ALBANY – Let ‘em roll!
Billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen is one step closer to getting his long-desired casino next to Citi Field in Queens after a key vote in the state Senate Tuesday.
The bill — approved in a 54 to 5 vote despite fierce opposition from local state Sen. Jessica Ramos — clears a procedural hurdle for Cohen’s $8 billion proposal.
The measure would allow the hedge-fund manager to repurpose state parkland near the Mets ballpark as part of his casino plan, which will still require approval from city officials.
Ramos (D-Queens), who reps most of the proposed site, has argued a casino there would ultimately harm the surrounding neighborhoods — and tried in vain to overcome Cohen’s million-plus dollar lobbying and influence blitz.
“After decades of public neglect, it feels like the first serious proposal on the table is a casino. That is not the kind of development that my community deserves. Casinos may bring lights, but they also bring shadows,” Ramos said during an impassioned speech on the Senate floor.
“I cast my vote today not in opposition to my neighbors, but in defense of a vision of economic development that is dignified, sustainable, and rooted in the needs of working people, not in the wings of a billionaire,” she said, taking a final jab at Cohen.
The legislation was sponsored by fellow Queens pol, state Sen. John Liu (D-Queens), who also represents a portion of the proposed site.
“The proposal would create thousands of jobs for local residents and opportunities for local small businesses, and provide over a billion dollars in transit, park, and other infrastructure improvements,” Liu said.
The state Assembly passed the bill earlier this month, meaning it now just needs Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Hochul has publicly refrained from weighing in for or against Cohen’s or other ongoing casino proposals, so it’s unclear if or when she may be motivated to act on the measure.
Cohen also still needs the sign off from a local siting board before he gets the chance to be awarded the casino license by a state panel housed under the gaming commission.
The state is anticipating $500 million from each of three new casino licenses it plans to dole out by the end of the year, including potentially to Cohen.
“After years of community engagement, thousands of conversations, and the leadership of our local elected officials, we are one step closer to transforming these asphalt lots into something our neighbors can truly be proud of,” Cohen wrote in a statement following the vote.
“This is just the start, and we are committed to working closely with the community and fans every step of the way.”
None of the bill’s proponents spoke in support of the measure on the Senate floor. The five Senators voting against the bill included Ramos as well as Senators Joe Addabbo (D-Queens), Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn), Cordelle Cleare (D-Manhattan) and Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), all Democrats.
Addabbo, who chairs the Senate gaming committee, has argued that local lawmakers like Ramos should be given some deference on facilities in their district.
Other ‘no’ votes like Krueger, take issue with building more casinos straight up.
“I don’t like gambling. I particularly don’t like government co-sponsored gambling,” Krueger said, the only Senator other than Ramos to speak on the bill.
“Just because you spend money doesn’t mean it’s economic development. Economic development is something that creates new economic activity and opportunity. And the truth is with gambling, the house always wins,” Krueger said.
