As leaders in Madrid and Barcelona slug it out to lure a new megacasino to their cities, some are questioning the economic, environmental, legal, and moral compromises being offered.
Giles Tremlett reports on the efforts city leaders in Barcelona and Madrid are making to lure US billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his Las Vegas Sands company's proposed €17bn (£14.3bn) Europa Vegas megacasino project.
Reported to be "be equivalent in size to half of the Las Vegas strip" and include "a dozen casinos, several hotels, shopping malls, conference centres, golf courses and theatres," the project is seen as a silver bullet to "create 260,000 jobs, securing work for close to half the unemployed in the densely populated provinces of either Madrid or Barcelona."
Among the concessions being demanded by Adelson, who has successfully exported his brand of Las Vegas gaming and entertainment to Singapore and Macao, are "tax breaks, gambling law changes, new labour laws and free land," writes Tremlett.
Opposition politicians and religious leaders are galvanizing supporters to fight the project. But with 23% unemployment and an economy slumping back into recession, the prospects for their success seem slim.
FULL STORY: Europa Vegas draws Madrid and Barcelona into battle over megacasino
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.