A citizens’ group aiming for a referendum over whether to proceed with a Wakayama IR bid has been calling for support in a campaign outside the JR Wakayama station since 30 May.
It is hoping to raise momentum before collecting signatures for a petition this fall to directly request to the mayor that a referendum be a condition for any IR facility.
The citizens’ group, launched in March, is called Wakayama Citizens Association for a Casino Bid Referendum, and is asking for educators and lawyers to get involved. As part of their initial street campaign, they handed out flyers which read, “Agree or disagree, we should be the ones making the choice.”
The secretary of the group told Mainichi, “If we decide to submit a casino bid, it could continue for 40 years, making a big problem even for our grandchildren. It is important that the future of the city we live in is decided by the citizens.”
It seems likely, however, that the group has missed the boat with Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka set to announce Clairvest Neem Ventures as the prefecture’s selected operator partner at a press conference today.