Partner in proposed casino apologizes for antisemitic slurs by radio host against project opponent

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The CEO of Urban One, the publicly traded media company with a development interest in a proposed casino in Virginia’s capital city, apologized to a leading opponent of the project Friday for antisemitic remarks made about him on one of the company’s radio stations.

The comments about Paul Goldman, a longtime Democratic Party strategist and activist who is Jewish, were made by a temporary guest host who was not an employee of The Box 99.5, Marsha Landess, regional vice president of Urban One brand Radio One, said in a statement.

“These statements were horrible and offensive,” Landess said. “Once we heard the comments and because he was alone in the studio with his producer, I personally drove to the station and immediately removed him from the show. He will not be appearing again.”

The development came days before the end of voting on a city-wide referendum that will decide whether Urban One and development partner Churchill Downs can move forward with their proposed $562 million gambling and entertainment complex in south Richmond.

Landess said Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins personally apologized to Goldman, something Goldman confirmed in a statement of his own.

Goldman, who previously served as an adviser to former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and as the state party’s chair, said he accepted the apology but noted it was slow to come.

“I know politics a little: They didn’t publicly apologize immediately because they were hoping there would be no political backlash,” Goldman said. “There was no reaction yesterday. So, no public apology. But when they saw their political gamble losing today, they started apologizing.”

Goldman said in a text message that the remarks were made Wednesday evening and posted late Thursday afternoon on the website of an anti-casino coalition he’s helping lead. Liggins’ apology came Friday morning after Goldman had written to him, Goldman said.

The remarks drew other denunciations from both supporters and opponents of the project.

“I unequivocally condemn the antisemitic remarks made by a guest host on The Box 99.5 FM regarding Paul Goldman,” Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a backer of the casino, said on social media. “We must call hate out in all of its forms, and his remarks are completely unacceptable. I’m pleased to hear the station has issued an apology and fired the individual.”

The campaign committee backing the casino, which has been funded by the two companies, said in a statement sent from a general email account that the project is about “bringing people together to build a better Richmond and provide meaningful economic opportunity for the city and its people.”

“This campaign unequivocally condemns the anti-Semitic language and divisive comments that were made on the air,” the statement said.

Victoria Cobb, president of the socially conservative Family Foundation of Virginia, is leading an anti-casino initiative and shared a statement condemning the comments.

“Nothing about the casino industry is good for Richmond,” she said by text message. “The vile remarks made by supporters of casinos are just more reason to oppose them on election day.”

This year marks the developers’ second shot at winning over Richmond voters. Two years ago, the city narrowly voted down a referendum on the matter.

The project — this time branded the Richmond Grand Resort and Casino — would be located on a former tobacco company site just off Interstate 95 in south Richmond.

Early voting has been underway since late September. Election Day is Tuesday.