Supporters of the Queens casino urge Ramos to align with their perspective.
Hordes of business owners and residents from Queens flocked to State Senator Jessica Ramos' (D-Queens) office on Monday, urging her to support the idea of a new casino in the borough.
This casino would be part of the $8 billion Metropolitan Park project proposed by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who is partnering with Hard Rock International in a bid to secure one of the three downstate casino licenses likely to be awarded by state regulators sometime around late 2025 or early 2026.
Ramos represents the Citi Field area and has so far been hesitant to back legislation that could change the current parkland designation of Willets Point. This change is essential, as without it, Cohen and Hard Rock may not be able to apply for a casino license.
"This is a wonderful project, and we're asking you for help, Jessica. We love you, but we need your assistance, as without it, this cannot proceed," said Aaliyah Rose Scott, a Jackson Heights resident, as reported by CBS New York.
The gathering at Ramos' office was organized by the Coalition for Queens Advancement.
Ramos' Previous Objections to Cohen's Tactics
Although Ramos has not yet decided whether she'll introduce a bill to remove the parkland status of Willets Point, she has expressed a willingness to speak with both those who support and those who oppose the gaming venue.
She stated on Monday that while Cohen is attempting to rally support for the casino initiative, her main concern is representing her constituents in Albany. Earlier this year, Ramos had accused activists with ties to Cohen's casino plan of attending some of her town hall meetings in the district. Reports indicate that no groups in attendance at the Monday demonstration outside Ramos' office were paid by entities connected to Cohen.
Last month, Ramos and Queens Future, an organization with ties to Cohen, published poll results detailing community opinions regarding the gaming project. Unsurprisingly, the poll funded by a donor who supports Ramos demonstrated negative feelings towards the casino, while the Queens Future survey revealed strong support for Metropolitan Park.
"We want Metropolitan Park. We want this to provide jobs for the youth...we want this for the green space, and we want this because we deserve nice things," said Saeeda Dunston, a representative from Elmcor Youth and Adult Services, as reported by CBS New York.
Notes on the Timing of the Queens Casino Rally
The timing of the Monday demonstration is intriguing on multiple levels. First, it takes place amidst news that several groups vying for New York City-area casino permits have no contingencies if their bids fail. If Metropolitan Park doesn't get a license, Willets Point will likely remain an "asphalt jungle" for years to come.
Second, potential surprises in the New York casino competition seem to be surfacing as some industry watchers suggest ethics issues could affect bids from Genting and MGM Resorts International. These operators run Empire City in Yonkers (MGM) and Resorts World New York in Queens (Genting).
This is of particular interest due to the belief that when New York lawmakers approved legislation allowing for three downstate casinos, Empire City and Resorts World New York were seen as having essentially secured two of those licenses.
Read also:
- Schalke nears massive changes
- Immediately renew Terzic's contract.
- Gulacsi sets a challenge for the upcoming million-man group.
- The St. Pauli manager held the injured player.
Source: www.casino.org
