NORFOLK, Va. — While some are excited for the waterfront casino project coming to Norfolk, others expressed their concerns during Wednesday's groundbreaking.
The group, Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects or CEASE is fighting for the facility to be smoke-free.
According to a project spokesperson, the Norfolk casino plans on following the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act, which allows smoking inside facilities with proper ventilation.
But those in the advocacy group CEASE argue that’s not enough to protect casino workers and patrons from potential health issues tied to secondhand smoke.
“We’re not going to stop. We are fighting for everyone’s health,” said Juana Wilson, a former casino worker.
Juana Wilson says she quit her job at Rivers Casino Portsmouth because of the smoking environment inside, and claims after leaving that job she had to go back on an inhaler.
“I’ve lived it, and it’s horrible having to try to work an eight-hour shift constantly breathing smoke,” Wilson said. “The casino dealers have to sit at a table sometimes with five smokers less than two feet away, blowing smoke right in their faces.”
A representative from the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation stood alongside members from CEASE Wednesday.
Danny O'Halloran believes the Norfolk Casino could still be lucrative as a smoke-free facility.
“You can’t imagine now a restaurant bringing smoking back into the restaurant and no restaurant owner would say, yeah, that would really help me attract more business,” said O’Halloran.
CEASE says patrons shouldn’t have to choose between potential health concerns and providing for their families.
Even though a spokesperson said the Norfolk Casino plans to allow indoor smoking in some areas, CEASE wants developers to reconsider and create designated smoke areas outside.
“We’re going to keep fighting for everyone’s right to be able to breathe clean air,” said Wilson.