Cohen Poll Shows Strong Support for Queens Casino

Cohen poll shows strong support for Queens Casino

A new poll representing New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Queens Future finds strong support in Senate District 13 for an $8 billion Met Parks proposal that would include a casino resort.

This is not only the New York State Senate district where Citi Field is located, but also the area represented by State Senator Jessica Ramos (D). She is a legislator who has yet to introduce legislation to repeal Willets Point's parkland designation, a move seen as critical to moving forward with the Metropolitan Parks project.

The poll, conducted on behalf of Cohen and Queens Future, found that 62 per cent of registered voters in the area supported opening a gaming venue there. This contradicts a Slingshot Strategies survey requested by Ramos, which found that 75 percent of respondents opposed a casino in Willets Point and 61 percent did not want a casino anywhere in Queens.

The Cohen poll also found that 31% of respondents would be less likely to vote for Ramos if she opposed the casino project, while just 14% said they would be more likely to support her because of their opposition.

Explaining the differences in the Cohen and Ramos polls

The gap between the Cohen and Ramos polls is unusually wide compared to traditional political polls that pit "two candidates" against each other.

One reason is the survey participants. A Slingshot poll conducted on behalf of Ramos surveyed 423 people, all of whom live in Senate District 13. Cohen's survey, on the other hand, asked 600 Queens residents about casinos, only 250 of whom live in the borough.

Ramos declined to say which donor paid the $27,500 for her investigation, but the Queens Chronicle reports that Slingshot's clients include Bally's and Resorts World New York - both of which are working with Cohen and Hard Rock International The fight for one of three downstate casinos is expected to be followed by a license late next year.

Resorts World New York, currently a slots venue in Queens, is rumored to be one of the leading candidates for one of three licenses to be built, with operator Genting promising a $5 billion expansion if licensed. Transform the property into a Las Vegas style casino.

Timing of Cohen Investigation

Ramos' poll was conducted between March 5 and 10, and Cohen's poll was conducted between March 15 and 23. A representative for Mets ownership told the Queens Chronicle that the investigation was not in response to a similar move by Ramos, but rather because they have not temperature-checked the idea of a casino in some time.

Cohen-affiliated groups have been trying to drum up support for the casino from local leaders and residents.New Green Willets LLC, the Cohen-backed group behind the casino project, has long said the $8 billion plan would be more than just a casino. There will be an entertainment and dining area designed to attract locals, as well as spacious green spaces open to the public.

In addition to creating jobs and tax revenue, the Cohen Group has previously said that $1 billion in economic benefits from the casino will flow directly to the Queens community to support addiction treatment, youth programs and more.