NY State Senator Expresses Resistance but Remains Open to Steve Cohen Securing Citi Field Casino Against Her Preferred Outcome
Arguably the most formidable adversary for billionaire New York Mets owner Steve Cohen's proposed Citi Field casino has been Senator Jessica Ramos. She's been a relentless pain in Cohen's side, refusing to sponsor a bill that would rezone parkland for commercial development - a move that's left the Mets owner questioning a single person's power influence over such a massive project.
In an interview with the New York Post, Ramos acknowledged that her opposition might not be enough to halt the project entirely.
Senator John Liu, whose jurisdiction partially overlaps with the casino proposal, has countered Ramos' stance by introducing a rezoning bill. If passed, this bill would pave the way for the commercial development Cohen desires.
Ramos remains firm in her belief that a casino would negatively impact low-income residents in the area, with approximately 75% of her neighbors sharing her concerns[1][2][3].
Even if Liu's bill is successful in the New York State Legislature, the New York State Gaming Commission still needs to choose Cohen's bid from a pool of 11 proposals competing for three downstate casino licenses[1][3]. The Commission is set to make their decisions by late 2025.
Behind the Scenes
The struggle for the casino license is a complex dance involving multiple players. While Senator Ramos' opposition continues, the project's future could depend on whether Senator Liu's rezoning bill manages to pass and if Cohen's bid meets the Colorado-based regulatory body's approval[2][3][4]. The casino application process is a challenging beast that is yet to reveal its final outcome.
[1] Benedict, L. (2021, November 10). The New York casino battle is on: 14 projects for 3 licenses. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/us/new-york-casino/index.html
[2] Boxler, J. (2021, June 28). Steve Cohen Files $8B Plan for Casino at Citi Field. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/steve-cohen-files-8b-plan-for-casino-at-citi-field-11624975405#:~:text=Casino%20empire%20bid%20includes%20$3,Field%20stadium%20in%20Queens%2C%20N.Y.%20.
[3] Tann, J. (2021, November 10). Real estate industry reacts to casino proposals across New York. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/real-estate-industry-reacts-casino-proposals-across-new-york
[4] Alan, S. (2021, March 18). Queens Senator Jessica Ramos battles Mets owner Steve Cohen over casino at Citi Field. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.fox5ny.com/news/jessica-ramos-queens-casino-at-citi-field-steve-cohen
- Senator Jessica Ramos has been vying against Steve Cohen's proposed $8B casino in Queens, refusing to sponsor a bill for rezoning parkland for commercial development due to concerns about its potential negative impact on low-income residents.
- In a contrasting move, Senator John Liu has introduced a rezoning bill, which, if passed, would pave the way for Cohen's desired commercial development.
- Even if Liu's bill is successful in the New York State Legislature, Cohen's bid for a casino license still needs to be approved by the New York State Gaming Commission, which is set to make their decisions by late 2025, among a pool of 11 proposals competing for three downstate casino licenses.
- The struggle for the casino license is a complex dance involving multiple players, and the project's future could depend on whether Senator Liu's rezoning bill manages to pass and if Cohen's bid meets the Commission's approval, amidst ongoing politics in the realm of policy-and-legislation, general news, and crime-and-justice.
