Not one person who commented publicly during the Irving Planning & Zoning Commission work session on March 4 appeared pleased about a proposed rezoning action that could allow casino gambling in the city.
Scores of people spoke against the rezoning, drawing in people of various ages, races, and religions. New arrivals to longtime Irving residents sent a resounding, unified message to the Commission and city council: they did not approve of the actions that were under consideration.
Emma Petty, who said she had been an Irving homeowner since 1968, compared the supposed economic benefits of the casino to the arguments Texans heard in the early 1990s during the effort to legalize the Texas lottery.
“I’m against [Texas casinos], of course you know, we had the Texas Lottery [that was supposedly going] to do miracles for our schools. We drank the Kool-Aid,” she said, before noting that she believed Texas schools never improved despite the purported support from Texas Lottery funds.
Irving resident Sebastian Mollo said casinos had ruined other American cities. He said Atlantic City became a “veritable sh*thole” after casinos were approved in the 1970s to “revitalize the city.”
Imam Saeed Purcell explained, “Muslim populations like ours, one of the largest Islamic centers in the country, have additional religious and ethical reasons to oppose gambling, as Islamic teachings clearly prohibit [it].”
Resident Fergus Scully added, “I’m here to tell you that what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas.” Scully’s comment drew applause from the audience.
Only Matt Varble, a former city council candidate and an HR manager, supported the “concept” of a casino but also had a litany of criticism.
“I understand the potential economic benefits it could bring to our city with jobs, tourism, and revenue to help fund essential city services, but the process by which this has been handled has been nothing short of frustrating and disrespectful. For weeks, if not months, the city manager has engaged in private behind-the-scenes negotiations with Las Vegas Sands Corporation,” warned Varble.
Several speakers during the Commission’s meeting paid homage to Council Member Luis Canosa (D4) for being the only council member to vote against advancing the rezoning measure during last week’s council meeting. Canosa had asked Sanders a series of questions about the specifics of the proposed rezoning when his colleagues interjected to shut down the discussion.
DX reported that Mayor Rick Stopfer told Canosa that his questioning was “way off base,” and Council Member Dennis Webb (D8) said it was “irrelevant. ”
Various speakers showed their disapproval with thinly veiled references akin to Canosa’s prior comments. This appeared to elicit a chuckle from Canosa, who sat in the audience and, at times, was visible in the livestream.
The widespread condemnation of the rezoning process was in stark contrast to a comment made by Council Member Kyle Taylor (D7) during last week’s work session.
“I haven’t had a single resident tell me this is a bad project. Period,” Taylor said, a remark that The Dallas Morning News misattributed to Mayor Stopfer.
The Commission’s recommendation will be issued on March 17, and the city council is supposed to vote on the rezoning on March 20.
Should the council approve the rezoning, it will be the first step in a multi-step process that could bring casinos to DFW. The next step would be to change state gambling laws. Gambling is forbidden under Texas Penal Code Chapter 47. Changing these laws can only be done by amending Texas’s constitution, which requires two-thirds approval in the Texas House and Senate and the approval of a majority of voters on a statewide ballot.