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Opponents of a proposed resort-style casino district in Tysons planned to travel by bus to Richmond on Feb. 11, 2025, as lawmakers continued weighing legislation that could clear the way for the project.
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, a Fairfax County Democrat, introduced Senate Bill 982 on Jan. 7. The measure would add Fairfax County to Virginia’s list of potential casino locations, with conditions that could be met only in Tysons Corner.
The Democratic-controlled Senate approved the bill 24-16 on Feb. 4. It was referred three days later to the General Laws Committee, which was scheduled to consider it Feb. 11.
The debate has divided Democrats and generated growing resistance from residents, local officials and national security professionals.
No Fairfax Casino organized the Richmond trip as part of its campaign against the project. The group argues that a casino could harm nearby businesses, worsen traffic and public-safety problems, reduce property values, encourage risky behavior and permanently alter the community.
Reston-based developer Comstock has spent more than $1.5 million since 2023 advocating for legislation that would permit a casino near the Silver Line outside the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County.
The proposed 4 million-square-foot entertainment district would include a luxury hotel and gaming floor, convention center, concert venue, restaurants, stores and workforce housing. About 200,000 square feet would be devoted to the casino.
Surovell has promoted the project as a source of jobs and state revenue that otherwise could flow to casinos in neighboring states. A study he cited projected $1.2 billion in casino revenue and approximately $232 million annually for Virginia, potentially providing nearly $2.5 billion for school construction over more than a decade.
Comstock CEO Christopher Clemente said casino proceeds could make the project’s other community, county and state benefits possible without public financing.
Local labor unions have generally backed SB 982 because of its potential to create jobs, although the legislation does not establish specific hiring requirements.
Opposition within Surovell’s party has remained vocal. Sen. Jennifer Boysko of Fairfax County criticized the proposal for advancing without sufficient local involvement. Sen. Saddam Salim, also of Fairfax County, said residents had not requested a casino and argued that the county should pursue sustainable, forward-looking development instead of gambling as a quick solution.
House Speaker Don Scott of Portsmouth redirected the legislation to the House Appropriations Committee while criticizing its advancement without the statewide gaming oversight system he has proposed.
No Fairfax Casino Chair Lynn Mulston also questioned why Comstock had not released studies of the project’s potential community financial benefits that were reportedly conducted with George Mason University.
The opposition group said Surovell acknowledged at a Feb. 1 town hall at Whitman Middle School in Mount Vernon that a separate estimate of $1.8 billion in revenue came from speculation by the site developer. The organization also criticized the absence of a formal public fiscal analysis.
National security concerns have added another dimension to the dispute. A group of 109 intelligence and national security professionals sent elected officials a letter arguing that a Tysons casino would create an unnecessary security risk because of its proximity to CIA headquarters in Langley and the nearly 20,000 intelligence and defense employees who live nearby.
Sally Horn, who spent almost four decades in national security, warned that foreign adversaries could target intelligence workers who developed gambling-related financial problems.
Surovell dismissed that concern as opposition from people who did not want the development near their homes.
Even if the General Assembly passes SB 982 and Gov. Glenn Youngkin signs it, a casino would not be automatic. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors would still have to approve the proposal and place it before county voters in a referendum.
Workshop Examines Falls Church Episcopal’s Ties to Slavery
A Black History Month workshop on Feb. 22, 2025, will present findings from a two-year examination of the Falls Church Episcopal’s historical connections to slavery.
The program will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad St. It is sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and Vicinity.
The church’s research includes documentation showing that church officials enslaved people who helped construct portions of the building that stands today.
Presenter Jan Cornelius will explain how the research was conducted. Participants will then discuss the findings in small groups and consider how other churches and organizations could investigate their own histories.
Falls Church Arts Opens 2025 Scholarship Applications
Falls Church Arts is accepting applications for its 2025 Excellence in Art Scholarship, which recognizes Northern Virginia students demonstrating early commitment, creativity and achievement in visual art.
A limited number of $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Applications must be received by April 21, 2025.
Eligible applicants must be high school seniors in Northern Virginia who plan to attend an accredited post-secondary institution and continue pursuing art. Qualifying disciplines include drawing, painting, photography, mixed media and sculpture.
Special consideration will be given to students whose artwork or related activities have benefited their classmates, schools or communities.
Each applicant must submit five images of their work, an artist statement, a recommendation from an art instructor, another recommendation from a non-family adult and an academic transcript.
Applications and supporting materials must be sent to the Scholarship Committee at Falls Church Arts, P.O. Box 6912, Falls Church, Virginia 22040-6912, by the deadline.