Councilmember Ann-Frances
Lambert
Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside
3rd Voter District
News Release/April 16, 2021
Statement from Councilmember Ann-Frances
Lambert regarding: Casinos in Richmond
“Over the past several weeks I have gotten a myriad of calls and
e-mails from constituents and non-constituents asking me to take a position
supporting a casino operator, denying support to a certain casino operator, or
to come out against casinos coming to the city altogether. I am taking all
of these views into consideration but I want to use this statement as an opportunity
to clarify my position.
I will not take a position that might put the city at a disadvantageous
position during current evaluation process. If it is the will of Richmond
City Council AND the voters of the city of Richmond want to bring casinos to
our city, then I want the 3 operators to compete with each other so that the
Richmond gets the best deal. If I took a position now that might reduce
the competition between operators this could, for example, mean the difference
between Richmond Public Schools getting less funding or less money for our
small businesses or less money for gambling addiction and other social
programs. I will not contribute to those possible outcomes.
While my other colleagues are free to
take positions on the casino, I am not for the reason outlined above. At the
end of the day, I am going to support the will of third district residents as
it relates to the casino. So I want to let this process play out. I
want 3rd district residents to continue to email me, call my office and to make
their voices heard. After Mayor Stoney selects an operator, I will have a
meeting with 3rd district constituents to take their concerns and views into
consideration and then I will let everyone know if I will vote to support the
chosen operator.”
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says Councilmember
Ann-Frances Lambert, Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside 3rd Voter
District.
CONTACT
For more information, please contact: Kiya A. Stokes, Liaison for
Councilmember Ann-Frances Lambert, Richmond City Council,
Richmond Northside 3rd
Voter District, at 804.646.6055 (tel), or kiya.stokes@richmondgov.com
(email)
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