Published on: October 22, 2024, 04:26h.
Last updated on: October 22, 2024, 04:26h.
Several influential labor unions and trade groups gathered this morning in Northern Virginia to advocate for a casino to be established in Fairfax County through Tysons.
Outside the Fairfax County Government Center prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, representatives from the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO, Unite Here Local 23, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, Building Trades Unions, and SEIU Local 32BJ highlighted the economic and tax advantages that a casino could bring to the area. Coming together as the Fairfax County Jobs Coalition, participants stated that a casino could generate 5,000 well-paying union jobs with great benefits and $350 million in new tax revenue annually.
“If you work in a union hotel or convention center, you know you’re going to earn good wages where one job is sufficient to live in Fairfax County. You can afford to reside here with healthcare and pensions,” said Virginia Diamond, president of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO.
“We are advocating for the working-class residents of Fairfax County,” Diamond continued. “A union job can be life-changing.”
Virginia State Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) is anticipated to reintroduce legislation in January when the General Assembly convenes to designate Tysons as an eligible host city for a casino in the state. Currently, casinos are only permitted in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Danville.
Legislation passed this year that allows Petersburg to hold a local ballot referendum to authorize a casino will be decided in next month’s Nov. 5 election.
Employment, Taxes
The unions pushing for a casino in Northern Virginia argue that a resort and convention center, along with its various amenities, would offer valuable career opportunities for many residents in the region who are struggling with inflation, rising rents, mortgages, and property taxes.
Marsden believes it is his duty to provide county voters with options to alleviate increasing property taxes, which he believes will only rise as many of the county’s Fortune 500 companies negotiate new lease terms for their office spaces, with some expected to downsize due to increased remote work.
Diamond believes that a casino could help “bring people out of poverty” in the famously expensive county, which ranks among the nation’s wealthiest. During the 2020 Census, Fairfax was the fifth richest county in terms of median household income at $128K. Loudoun, the neighboring county, was the wealthiest at over $147K.
“Every year, my property taxes increase. I believe this would generate a lot of tax revenue and alleviate some of the burden on my shoulders,” said Nelson Aguilar, a county resident and union carpenter.
Considerable Opposition
The chances of a casino receiving local referendum approval in Fairfax, at least at this point, are likely very slim.
The affluent residents largely opposed Marsden’s 2024 legislative push for gaming, and every homeowners association that has voiced an opinion on the matter has opposed it. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has also formally objected to a casino.
The opposition group — No Tysons Casino Coalition — plans to hold its own rally on Sunday, Oct. 27. Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who represents parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, is expected to attend.
“This is where Fortune 500 companies are based. This is not something they want in their community,” Boysko stated.