Public opposition to a casino from the Las Vegas Sands Corporation has continued to manifest in a multitude of ways, even as the casino developer has suffered recent setbacks.
A petition on Change.org titled “Say yes to Costco and Say No to a Casino” received 158 signatures. The petition showed a ginormous mockup of Costco so gargantuan that the photoshopped image encompasses most of the land where the former Dallas Cowboys stadium once was and some of the feeder roads that service the nearby highways.
In contrast, a petition on the same website titled “Approve the Rezoning of PUD 6 for a Destination Resort & New Home for the Mavericks” has received 151 signatures.
Many people see the rezoning of the former Dallas Cowboys stadium, also known as PUD 6, for a destination resort as a step toward establishing a casino in the DFW area. Some speakers at the March 20 Irving City Council meeting explicitly asked for gaming to become a prohibited item so it would be more difficult for the council to revisit even if resort development continued, The Dallas Express reported.
The descriptions of the two petitions have different visions but similar goals.
The pro-Costco petition says its author was inspired by something he had heard in a town hall meeting, “Let’s allow Costco to take its place, a retail titan that is known for providing a myriad of jobs in areas it operates and increasing retail infrastructure. This would not only maximize the potential of the land itself but also bring employment opportunities to our community, improve local economy, and retain the peace and order we so treasure. ”
The pro-destination resort description says, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Irving. … Rezoning now means Irving is positioned for immediate and future success. This development will attract major events, large conventions, international tourists, and world-class entertainment, all of which will stimulate our economy. The 183 corridor will be revitalized, creating new businesses, job opportunities, and infrastructure improvements that benefit every resident.”
Commenters on each petition were also divergent.
“Costco would be a better moral compass for The City of Irving. A company owned by its own employees and serves its communities through charitable contributions, volunteer work, and by focusing on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services. Casinos do the opposite,” Aaron, a pro-Costco petitioner, commented.
“I am supporting the casino because it is time for Irving to develop around here. We won’t have to drive to Oklahoma anymore. Nine out of ten that are opposing to this probably drive to Oklahoma to gamble they just don’t say it,” Annette, a pro-destination resort petitioner, said.
One commenter on the pro-destination resort petition appeared to signal his sympathies with Aaron.
Jose wrote, “If this is also related to the Casino, then I am not agree and do not support, here is the reason: In my opinion it is a bad idea for the citizens of Dallas county and for for the city of Irving itself. A casino present the perfect opportunity to increase even more violence, drug trafficking and most important money laundry.”
These petitions come around two weeks after a petition titled “Stop the Rezoning of PUD 6 for ‘Destination Resort/Casino'” received 5,879 signatures.
DX reported that the city council ultimately voted to advance a rezoning for a “High intensity—Mixed Use” development on the property owned by a Sands-affiliated corporation after Sands formally withdrew a request for rezoning for gaming prior to the start of the March 20 meeting.
It is not currently known if the Sands will press this issue again at a later date.