Opponents of a proposed Coney Island casino gathered this week to make their point clear:
The Playground of the World doesn’t need such a development.
The Coney – a proposed downstate New York casino from the team of Saratoga Holdings, Global Gaming Solutions of the Chickasaw Nation, Legends, and Thor Equities has proposed a $3 billion development plan that would also feature a 500-room hotel and a 2,500-seat concert venue.
Residents in the area convened to voice their opposition of the project, however, with Ronald Stewart leading the town hall meeting:
“Those who say this will bring value no this will take value from the people, who gamble their money away.”
NY casino opponents: The Coney benefits developers, ‘not the community
The Coney promises to incorporate more than a dozen restaurants in the development as well as 92,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
According to the group, the project will create thousands of new jobs and will become “a year-round economic engine” for the community as it “will eliminate the seasonal ebbs and flows that have long plagued the local business community.”
Stewart, though, used an old adage to make a counterpoint.
“In gambling, they say the house always wins, and that is who will win here: the developers and their investors, not the community.”
Supporters say The Coney will boost community
On the other side, The Coney did have some supporters. One man, Joseph Packer, noted how he takes his family to Atlantic City, which boasts all the amenities Coney Island does not and that The Coney could.
Similarly, others highlighted that The Coney would increase foot traffic as well as boost revenue and property value in the area. In addition, it was noted that developers have not asked for taxpayers to contribute to the project.
In a statement to News 12, the team behind The Coney emphasized that the group “continues to work with and listen to the community so that it can develop an economically impactful project that will bring improved infrastructure, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment to Coney Island and beyond.
“Coney Island needs and deserves a year-round economic driver that will uplift the local economy while also creating critically needed workforce development initiatives. We look forward to continued community discussion and engagement opportunities so that our bid will best reflect the needs of Coney Island.”
Coney Island casino needs community support
Gaining the support of the affected community is key to any bidder looking to acquire one of three downstate casino licenses, which could allow licenseholders to offer online casinos in New York once lawmakers legalize iGaming.
Each of the dozen or so proposals has faced their share of pushback. The Coney, though, seems to have plenty of support as well.
Last year, some 10,000 Brooklyn residents signed a petition supporting the casino project. The petition noted that the community has been “shortchanged” for decades as it has “been waiting for the year-round economic opportunities” that The Coney will “finally make happen.”