Experience needed

I’m a proud Norfolk resident. But I’m not proud that our City Council chose the inexperienced team of Jon Yarbrough and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to develop a casino here.

According to propaganda from All In for Norfolk Casino and others, a lot is at stake that could help the city: increased school funding, jobs, tax revenue, tourists, etc. But if you really look at the claims, what’s missing? Nothing shows that these developers can deliver. There are no references to other successful casino developments. They’ve never developed a casino.

Typically, when a city has a piece of property it wants redeveloped, bids are obtained from an array of experienced developers with successful track records. They can show they’re capable of doing what they claim. Oddly, Norfolk went with absolute nobodies in terms of hospitality and casino development. It’s a total dereliction of duty.

With so much on the line, why did the council go with these amateurs? Why wouldn’t the city want to know what real players in casino development would propose? Are the city’s leaders so desperate that they just took the first offer that came their way? Or is it because the same lobbyist represents both the city and the developers?

I am not necessarily “no” casino, but I am voting no on Nov. 3 to this casino. It’s too risky of a gamble.

Alan L. Smith, Norfolk