Posted on: December 18, 2024, 03:07h.
Last updated on: December 18, 2024, 03:07h.
A letter signed by more than 100 former members of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other retired officials of the government’s intelligence community urges state lawmakers in Richmond to block an effort to allow a casino in Northern Virginia on concerns that such a resort could threaten national security.
Gambling critics often cite the same reasons for their opposition like claiming that the games are addictive and lead to financial problems that subsequently cause societal issues like divorce, strained relationships, and even suicide. A new theory is emerging in Northern Virginia where opponents to a casino in Tysons levy that a Las Vegas-style destination would threaten the country’s national security interests.
The CIA is headquartered in Langley within Fairfax County. The 258-acre campus is about five air miles from where the proposed Tysons casino would be built.
The proximity of a Tysons casino to a significant population of government, military, and contract officials with access to highly secretive government intelligence, diplomatic, and defense information will not only attract organized crime — casinos always do — but also adversarial intelligence services looking to recruit those with such access whom they hope to blackmail,” the letter from a group called National Security Leaders for Fairfax read. “With the Washington D.C. area having the greatest concentration of the most sensitive security clearances in the country, we urge you to immediately and categorically reject the proliferation of gambling establishments in Northern Virginia, and at Tysons in particular, as posing an unacceptable health and national security hazard, whose socioeconomic costs significantly outweigh any short-term increase in revenue.”
Patch first reported on the National Security Leaders for Fairfax letter being sent to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), and all members of the Virginia General Assembly. It was signed by 109 former defense and national security agency personnel.
New Tysons Champion
Virginia Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) has led the legislative push to designate Fairfax County for a casino in previous legislative sessions. That will change next year when Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon) takes over the legislation. Mount Vernon is an unincorporated census-designated city within Fairfax County.
A casino bill would allow voters in Fairfax County to decide if a gaming resort is in the community’s best interest. While local leaders, including the majority of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, as well as homeowners’ associations and most state lawmakers representing the county and city, are opposed, many unions have come out in support of the project.
Marsden and Surovell believe voters should have the final say and be allowed to consider new tax revenue streams in the wake of a dwindling property tax base. Tysons and neighboring McClean are most known for being corporate hubs where many global businesses are headquartered. But considerable office space remains vacant post-pandemic as some companies permanently allowed employees to work remotely.
The National Security Leaders of Fairfax say Tysons and McClean’s position as a major corporate home presents further risk, as vital defense and intelligence contractors like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE, and Booz Allen have offices in the region.
Gamblers Need Not Apply
National Security Leaders of Fairfax reveal in their letter opposing a casino in Northern Virginia that federal employees and workers holding security clearances risk their clearances being revoked if their participation in gambling is causing financial distress at home.
The National Intelligence Agency says “borrowing money or engaging in significant financial transactions to fund gambling or pay gambling debts” is grounds for dismissal from employment. Those who conceal their gambling debts or other problems caused by their gambling face similar consequences.
It’s worth noting that MGM National Harbor, a $1.4 billion casino complex, has operated just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. since December 2016. To Casino.org’s knowledge, the casino has not resulted in a slew of federal workers becoming addicted to gambling.
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