LIVE FIELD REPORT: Casinos Set Back
Sands Casinos withdraws request for gaming rezoning. Cowtown Caller Reports Live From The Field.
******** THIS IS A LIVE UNEDITED REPORT OF AN ONGOING EVENT FILED FROM THE FIELD. GRAMMAR, STRUCTURE AND EDITING WILL BE ADDED LATER ******
Many Irving residents were surprised when they arrived at the March 20th City Council meeting when they found there had been a last-minute change to the agenda.
Around 2 hours before the meeting gaveled in, word got that representatives from the Las Vegas Sands had requested a withdrawal of the rezoning action that might have allowed casino gaming to come to Irving.
Assistant City Manager Phillip Sanders formally announced the action during the first minutes of the City Council meeting. When Sanders' PowerPoint showed an amended measure with the gambling language struck out, applause swept parts of the audience.
This action came after weeks of overwhelming public opposition at town halls and meetings of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Many casino opponents raised concerns that there would be increases in crime, addiction and human trafficking if the Sands were permitted to build a casino on the land near the former Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Proponents have the casino such as the Sands' Vice President Andrew Abboud argued that a casino would bring economic stimulation and thousands of jobs to Irving. However, the pro-casino side was plagued by revelations that at many of their supporters appeared to paid protestors who had signed non-disclosure agreements and, at times, applauded the wrong side during public hearings, The Dallas Express reported.
Reactions from the public, as the meeting began were jubilant. "We appreciate that the people's voices were heard and acknowledged," Imaam Saeed Purcell told DX. "We must continue pressure to keep gambling out of Irving and Texas."
Councilman Luis Canosa (D-4), who had been at odds with the Sands, explained the significance of striking the gambling measure. He said the vote that will happen tonight can now allow a development project for a destination resort and/or convention center to "pass without the gambling."
He said he plans to make a motion to make gambling a prohibited item so that it will be more difficult for the council to revisit the subject in the future.
One woman, Chandler Jackson, who had initially come to the meeting to oppose the casino rezoning decided to pray over those in attendance. She compared casinos to big pharma and said that both have hurt Americans for the enrichment of a small set of corporations. "Not all that glitters is gold," Chandler said. Her prayer was for wisdom for all in attendance.
The city had banned political signs and posters before the meeting and it was difficult to identify grassroots pro-casino supporters. Abboud and a variety of pro-casino figures were in attendance but DX/CC was unable to obtain a comment before publication.
****** Author’s Note: This is a draft of a breaking story. The story will be updated and photos as added as new information (and more wifi) becomes available.