Comstock doubled down again on Casino in Reston

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the latest:

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iukh7/casino-bill-town-hall-416k-donated-new-lobbyist-hogs-cowboys?utm_source=local-update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert

New contributor - lobbyist for casino has connection to Comstock.

The latter donation [$100,000] was made to Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) the senate's president pro tempore and chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, where SB 675 is currently awaiting consideration.

With that $100k “donation” (which can be used for anything) to Virginia Senator Lucas, the bill is likely to make it out of the Finance and Appropriations Committee the the floor for a full vote.

[Anonymous]

Anyone going to the public meeting Saturday at McLean HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the latest:

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iukh7/casino-bill-town-hall-416k-donated-new-lobbyist-hogs-cowboys?utm_source=local-update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert

New contributor - lobbyist for casino has connection to Comstock.

The latter donation [$100,000] was made to Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) the senate's president pro tempore and chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, where SB 675 is currently awaiting consideration.

With that $100k “donation” (which can be used for anything) to Virginia Senator Lucas, the bill is likely to make it out of the Finance and Appropriations Committee the the floor for a full vote.

February 13 seems to be the deadline.

The bill isn’t specific to Tysons though that’s the current site being pushed. So, in reality, if passed, this casino could happen anywhere in Fairfax, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the latest:

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iukh7/casino-bill-town-hall-416k-donated-new-lobbyist-hogs-cowboys?utm_source=local-update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert

New contributor - lobbyist for casino has connection to Comstock.

The latter donation [$100,000] was made to Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) the senate's president pro tempore and chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, where SB 675 is currently awaiting consideration.

With that $100k “donation” (which can be used for anything) to Virginia Senator Lucas, the bill is likely to make it out of the Finance and Appropriations Committee the the floor for a full vote.

February 13 seems to be the deadline.

The bill isn’t specific to Tysons though that’s the current site being pushed. So, in reality, if passed, this casino could happen anywhere in Fairfax, right?

Technically, yes. However, under current development conditions, all the qualifying sites are around three metro stations in Tyson’s. With future development, other Fairfax County metro stations could conceivably qualify, but, if that happened, it would be a long way off. You can see the map of currently qualifying areas here:
https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/01/29/casino-bill-would-be-really-bad-financial-deal-for-fairfax-county-board-says/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone going to the public meeting Saturday at McLean HS?

Do you have a link to that information or is there anywhere online (other than here) for organization against this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone going to the public meeting Saturday at McLean HS?

Do you have a link to that information or is there anywhere online (other than here) for organization against this?

Never mind - I saw it in The Patch story. I wonder if Seibold and Salim are going. I'm emailing them.

[Anonymous]

Apparently, part of Mardsen’s argument is that VA is losing $150M to the MGM in Maryland and funding MD schools.

I’m sure nearby residents don’t think casino when they think high-density business district, but Mardsen seems to think it is.

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iuks2/tysons-casino-bill-set-for-subcommittee-hearing-alcorn-plans-to-speak?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=d3a0c6c6cd7d8950d5e1b6c80a0f75ca7bd8bba760903b3225276658c9eaf6e2&user_email_md5=385fcd1120b373837d9b5c2d29e75bb6&lctg=62d9b991d17907a86c0d419c

[Anonymous]

Dead until 2025

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iuks2/tysons-casino-voted-to-be-held-over-to-2025-general-assembly?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=d3a0c6c6cd7d8950d5e1b6c80a0f75ca7bd8bba760903b3225276658c9eaf6e2&user_email_md5=385fcd1120b373837d9b5c2d29e75bb6&lctg=62d9b991d17907a86c0d419c

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dead until 2025

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iuks2/tysons-casino-voted-to-be-held-over-to-2025-general-assembly?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=d3a0c6c6cd7d8950d5e1b6c80a0f75ca7bd8bba760903b3225276658c9eaf6e2&user_email_md5=385fcd1120b373837d9b5c2d29e75bb6&lctg=62d9b991d17907a86c0d419c

Woo hoo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dead until 2025

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iuks2/tysons-casino-voted-to-be-held-over-to-2025-general-assembly?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=d3a0c6c6cd7d8950d5e1b6c80a0f75ca7bd8bba760903b3225276658c9eaf6e2&user_email_md5=385fcd1120b373837d9b5c2d29e75bb6&lctg=62d9b991d17907a86c0d419c

Woo hoo!

Just means the developers will lean in more.

[Anonymous]

Yep. Attend the meeting on Saturday - this gives time to fight it right and well so it won’t happen. Don’t assume someone else will put the work in. Come and support the community and learn about what is happening and what you can do.

[Anonymous]

No doubt, the casino backers will spend the next year conducting a PR campaign to try to convince us why a casino is right for Northern Virginia, and do their best to convince (bribe) local elected officials to support their proposal.

[Anonymous]

Nooooo! It may not be dead for this session after all …


Boysko, along with Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6th) and Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville), are holding a Casino Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 3, to hear public concerns and comments pertaining to SB 165 . The town hall will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at McLean High School, 1633 Davidson Road, McLean, VA 22101. Public RSVP: Casino Town Hall.

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/s/iulrh/tysons-casino-bill-may-still-be-alive-in-va-legislature-lawmakers?utm_source=local-update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Letter from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to the Virginia State Legislature: https://twitter.com/KatieLusso/status/1751095440534069590

Excerpt:

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. 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. 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.

While we understand the Commonwealth's desire to collect additional state tax revenue from residents of Northern Virginia, we do not believe our residents would accept the revenue share prescribed in current statute and in the pending legislation. As the law stands today, the Commonwealth would receive over 70 percent of the gaming tax revenue generated by a Fairfax County casino. This is especially relevant given the fact that the location outlined in the bill has the potential to generate significant local tax revenue without a casino.

A stated rationale for the legislation is the need to revitalize Tysons. While the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shift to remote/hybrid work has, of course, impacted Fairfax County's commercial office market, we feel the need to emphasize that Tysons and especially the Class A office space in close proximity to Tysons' four Silver Line Metro stations continue to thrive. Tysons continues to attract new corporations and create new jobs. Tysons has a blossoming entertainment district, anchored by Capital One Hall, a premier performing arts venue, and a state-of-the-art baseball stadium.

While the location has the potential to generate tax revenue, the residents of that area will never allow anything to be built there. You could make that argument about any arbitrary parcel of land in Fairfax County. So, that argument is irrelevant. You could argue about the additional burden on local services without reimbursement. Oh well. Some day, we will get someone in charge in Fairfax County that isn't a tool.

You obviously don't know the location or have any idea what you are talking about. Residents aren't upset about the Ulta, Lidl, and Smashburger going in just down the road. Or the climbing gym a little further down. None is unhappy about the Bowlero in Tyson's Galleria. or the area where Cirque de Soleil or other events are set up.

Casinos are usually located outside of regular commercial areas/not close to residential areas because of their very nature and association with drinking, organized crime, and general seediness. The strip in Las Vegas with its luxury hotels is there literally because it's in the middle of the desert and away from a regular city. Go look at the offset/setback for MGM. Very deliberately separated from the community, not to mention that it's not in the middle of two major thoroughfares that people use on a constant basis. Communities should get to decide how the property in their jurisdiction are used. We are deciding - we don't want it.

NP.

I was told by one of Comstock's lawyer's that the casino and entertainment complex would go behind the WalMart in Tyson's.

[Anonymous]