Steve Cohen’s Mets are losers — and so is seemingly his Queens on line casino bid, at the very least for now.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos — who represents the Flushing-Corona space the place Cohen desires to erect an $8 billion “Metropolitan Park” casino-entertainment complicated — says she is not going to introduce laws permitting the billionaire clubhouse proprietor to acquire a allow wanted for his mission to go ahead.
Cohen and his proposed-casino associate, Laborious Rock, want a state legislation enacted to redesignate the tons across the Mets’ Citi Subject stadium from parkland to leisure use for his or her plan.
“I cannot introduce laws to alienate parkland in Corona for the needs of a on line casino,” Ramos stated in an announcement Tuesday.
She stated her constituents are “determined for inexperienced house, and recreation for the entire household” — not playing.
“We disagree on the premise that now we have to just accept a on line casino in our yard because the trade-off. I resent the situations and the generations of neglect which have made many people so determined that we’d be keen to settle,” the Queens lawmaker stated.
With out the rezoning, Cohen’s mission can’t even get into the batter’s field for consideration by state regulators, who’re presently fielding his metropolis on line casino bid and a bunch of others.
Theoretically, one other state senator may introduce the invoice to assist Cohen’s plan. However lawmakers are reluctant to big-foot a colleague on a mission necessary in his or her district, and it might be uncommon to take action, sources stated.
A proposed redesignation invoice has been launched within the state meeting however must journey the identical course within the state senate, too.
Practically a dozen totally different bidders are vying for 3 state on line casino licenses to function in or round New York Metropolis. Web site choice and licenses are anticipated to be awarded by the tip of 2025, so Cohen has a while to carry the chances — however not a lot.
Instead, Ramos stated she has drafted a invoice that might enable Cohen to construct a conference heart and lodge — however not a on line casino — and greater than double the proposed open inexperienced house.
“Mr. Cohen and Laborious Rock would nonetheless make a revenue, albeit much less,” she acknowledged in her assertion.
“Mr. Cohen and his workforce have typically declared their love for our neighborhood and stated they acknowledge our potential. Discovering a path ahead could be a great way to point out it.”
Ramos’ opposition to a on line casino is a setback for Cohen — who has spent tens of millions on a lobbying and a appeal offensive and whose basis lately donated a staggering $116 million to CUNY’s LaGuardia Group School.
His on line casino mission has gained help from different key Queens politicians — together with Borough President Donovan Richards and Metropolis Councilman Francisco Moya, who additionally represents the realm.
Cohen’s camp is vowing to not quit on the on line casino mission — whereas arguing that Ramos shouldn’t have sole veto energy over it.
“Whereas we respect Senator Ramos’s viewpoint, the state by no means meant anybody particular person to have the flexibility to single-handedly cease or approve a gaming mission,” stated Karl Rickett, a spokesman for Metropolitan Park/Cohen, in an e-mail to The Put up.
“As Metropolitan Park enjoys overwhelming help from elected officers, unions, and the local people we’re assured that now we have the very best mission in the very best location,” Rickett stated. “We now have over a 12 months and a number of pathways to safe the required approvals.
“Our workforce stays dedicated to bringing Metropolitan Park to life, with gaming as the one viable financial engine to make the 23,000 jobs, $8 Billion funding and substantial neighborhood advantages attainable.”
Richards chimed in, “Nobody elected official must be the only real arbiter of this $8 billion funding, so I strongly urge Governor Hochul and the State Senate to discover different avenues to convey the Metropolitan Park proposal to life and be certain that Queens continues to get the cash we deserve.”
Another Democratic lawmakers privately gripe that Ramos’ ambitions are getting the very best of her.
“Very like her pretend run for mayor that everybody is aware of isn’t occurring, her yearlong, pre-determined ‘determination’ on the native on line casino was nothing greater than a self-absorbed play for consideration,” one among Ramos’s Democratic colleagues within the Senate instructed The Put up.
One in all Ramos’ colleagues, Queens state Sen. Michael Gianaris, actually did unilaterally use his energy in 2019 to dam Amazon from opening a $3 billion East Coast headquarters on his turf in Lengthy Island Metropolis.
Ramos, requested by The Put up if she could possibly be thwarted in any means in her quest, replied, “I’d be very stunned.
“I feel that might be a disservice to our legislative physique if members’ needs weren’t revered,” she stated. “I’m ready to defend the desire of my constituents, and I’d be shocked truly, I’d be very stunned, if the state senate would enable for another person to introduce such laws.”
Rivals bidders took observe of Cohen’s troubles, saying simply throwing cash round doesn’t all the time work.
“His total method has been to outspend and intimidate together with his pockets. And that kinda sucks. I’m glad the system is working,” stated a supply for a rival bidder.
However Cohen’s downside in Albany may additionally negatively affect one other bidder, Bally’s, which final 12 months acquired the lease for the previous Trump golf course at Ferry Level in The Bronx. Bally’s mission additionally wants laws to transform parkland there for use as a on line casino.
Different count on bidders embody Associated Corporations/Wynn Resorts, which is proposing a $12 billion on line casino/workplace tower complicated in Hudson Yards in Manhattan; SL Inexperienced/Caesars/Roc Nation bid for Occasions Sq.; Silverstein Properties in Hell’s Kitchen, and Thor Fairness consortium gaming facility complicated alongside the Coney Island boardwalk.
In the meantime, current slots parlors — Resorts World at Aqueduct race monitor and MGM Empire Metropolis at Yonkers raceway — are vying for licenses to supply dwell desk video games.
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