Joining an increasing chorus of civic associations and elected officials, Vienna Town Council members indicated Jan. 29 that they were against a proposal to build a casino in Tysons.
Council member Charles Anderson arrived at the meeting late, having just returned from a lobbying effort in Richmond along with representatives of several civic organizations.
Anderson said the lobbying had been successful in part because nearly every senator had been bombarded with e-mails from people opposing the gambling venue, which is being pushed heavily by state Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax).
“Most of the senators’ aides had no idea this bill had been cooked in stealth and was being put on an incredibly fast track,” Anderson said.
While hopeful the anti-casino lobbying would be effective, opponents are “up against some major forces,” he said.
The entire Town Council opposes the casino and has sent a letter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said Mayor Linda Colbert. County supervisors would decide on whether to set a public referendum on the matter if the bill clears the General Assembly and receives the governor’s signature.
