Jackson City Council hits pause on casino land deal - Interim CAO hopes to get it back on track
The Jackson City Council tabled a casino land deal, but the interim CAO hopes to address concerns and revive the proposal.Summary
The Jackson City Council tabled a proposal to grant LeFleur Development Group a one-year option to buy 95 acres along the Pearl River for a casino resort, partly to assess the land's value and due to concerns that the project requires Mississippi Legislature approval. Interim Chief Administrative Officer Drew Martin plans to meet with council members to address concerns and possibly renegotiate the option. The current agreement would sell the land for $111,000, with the option costing $1,000 for the first year and $2,000 annually thereafter through 2031. Council members Ashby Foote and Tina Clay argued the city should wait until a casino is approved to get a higher price, while Martin emphasized protections for the city and potential economic benefits: $24 million in new tax revenue for Jackson, $89 million for the state, and 2,600 jobs. However, historical legislative opposition to casino gaming in Jackson, including a rejected $600 million Xanadu resort in the 1990s, and skepticism from Sen. Walter Michel, who fears Vicksburg casinos would suffer, pose significant challenges. Martin remains optimistic about a new legislative proposal that would grant one gaming license to Jackson and include a five-year guarantee to offset losses for existing casinos.
(Source：Wlbt)