Tysons Resident Lists Reasons Why A Casino Is Bad For Fairfax County

TYSONS, VA —

My name is Jim Battle, I have lived on a street near Tysons for 40 years. My house is less than a quarter mile from the back of the proposed casino site. (1) A study by the National Association of Realtors states that bringing a casino may decrease home values as much as 10 percent? (2) Could I interest any of you in buying my house now?

I want to address people issues raised by bringing a casino ot Tysons Corner

A casino would greatly undercut the safety and values of my family-friendly residential neighborhood.

The county has nicely paved the Vesper Trail to access the Spring Hill metro stop

• Now we would have to pass a casino going to the metro
• Of course, the Vesper Trail makes ti easy and inviting for casino patrons to come into our residential community

A casino would be a danger to children. There are three elementary schools within a mile of the proposed casino — easy walking distance. (3)

• There are over 1,200 students at Westbriar ES alone —many walkers - how many of them will come in contact with "overflow" from the casino?
• Could we ever have a child kidnapped, abused, or more from a casino drunk wandering into our neighborhood? That would be a tragedy. And we all know the news climate these days -instantly
• Tysons Corner would receive a huge black eye - nationwide. Fairfax County would too

Addiction issues come with a casino

• gambling addicts are the main source of casino income
• Drugs, sex-trafficking, and drinking are fellow-travelers with casinos
• There are human costs of these addictions — DUI accidents, family disruption, bankruptcy, homelessness, depression, even suicide
• don't we have enough of these already?

Just the fact of a Senate-proposed casino bill now has the whole Tysons area in limbo for years, waiting for general assembly action and then a referendum

• businesses will think twice before moving to Tysons
• potential homebuyers will think twice before moving to our neighborhoods
• people already here will consider leaving

No elected official whose district includes the proposed casino is publicly in support of it.

• We need the board to speak for us loud and clear: NO casino
• Money is not the object. Even if county gets 100% of the money, this is bad idea
• Don't hide behind a study process or defer to referendum
• Don't bet our community on a casino.

Just say no!

1. Proposed casino site at the old Mazda dealership on Route 7 in Tysons.
2. Economic Impact of Casinos on Home Prices Literature Survey and Issue Analysis. National Association of Realtors, NAR Research, 2013, page 12.
3. Westbriar Elementary, Spring Hil Elementary, Basis Independent School, McLean.