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Some Glendale voters want a say on massive VAI Resort already under construction

Glendale City Council members did not ask questions or talk among themselves before they voted unanimously to approve an updated development deal in June.

Now an economic justice group says they’ve submitted enough signatures for voters to have their say on the massive resort under construction south of State Farm Stadium.

Glendale says changes made in June to the development deal were clerical.

City Attorney Michael Bailey told council members that having a new property owner was the main purpose. Plus contractual language cleanup, such as restarting the 25-year clock on a property tax break for developer VAI Resorts. 

“Staff recommends approval. Thank you,” Bailey said.

Jordan Greenslade, senior field director for Worker Power Institute, said Glendale residents he has spoken to see the development deal edits as more than clerical.

“To them, it sounds like it’s pretty big changes,” he said.

The Glendale City Council plans to review the June approval during its Aug. 22 voting meeting.

Matthew Casey has won Edward R. Murrow awards for hard news and sports reporting since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.