Bill to allow casino in Tysons advances in the state Senate
Community groups in Fairfax County are mobilizing against state legislation that would open the door to a possible resort-style casino in Tysons.
The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill (SB 675) proposed by Sen. Dave Marsden, who represents the Annandale area, that would allow Fairfax County to hold a referendum on building a casino in Tysons. The Board of Supervisors would also have to approve it.
The site under consideration would be next to the Spring Hill Metro Station on the Silver Line.
A busload of residents traveled to Richmond Jan. 24 to lobby against the bill. An online petition opposing a casino says it “would diminish our quality of life,” lead to problem gambling, hurt local businesses, and cause more traffic congestion.
A 2019 study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found a casino in Northern Virginia would increase statewide gaming revenue by an estimated additional $155 million.
Marsden told a Senate Committee a casino would offset declining tax revenue. Since the end of the pandemic, office buildings that were filled with government contractors are seeing more vacancies as many employees are working remotely.
“This is the canary in the coal mine that our economy is changing in northern Virginia, and we need this help,” Marsden said.
According to Marsden, Virginians are spending $100 million a year at the MGM casino at National Harbor in Maryland. He would rather see Marylanders spending money in Virginia.
“I’m getting tired of paying for Maryland schools,” he said. “It’s time we paid for Virginia schools.”
Not all Senate Democrats are going along with Marsden’s bill. Sen. Adam Ebbin of Alexandria, Sen. Jennifer Boysko of Herndon, Sen. Saddam Salim of Merrifield, and Sen. Danica Roem of Prince William County oppose it.
The next step is a vote by the full Senate. If the General Assembly approves the bill and the governor signs it, it will be up to Fairfax County voters and the Board of Supervisors to determine if a casino will be developed.
For Supervisor Walter Alcorn of the Hunter Mill District, which includes part of Tysons, that would be a hard no. He’s gotten hundreds of letters from residents and community groups opposing a casino.
In a letter to Marsden, Alcorn expressed opposition to putting a casino into an emerging community that is close to two high schools and three elementary schools.
Alcorn noted the Tysons Comprehensive Plan, designed to transform Tysons from an auto-dependent shopping and office center to a walkable urban downtown, was adopted with little opposition from the community. “A casino proposal would blow up that community consensus,” he said, and would destabilize that transformation.
Board Chair Jeffrey McKay told DC News Now that only about 25 percent of the revenue from a casino generally comes back to local governments. “That’s not a good deal for the people of Fairfax County,” he said. “We’re not in this to be the state’s ATM.”
Sen. Dave Marsden is not listening to his constituents if he believes we want or need a casino in Northern Virginia. Just like the idea of a new sports center in Potomac Yard, the tradeoff of generating tax revenue versus heightened crime and traffic congestion, just isn’t worth it.
I remember when one of his campaign aides or supporters wrote a hit piece against his primary challenger. If only she won, I’m hoping Yasmine Taeb or another person runs against him again in 2027.
Marsden obviously just wants more tax money that he can spend as our representative. Whether a casino is actually good for the county (traffic, crime, gambling addiction, impact on the poor) is irrelevant to him. Vote him out!
I’m indifferent if they should have it or not. But they always sell it as keeping money in the community. Look at Detroit’s casinos. All built to keep people from crossing into Canada to gamble. It’s really just poor people in smoke filled rooms playing with money they can’t afford to lose. Hopefully this project is different.
“He would rather see Marylanders spending money in Virginia.”
I’d rather see 100M a year go to MD than have Marylanders come here.
Look at what happened to Tyson’s Corner. Plenty of Marylanders there now, since the metro goes there, and it’s a complete disaster.
10 years ago I would take my toddlers to Tyson’s to run around, go to the Disney store, get ice cream, maybe meet mom for lunch. It was fun… safe and clean, and the shoppers reflected the community. I would run into my neighbors.
I never take my kids there now. I never go, nor do my neighbors. Gangsters and shoplifters everywhere. Stores are no longer staffed by smiling local high school students, but by foul-mouthed thugs who openly swear in front of customers.
Stores are completely trashed. The old navy last I went there 2 years ago looked like someone had thrown trash cans all over.
I’ve lost count of how many shootings have taken place in recent years.
I was walking with my wife down sleepy hollow the other day and nearly stepped in human feces that was next to an empty liquor bottle. Panhandlers everywhere. Once rates come down I’ll likely move my family out of this area, unless things improve. Seems like they are getting worse.
Please move.
Nick, I’ve lived here for over 40 years, my kids have lived here all their lives. We’ve given and received a lot from this community, and I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Falcone’s analysis. I hope you have a safe and wonderful day.
Many localities are seeing declining tax revenue, but casinos are not how they address the issue. Fairfax County can do better than this.
Build it anvil they will come. The trope about poor people gambling their money is nonsense. No statistics to back it up. Tysons wanted a downtown now you have one which brings all the attendant problems of a city. Get over yourselves.
Said the gambling man!
Disappointed in Dave. We have overcrowded schools with yards filled with trailers. We have a need for infrastructure improvements (bike and foot paths, parks, etc). We have an uptick in crime.
I don’t see how the casino or the sports/entertainment complex (and their potential tax receipts) help Annandale or Fairfax or NoVA address any of those needs.
This is a wonderful opportunity to expand on limited variety of experiences. The beauty of it being an option, is you don’t have to go. But what is fair, is to give people the opportunity to choose. This area needs a broader selection of experiences to match the exuberant amount of money they pay to be here.
This is yet another example of politicians serving developers’intetests and not those of residents. Tax revenue is the only concern but then taxes are increased to pay for infrastructure, police, amd social services for those made poor by ready access to casinos that rob from the poor to give to the rich. Politicians profit from developers’s campaign contributions and blow smoke about alleged public benefits that are never realized. Fairfax County used to have good government but those days are apparently over.
Casinos have never been the answer.
Detroit was given as an example earlier in this thread. The decline and downfall of Atlantic City, New Jersey, is also an example that has never met expectations.
Tysons corner well recover just fine without a casino. It just takes a little time.
According to Marsden’s logic, if Maryland legalized prostitution with high State and Local sales tax rates for those who pay for these legalized services, with those taxes dedicated to public schools; and some people in Virginia decide to go to Maryland to pay for those services, than hey, golly gee; we need to legalize prostitution in Virginia and permit a brothel in Tysons because we want those tax dollars in Virginia.
Forget whether casino gambling and prostitution are vices we want in Fairfax County, we need those tax revenues to fund the schools for our children says Mardsen. And Gumby.
Richard Falcone — I totally agree — Mason District certainly has changed — I would like to move – just a question as to where
Enjoy Life !!!!!
Try To