1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I'm asking you to veto the Tysons casino legislation that the General Assembly passed on Saturday. This project is wrong for Fairfax County, and local leaders have made that clear. Chairman Jeff McKay and the Board of Supervisors have called this bill a nonstarter and pledged to refuse scheduling the voter referendum. When state lawmakers override local opposition this forcefully, it's not good governance. Tysons doesn't need a 1.5 million-square-foot casino a quarter-mile from a Metro station. It will bring more car traffic, higher crime rates, and fundamentally change the character of a neighborhood that's been carefully developed over decades. Senator Surovell claims the county needs this to diversify its tax base, but $62 million in annual taxes isn't worth sacrificing what makes Tysons work. There are better ways to fund schools and public safety than gambling revenue. Fairfax County residents deserve a say in their community's future, and their elected representatives have spoken loudly against this project. Stand with local control and veto this bill.