The Pt. Molate Casino issue has provoked very passionate and extensive comments on both sides of the issue.

After considering carefully the hundreds of very passionate and well-reasoned contacts I have received, I have decided that the voters, not the council, should decide this issue.

Although there are disagreements about whether the proposed $1.2 billion casino project would be good or bad, no one disputes that it would fundamentally alter Richmond for decades to come.

Letting the people decide on this issue honors the strong feelings of both sides.

I will be supporting a real binding vote on a specific legally enforceable agreement, not an advisory vote that would leave the issue in the hands of the City Council and that would be (fairly) criticized as being so vague as to be meaningless, given that we don't yet have a specific plan.

I will continue to support developing the best possible options (casino or non-casino).

On May 18, the council directed staff to solicit competing, non-casino proposals, a move I had been advocating for several months.

Jim Rogers is a member of the Richmond City Council.