3rd Fairfax Supervisor States Opposition To Tysons Casino Bill

FRANCONIA, VA — A third member of the 10-member Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has publicly voiced opposition to the Tysons casino legislation.

During an open house in the Franconia District on Saturday, Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia) told attendees he had contacted Speaker of the House Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) to express his opposition to the Tysons casino referendum bill currently making its way through the Virginia General Assembly.

Supervisors Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill) and Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville) have previously stated publicly they oppose the bill.

On Monday, Lusk released the letter he sent to Scott outlining his concerns over SB892:

The Honorable Don L. Scott Jr.,
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
201 North 9th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Dear Speaker Scott:

I am writing today regarding Senate Bill 982 which passed the Senate of Virginia last week and
has been referred to the House Committee on General Laws. On January 27, 2025, Chairman
Jeffrey C. McKay communicated a letter to the Virginia General Assembly stating the official
position of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. In his letter Chairman McKay outlined
several concerns with the legislation regarding community opposition and the lack of
engagement by the developer with the community and the County. The Chairman’s letter
specifically noted that:

“As such, Fairfax County has not historically opposed legislation that provides local
governments with a new option or authority, even if we do not intend to exercise that new
option or authority. Similarly, we do not seek or ask the General Assembly to provide a
new authority unless we intend to seriously consider implementing such authority.”

While the Franconia District is not adjacent to the area proposed for this gaming establishment, I
worked for twenty-one (21) years at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in
Tysons until 2019 and was personally involved in the successful recruitment and expansion of
hundreds of companies to Fairfax County, including Tysons. While I recognize the efforts of the
advocates to help spur economic development, this project is not consistent with the Fairfax
County Comprehensive Plan for Tysons, that I also helped develop between 2008-2010 while
serving as a Fairfax County Planning Commissioner. If not called for in the Comprehensive
Plan, major development projects such as this proposal must begin with local community
engagement. As Chairman McKay’s letter states, to date neither the County nor the community
has been involved or engaged with this proposal.

In recognizing the significant concerns of Fairfax County residents, and my concerns about the
compatibility with Fairfax County’s long-term economic development plans, I publicly
announced on Saturday, February 8, 2025, my opposition to Senate Bill 982 and its specific
reference to a casino in Fairfax County. It is my hope that the House of Delegates will listen to
the voices of voters throughout Fairfax County who have spoken up to vote “no” on this
proposed legislation.

I value your recognition of the important role Fairfax County has as the economic engine of the
Commonwealth. To that end, I am dedicated to ensuring that Fairfax County will continue to
serve in that capacity without the proposed gaming establishment.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter and for your leadership in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Sincerely,

Rodney Lusk

Franconia District Supervisor.

After the Virginia Senate approved SB 982 last Tuesday on a 24 to 16 vote, the legislation was referred on Friday to the General Laws Committee, which is due to meet on Tuesday. However, Scott requested that the bill be rereferred to the house Appropriations Committee, which next Monday.

Freedom Virginia, a nonprofit advocating for "economic security policies through grassroots activism, voter engagement and legislative advocacy," released new Public Policy Polling on Monday that showed that building a casino in Tysons is not popular among Fairfax County voters.

Related: Despite Critics Tysons Casino Bill Faces Another Vote In Legislature

"In Fairfax County, 62-25 oppose the General Assembly authorizing the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advance a voter referendum to build this new casino in Tysons Corner," according to Freedom Virginia. "If there was a voter referendum, 68 percent of Fairfax County voters say they would vote 'No' while only 19 percent say they would vote 'Yes.'"

The polling also showed that the Tysons casino proposal was not well supported in four of the six competitive House of Delegate races considered competitive in November's general election. Below are the incumbent candidates and the results of Freedom Virginia's polling in their districts.

• Del. Josh Thomas (D-Gainsville), 47-33 oppose in District 21,
• Del. David Owen (R-Richmond), 47-35 oppose in District 57,
• Del. Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg), 46-33 oppose in District 65
• Del. Amanda Batten (R-Williamsburg), 46-32 oppose in District 71
• Del. Kimberly Taylor (R-Petersburg), 41-32 support in District 82,
• Del. Michael Feegans (D-Virginia Beach), 40-33 support in District 97

Read all of Patch's reporting on the plan to build a casino on Metro's Silver Line in Fairfax County at Silver Line Casino.

• Despite Critics Tysons Casino Bill Faces Another Vote In Legislature
• Tysons Casino Bill To Be Reviewed By VA Senators Jan. 20
• What To Know About Renewed Tysons Casino Plans
• Casino Backers Spent $1.5M On Political Contributions, Lobbying
• Tysons Casino Poses National Security Threat: Intelligence Experts