I find many recent responses to a casino resort in the city bothersome. We can’t allow certain people to use their knapsack of special provisions, maps and blank checks to determine what’s good for the entire city, especially for a predominantly African-American city, on an issue this important. Instead of using privilege and entertaining certain voices that are making noise and attempting to push their weight around, use it to dismantle systems that oppress people. This is a good way to start. Racialization creates community reactions, and nimbyism reactions smooth the way for replication of white privilege. Stop the division and act as allies.

If you support equity and equality, prove it.

Our city is in search of economic vitality for all. Yet we hear nimbyism and racialization in opposition to the casino: “We don’t want a casino in our neighborhood because of increased traffic, it’s going to bring down our property values and crime will increase.”

The latest argument against the casino is that a nesting pair of bald eagles will be affected.

Stop the madness. This is a sneaky way to attempt to sound like race isn’t involved. Shameful. This is coded language that preserves the legacy of racial exclusion.

It’s funny how a few privileged people can get a response and, in the reverse, communities of color are forsaken. All this is doing is continuing to separate us more.

The very same people who are signing petitions, protesting and learning about racial injustice are the very ones opposing changes, such as a casino, that could improve the livelihoods of communities of color significantly.

With a casino resort, we can create good, paying jobs for communities of color, spark an economic resurgence to support the business community and local government and help support the organizations that provide critical services to the Richmond community.

The primary focus should be ensuring we select a responsible developer that will be a good community partner.

Let’s work to eliminate racialization and nimbyism and build a more equitable future for every resident in the city of Richmond. A casino resort can do that right now when Richmond needs it the most.

Let all of the people determine what’s good for the city.

TAVARES FLOYD

Richmond