Accusations of a “Backroom Deal” in Irving
An Irving resident, Ada Pimentel, is accusing the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce of a “backroom deal” to secretly sell the former Texas Stadium site to the Las Vegas Sands Corp. The petition was filed on behalf of Pimentel in Dallas County Court and seeks the oral and videotaped deposition of a chamber representative, according to attorney Cliff Riley.
The pre-suit discovery petition seeks to investigate the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce for misuse of public funds, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and breach of contract. In Texas, the filing allows parties to gather evidence and information before a formal lawsuit is filed. Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Beth Bowman said in a statement that the filing was “baseless and factually erroneous.”
The Allegations
Pimentel’s filing offers no direct proof of an arrangement to sell the city-owned property. The documents refer to it as a “possible secretive sale.” The filing relies on letters Irving’s city government and the Chamber of Commerce wrote to the Texas Attorney General’s Office seeking to prevent certain records from becoming public.
The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce is the city’s professional economic development consultant, according to documents from the City of Irving. The letters were sent in response to an open records request filed by Daniel Denny, a commissioner on Irving’s planning and zoning body. Denny sought written communications and emails between the city, the chamber, and Village Walk RE 2 — a Sands-affiliated company regarding PUD-6, a planned district that includes the former Texas Stadium site.
The Ongoing Saga
The filing is the latest in the ongoing saga as Sands Corp. seeks to build a casino on more than 200 acres of land it purchased near the former Texas Stadium site. In March, the Irving City Council approved Sands Corp.’s request to rezone a 182-acre tract near the site but stripped casino gaming language from the request following strong opposition.
Sands president and chief operating officer Patrick Dumont is also the governor of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team after his family purchased the franchise last year in a deal valued at $3.5 billion. In the weeks leading up to the key vote, Irving residents were flooded with text messages from groups on both sides of the proposal.
Opposition to the Casino Development
Pimentel spoke at a March 17 planning and zoning meeting about the Sands’ proposed project. She wore a red “Texas Anti-Predatory Gaming Alliance” button on her blazer. The group is one of several that opposes a casino development. The Texas Anti-Predatory Gambling Alliance, its website says, is a project of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.
The group’s director, Cheryl Bean, is a former Republican candidate in Fort Worth who ran for Texas House District 97 last year. The casino issue is playing a key role in Irving City Council elections as three seats are on the May 3 ballot.
The Chamber’s Response
The chamber’s letter to the attorney general acknowledges that the Sands affiliate is interested “in the possible acquisition of certain land and the operation of certain businesses within the City of Irving.” The two parties are subject to a mutual non-disclosure agreement. The letter doesn’t specify what land this is, but Pimentel’s petition argues it is likely the Texas Stadium site.
“Though cloaked in secrecy, it is an almost inescapable conclusion that the only land owned by the City of Irving that the Sands Corporation would have interest in acquiring is Irving’s ‘Crown Jewel,’ the Texas Stadium Site,” the petition reads. “[The site] sits directly adjacent to land already owned by the Sands Corporation, which Sands has sought to re-zone to permit a gaming casino. The casino Sands has sought to build in Irving could be the largest casino in the world, and Sands would greatly benefit from acquiring Irving’s treasured and directly adjacent Texas Stadium Site.”
Other Developments in the Area
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the accusations of a “backroom deal” between the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Sands Corp. have sparked a heated debate in the city of Irving. While the chamber has denied any wrongdoing, the petition filed by Ada Pimentel has raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the city’s economic development process. As the city council elections approach, the issue of the casino development and the potential sale of the Texas Stadium site is likely to remain a contentious issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce accused of?
A: The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce is accused of a “backroom deal” to secretly sell the former Texas Stadium site to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Q: What is the purpose of the pre-suit discovery petition filed by Ada Pimentel?
A: The pre-suit discovery petition seeks to investigate the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce for misuse of public funds, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and breach of contract.
Q: What is the Texas Anti-Predatory Gaming Alliance?
A: The Texas Anti-Predatory Gaming Alliance is a project of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility that opposes casino development in Irving.
Q: What is the status of the casino development proposal in Irving?
A: The Irving City Council approved Sands Corp.’s request to rezone a 182-acre tract near the former Texas Stadium site, but stripped casino gaming language from the request following strong opposition.
