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A proposal that could have opened the door to a resort-style casino in Tysons has stalled in the Virginia General Assembly, marking the third consecutive legislative session in which a Fairfax County casino measure has failed to advance.
Senate Bill 982 was unanimously passed by in a House subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 12, preventing it from proceeding during the current session. The bill could technically still be revived for a General Assembly floor vote by Tuesday, Feb. 18, and supporters are expected to revisit the proposal in a future session.
Sen. Jennifer Boysko, a Democrat representing the 38th District, welcomed the committee action. She called the proposal unvetted and said it lacked guarantees for labor protections, an independent analysis and community support for its specified location.
“Tysons and the Silver Line corridor have, I would argue, the most economically robust business climate in the Commonwealth and were carefully planned with community input,” Boysko said. “A casino is not an appropriate land use there.”
Virginia labor unions have generally supported the proposed development because of its potential to create jobs.
Lynne Mulston, chair of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition, said Fairfax County’s government had not requested the measure, unlike the local governments involved with Virginia’s five previously authorized casinos. She argued that the bill’s language favored property controlled by a local developer and perhaps one other nearby site. Thousands of county residents oppose placing a casino in Tysons, she said, because it would conflict with the area’s long-term plans.
Before the measure stalled, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, a Democrat representing the 34th District, promoted it as a source of tourism and public revenue.
“We need this kind of project in Fairfax County to bring tourists, come and spend their money in our state, to support our Metro and support our economy,” Surovell said. He estimated that authorizing the project could generate $2.3 billion per decade for school construction, in addition to money for Virginia’s general fund.
Kidstretch ranks among Virginia’s top 3%
Kidstretch, Homestretch’s Falls Church preschool program, has earned an “Exceeds Expectations” rating from Virginia’s Quality Birth to Five system.
Only 79 of the 3,121 early-education and childcare sites evaluated statewide received that designation, placing Kidstretch among Virginia’s top 3%.
Kidstretch operates as a Virginia Preschool Initiative classroom, providing eligible 4-year-olds with access to preschool education intended to prepare them for kindergarten and later academic success. It also gives parents time to work, pursue an education or participate in other Homestretch services.
Homestretch has spent 34 years helping Virginia families experiencing homelessness develop the skills and financial stability needed to become self-sufficient. Executive Director Barfonce Baldwin said high-quality early education plays an important part in that work.
“At Homestretch, we’re serious about breaking cycles of poverty,” Baldwin said. “Kidstretch’s recent rating underscores the impact of high-quality early education in empowering families facing homelessness to build brighter futures.”
Although it serves families participating in Homestretch, Kidstretch is also open to the public and offers full-time care regardless of a family’s economic circumstances. The small, state-licensed preschool emphasizes interaction among children from different economic, social and religious backgrounds.
Homestretch and Kidstretch are located at 303 S. Maple Ave. in Falls Church.
“Full Circle in Blue” captures People’s Choice Award
Visitors to the Falls Church Arts gallery selected Michael Lindsay’s acrylic painting “Full Circle in Blue” for the People’s Choice Award in the “Full Circle” exhibition.
The multimedia show features 42 works exploring circles and the idea of coming full circle. It remains on display through Feb. 23.
Lindsay said that, as an autistic person who sometimes struggles to express himself, he often feels as though he is speaking in circles without being understood. Art offers a sense of freedom, he said, while the circles in his painting represent persistence and continuity.
Blue holds particular meaning for Lindsay because it brings him peace and evokes water, sky and bluebells. He said he tries to incorporate the color into his work and draws inspiration from Vincent van Gogh’s use of the blue sky in “The Starry Night.”
Lindsay has created art since childhood and favors acrylic painting and paint pouring. He thanked his teacher, Randa Fakes LoGerfo, and said it was gratifying to know that viewers found happiness in his painting.
The Falls Church Arts gallery is at 700-B W. Broad St. Admission is free. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.