ALBANY – Let ‘em roll!
Billionaire Mets proprietor Steve Cohen is one step nearer to getting his long-desired on line casino subsequent to Citi Subject in Queens after a key vote within the state Senate Tuesday.
The invoice — authorised in a 54 to five vote regardless of fierce opposition from native state Sen. Jessica Ramos — clears a procedural hurdle for Cohen’s $8 billion proposal.
The measure would enable the hedge-fund supervisor to repurpose state parkland close to the Mets ballpark as a part of his on line casino plan, which is able to nonetheless require approval from metropolis officers.
Ramos (D-Queens), who reps a lot of the proposed website, has argued a on line casino there would finally hurt the encompassing neighborhoods — and tried in useless to beat Cohen’s million-plus greenback lobbying and affect 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 mentioned throughout an impassioned speech on the Senate flooring.
“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 mentioned, taking a ultimate jab at Cohen.
The laws was sponsored by fellow Queens pol, state Sen. John Liu (D-Queens), who additionally represents a portion of the proposed website.
“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 mentioned.
The state Meeting handed the invoice earlier this month, which means it now simply wants Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Hochul has publicly shunned weighing in for or in opposition to Cohen’s or different ongoing on line casino proposals, so it’s unclear if or when she could also be motivated to behave on the measure.
Cohen additionally nonetheless wants the log out from a neighborhood siting board earlier than he will get the possibility to be awarded the on line casino license by a state panel housed below the gaming fee.
The state is anticipating $500 million from every of three new on line casino licenses it plans to dole out by the tip of the 12 months, together with doubtlessly 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 an announcement 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.”
Not one of the invoice’s proponents spoke in help of the measure on the Senate flooring. The 5 Senators voting in opposition to the invoice included Ramos in addition to 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 native lawmakers like Ramos must be given some deference on services of their district.
Different ‘no’ votes like Krueger, take difficulty with constructing extra casinos straight up.
“I don’t like gambling. I particularly don’t like government co-sponsored gambling,” Krueger mentioned, the one Senator aside from Ramos to talk on the invoice.
“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 mentioned.
