Bruce Smith, Cordish Win Casino; Aaron Rouse Endorsements for LG Flood In; Feggans 'Made in VA' Bill Signed; Norfolk Event
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Petersburg Casino: Cordish, Bruce Smith Wins
On April 25, the Petersburg City Council announced that Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprises are the vendors of choice for a casino resort project in the city. The winning vendors must now draw up paperwork to submit to send to the lottery board, which governs Virginia’s casino operations.
Smith told the Virginian-Pilot that, “It still hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m so excited about this opportunity.”
“Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies are thrilled and extremely honored to be selected by the City of Petersburg to codevelop a $1.4 billion, transformational mixed-use development,” Smith further stated in a release by Cordish and his company.
RELATED: Casino: Petersburg Town Hall in 14 Photos; Affordable Housing in Virginia
The full Cordish/Smith release can be seen below:
It had been rumored that Bally’s would be the likely choice for the casino project in Petersburg. Recently Bally’s has been in the news because of financial challenges.
RELATED: Investors suggest debt-saddled Bally’s sell its ownership in closed Tropicana
Three weeks ago the Chicago Tribune reported in a piece entitled, Bally's takeover bid 'jeopardizes' Chicago casino project, investors argue.
“Chicago’s casino bet on Bally’s could go bust if the company goes private, according to a pair of high-profile investors trying to block a takeover effort by the debt-laden corporation’s chairman, Soo Kim,” read the first paragraph. Even with financial issues in the news, Bally’s remained a close contender to win the casino project in Petersburg.
But Cordish and Smith won the project. The company was also an initial contender back in 2019 when a casino was being contemplated in Richmond, Va. The Cordish Company is based in Baltimore and is family run by David, Jon, Blake and Reed Cordish. Reed was a former senior Assistant to President Donald Trump.
Made in Virginia: Del. Michael Feggans Has Fourth Bill into Law
Delegate Michael Feggans’ fourth bill, (HB1361) has been signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
“The bill provides preference as it relates to procurement for a bidder who is a resident of Virginia and then a bidder whose goods are produced in the United States. For the procurement of goods by manufacturers, when the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is not a resident of Virginia and the bid of any Virginia resident is within 10 percent of such bid, the bill gives the lowest responsive and responsible bidder that is a Virginia resident the option to match the price of the lowest responsive and responsible bidder,” according to the summary on Virginia’s Legislative Information System.
The legislation was supported on both sides of the aisle.
“It is beyond time that we reward folks who own and operate their businesses in the Commonwealth. Reinvesting tax dollars into the local and national economy promotes growth, expands the tax base, and enhances job growth,” said Del. Feggans in a statement.
“The Virginia Manufacturers Association and its members support free and fair markets, but Virginia manufacturers were never going to win the race without driving on the same course as our competition,” said Brett A. Vassey, VMA President & CEO.
“The Virginia General Assembly chose the right path by embracing the core ‘bid matching’ element of the legislation rather than some anti-competitive absolute preference or arbitrary percentage preference scheme,” he added.
Lt. Governor 2025: Senator Rouse Stacks Up Endorsements
Starting with the big announcement that two of Virginia’s most powerful women are supporting him, Virginia Beach State Senator Aaron Rouse announced over 30 endorsements this week in his effort to be the next Lt. Governor of Virginia. That primary election isn’t until the summer 2025, but Rouse has already secured top endorsements for his long-awaited bid to be Virginia’s second highest elected official.
As Senator Rouse piles up endorsements and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi prepares to launch her campaign for Lt. Governor, Connor Joseph, a political spokesperson for Rep. Abigail Spanberger, ended the idea that Spanberger is endorsing Leva Stoney for Lt. Governor. Joseph made the statement after an attempt by Stoney to make it appear as if there was a united ticket.
Yesterday, Senator Rouse announced additional endorsements:
Stoney’s 141 day campaign for Governor ended this week on April 23, 2024. The 2025 elections are over a year away and other candidates will be announcing.
In July 2023 and then formally on Nov. 13, 2023, Rep. Spanberger announced she was retiring from Congress after three terms to run for Governor in 2025. After voting against the U.S. House Speakership of Nancy Pelosi twice, Spanberger, a former CIA officer, became known for her outspoken views against the more progressive wing of The Squad in Congress and their efforts against police brutality.
Freedom Virginia Ad “Rejected” Gets Buzz
An online ad by the advocacy group Freedom Virginia is receiving buzz. The ad is themed with a Youngkin-like character in a red vest up against a kid on a basketball court. The Virginia General Assembly will return in min-May to to complete work on the commonwealth’s budget.
Norfolk: Victims Advocacy Event Well Attended
On April 23 in Norfolk, community violence prevention advocate Shana Turner and Pastor Calvin Durham joined Attorney General Jason Miyares at and event centering the concerns of crime victims.
Listen to the latest episode of Pod Virginia with Lauren Burke and Michael Pope:
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