Gov. Kathy Hochul insisted Thursday that she received’t support Mets proprietor Steve Cohen’s bid for a coveted New York Metropolis on line casino license — after sources instructed The Submit she supposed to introduce laws that may profit the billionaire.
“There are folks, shady folks, who will attempt to manipulate the [casino bidding] course of to their profit and be keen to place out lies. I’ve had no intention of placing this in my govt finances,” the governor instructed reporters when requested if was going to bat for Cohen, certainly one of her greatest donors.
Hochul’s denial got here after The Submit reported Wednesday that she deliberate to introduce laws within the 2025 state finances that may broaden the permitted makes use of of metropolis parkland for a playing advanced permitting Cohen to bid for a on line casino license.
When requested to remark for The Submit story earlier this week, a Hochul spokesperson declined to say whether or not she supposed so as to add the brand new provision within the upcoming finances.
“Gov. Hochul will unveil her State of the State agenda in January,” the rep instructed The Submit.
After listening to Hochul would possibly handle Cohen’s land use downside within the state finances, the governor obtained rapid blowback from lawmakers, who stated it regarded like she was aiding the Cohen/Arduous Rock $8 billion on line casino proposal close to Citi Discipline in Queens.
“It’s a nasty precedent,” stated Joe Addabbo (D-Queens), who chairs the state Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, when first listening to of Hochul’s deliberate intervention.
“For the governor to become involved and favor one bidder over different bidders units a harmful precedent.”
A spokesperson for Cohen shot down accusations that Hochul was placing a thumb on the size to assist the Mets proprietor.
“Permitted use laws doesn’t prejudge the gaming approval course of in any method nor does it assure the venture will transfer ahead,” the spokesperson stated.
“It’s simply the mandatory first step in the direction of placing ahead a strategic imaginative and prescient for remodeling the 50 acres of asphalt at Citi Discipline. Metropolitan Park will comply with the identical course of as each different bid – ULURP [Uniform Land Use Review Procedure], Neighborhood Advisory Committee, Gaming Facility Location Board assessment, and remaining New York State Gaming Fee approval.”
Cohen and his spouse, Alexandra, donated a mixed $136,700 to the Hochul marketing campaign in 2021, based on state information.
The hedge fund king additionally was the most important donor to the New York State Democratic Committee in its effort to achieve management of the Home of Representatives within the upcoming election, donating $235,000 from Jan. 1, 2023 to July 11, 2024, based on Gothamist.
The state Gaming Fee subsequent yr will subject as much as three full-scale on line casino licenses within the New York Metropolis space.
Hochul’s obvious change of plans leaves Cohen’s bid in a pickle.
He wants the State Senate to introduce and go a invoice to provide his bid with Arduous Rock the authority to make use of town heaps round Citi Discipline to construct the on line casino and leisure advanced over the needs of Jessica Ramos, the native state senator, who opposes it.
Cohen’s bid is lifeless — can’t even transfer ahead for consideration — with out an alienation legislation, the taking of parkland for non-park use.
As is customized, legislators defer to an area consultant on the subject of controversial initiatives in his or her district — and it’s extremely unlikely the Senate would go an alienation invoice over Ramos’ objections.
For instance, Amazon in 2019 pulled its plan to construct an East Coast headquarters in Lengthy Island Metropolis, largely due to opposition from Queens State Senator Michael Gianaris, the deputy majority chief who represents the world.
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