The United Federation of Teachers recently joined a coalition that opposes a proposed casino in Times Square.
Gaming heavyweights Ceasars Entertainment, SL Green and rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation are behind a bid to convert a theater on Broadway into a $250 million casino resort.
The 200,000-member teachers’ union joins the American Bus Association, the Clinton Hell’s Kitchen Chelsea Coalition for Pedestrian Safety, The Broadway League, and more than a dozen other organizations to oppose the development.
The New York State Gaming Commission is expected to make a decision on the project by Dec. 31.
UFT says educational value of Theater District must be protected
New York State is home to several commercial and Native American-owned casinos. Currently, Resorts World New York City is the only casino in the city. New York online casinos remain illegal, though lawmakers are expected to consider legalizing iGaming next year.
The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is the largest organization to join the No Times Square Casino Coalition so far. Michael Mulgrew, president of the UFT, argues that the city’s Theater District should remain off-limits to casino gaming.
“Converting a historic Broadway theater into a casino is a bad idea. It would undermine the Theater District and dilute the distinctive power of Broadway, an industry that offers unique educational and career opportunities for our students
“Broadway is an educational goldmine for the children of our city, and it needs to be protected. Casinos have their place in urban centers, but ideally they create new attraction zones for business and tourism – not drain or diminish existing cultural centers.”
Along with public school educators and professionals in New York City, members of the UFT include childcare workers, school nurses, instructors specializing in adult education, as well as retired educators. The union is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union in the US. It’s also a longtime affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
UFT has history of activism
Under Mulgrew, the UFT has been active in efforts to oppose issues that affect education. Earlier this year, the union sued the city of New York to block fees on vehicles driving into the city, arguing that the fees would simply shift pollution to other boroughs and adversely impact teachers.
The union has also worked diligently to protect the health care benefits of its current and retired members. In 2023, the UFT successfully convinced its members to transition from Medicare to a private health care package with more coverage options.
In 2011, the UFT was successful in saving more than 4,000 teaching and support staff jobs that were slated to be eliminated. The UFT organized a public rally that attracted more than 20,000 attendees in opposition to the proposed layoffs.
The UFT has also takes stands against unfunded class-size reductions and has argued for tenure-based pay raises over merit-based pay. That latter stance has been particularly controversial, bringing criticism from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
