recognize you’re going to be making good wages the place you solely want one job to stay in Fairfax County. You may afford to stay right here with well being care and pensions,” mentioned Virginia Diamond, president of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO.
“We’re out right here advocating for the working-class residents of Fairfax County,” Diamond continued. “A union job is a life-changing job.”
Virginia State Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) is predicted to reintroduce laws in January when the Normal Meeting convenes to designate Tysons as a permissible host metropolis for a on line casino within the commonwealth. At present, casinos are solely licensed in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Danville.
Laws handed this yr to permit Petersburg to conduct an area poll referendum to authorize a on line casino will probably be decided throughout subsequent month’s November 5 election.
Jobs, Taxes
The unions campaigning to deliver a on line casino to Northern Virginia argue {that a} resort and conference heart, together with its many different facilities, would offer invaluable profession alternatives for a lot of space residents who’re struggling to fend off inflation, greater rents and mortgages, and escalating property taxes.
Marsden says it’s his accountability to present county voters choices to ease rising property taxes, charges he believes will solely go greater within the coming years as lots of the county’s Fortune 500 corporations negotiate new lease phrases for his or her workplace areas, with some anticipated to downsize amid extra distant work.
Diamond says a on line casino would assist “raise individuals out of poverty” within the notoriously costly county, which is among the nation’s richest. Throughout the 2020 Census, Fairfax ranked fifth by way of median family earnings at $128K. Neighboring Loudoun was first at over $147K.
“Yearly my property taxes go up. I do know that is going to deliver plenty of tax income and that will take the load off my again,” mentioned Nelson Aguilar, a county resident and union carpenter.
Opposition Aplenty
The percentages of a on line casino gaining native referendum help in Fairfax, no less than at this juncture, are presumably lengthy at finest.
The rich residents largely opposed Marsden’s 2024 legislative gaming push, and each householders affiliation that has weighed in on the matter has been in opposition. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has additionally come out in formal opposition to a on line casino.
The opposition marketing campaign — No Tysons On line casino Coalition — plans to carry its personal rally this Sunday, October 27. Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who represents elements of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, plans to be there.
“That is the place Fortune 500 corporations make their dwelling. This isn’t one thing they need of their neighborhood,” Boysko mentioned.
