Yokohama IR plans face recall and referendum movements Asia Gaming Brief · October 9, 2019 at 6:27 am Political parties and citizens opposed to an IR bid at Yamashita Pier are launching movements both to recall Fumiko Hayashi as mayor of Yokohama as well as to subject any casino construction plans to a popular referendum. Casino opponents have held three rallies in recent days, one that gathered about 70 people on the 2nd, a second which brought together 1,200 participants on the 3rd, and yet another that involved about 100 people on the 6th. These appear to have been organized separately by different groups. What unites them is their wish to block IR development in the city, although their precise strategy to achieve that result is what is now under discussion and debate, with some favoring focus on a recall movement against the pro-IR mayor, and others demanding a referendum on the IR plans.
