RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) The media conglomerate behind a proposed casino in Richmond has many promises, including 1,500 new jobs and $500 million in tax revenue over a decade. But the river city is not without its own skeptics; and the voters will ultimately decide on the back of the November ballot.<\/p>\n
An all-out advertisement campaign targeted to potential voters in the city has been thrusted into the final days before the consequential referendum.<\/p>\n
Although voters have begun casting ballots early, before the final day to cast a vote on Nov. 2, Urban ONE is ramping up their campaign. And, so are people in opposition.<\/p>\n
At Urban ONEs campaign headquarters in the Manchester neighborhood, staff worked around flyers, face masks, yard signs and t shirts donned with ONE, and Say YES messaging.<\/p>\n
Although the media company did not confirm to 8News how much theyre spending to win the vote, published reports indicate the budget is between $2 and $5 million dollars.<\/p>\n
Urban ONE CEO Alfred Liggins detailed the final play call in an interview with 8News.<\/p>\n
To make sure that perfect information is in the air: where its located, what the benefits are, theres no city subsidies, Liggins said.<\/p>\n
On the flipside, local political activist Paul Goldman and his Vote No on RVA casino referendum committee has spent much of their $100,000 on anti-casino ads running on social media.<\/p>\n
We think that could reach sufficient numbers of people, he said.<\/p>\n
Like Urban ONE, Goldman said people with his group will be standing outside polling locations to promote their message.<\/p>\n
And I hope the people of Richmond realize you can vote against this casino, because its a bad idea We need something better in Richmond, Goldman said.<\/p>\n
Richmonders will soon see which side comes out on top after the effort to campaign, inform and persuade.<\/p>\n
Liggins said Urban ONEs polling data makes him confident,but, you dont really know how that turns out until election day.<\/p>\n
Longtime civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton will visit Richmond Friday to stump for Urban ONE, and meet with local faith leaders; a sign of several more days of campaigners making their case on both sides of the poker chip.<\/p>\n
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Betting on the ads: Richmond casino referendum comes to a head - 8News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" RICHMOND, Va. Continue reading