New York Mets owner and billionaire Steve Cohen‘s Metropolitan Park casino plan has reached the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochel. The bill was approved in a 54 to 5 vote in the state Senate on Tuesday, which brings Cohen within a step of bringing a Hard Rock Casino to Queens, adjacent to Citi Field.
In addition to Hochel’s signature, Cohen still needs approval from a local siting board, which might not be easy considering Sen. Jessica Ramos has opposed the project from the start.
Cohen wants to transform Queens with an entertainment district that includes a casino. He said in a statement after the vote on Tuesday:
“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.
“This is just the start, and we are committed to working closely with the community and fans every step of the way.”
Three licenses for downstate casinos are slated to be awarded by the end of the year.
Metropolitan Park includes much more than casino
Cohen has ambitious plans for Metropolitan Park, which are going to cost around $8 billion. An entire community will be built next to Citi Field. Some of the hospitality and entertainment include:
- Hard Rock Casino
- Twenty acres of public park space
- Bars and restaurants
- Hotel towers
- Live music venue
- Conference space
- Athletic fields and playground
- Renovated train station
- Bike paths
The project is expected to generate $130 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years while also creating over 10,000 jobs.
Bill still faces opposition
Despite Cohen’s resounding win, his entertainment district still faces opposition, mainly from Ramos. She has been outspoken against the project, which is in her district.
The New York Post recently reported a speech she gave on the Senate floor:
“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.
“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.”
Four other lawmakers voted against Cohen’s measure: Sens. Joe Addabbo (D-Queens), Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn), Cordelle Cleare (D-Manhattan), and Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan).
