New York State Senator John Liu, who had previously criticized gambling establishments for causing addiction, poverty, and strained family relationships among Asians in New York, held a press conference with Mets owner and billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen on March 30. Liu announced his support for the development of a 50-acre parking lot at Citi Field into a “Metropolitan Park” which would include a casino. He plans to present a proposal for “parkland alienation” in the state senate this week.
Cohen intends to develop the 50-acre parking lot at Citi Field, which he has leased for 99 years, into a casino complex. However, this plan cannot proceed unless the current public park designation of the parking lot is changed. Newly elected State Assemblymember Larinda Hooks has introduced legislation (A06781) authorizing New York City to stop using the land as a park and instead allow for the construction of a gambling facility. State Senator Jessica Romos from the area does not agree with this approach. Without legislative approval from both chambers of the state, the development project will be at risk.
Liu, circumventing local opposition, has become the lifeline for Cohen’s casino project by proposing legislation without the approval of State Senator Romos. This also means that Cohen is racing against time to push through legislation in both chambers of the state legislature before the session ends in late June. The project has already passed New York City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), but whether Liu’s legislative proposal will be approved by the state senate remains uncertain. If it is not approved, the development project could be derailed.
Liu’s district includes Flushing, adjacent to Citi Field. He stated, “Flushing must be an integral part of their plans, not an afterthought.” Cohen’s team has promised to build a “Flushing Sky Park,” a high-line park that will span Flushing Creek, connecting Citi Field to downtown Flushing. The plan includes constructing a leisure bridge for pedestrians and cyclists from Flushing Avenue 39 to Willets Point. Funding for this project will come from a mix of public and private sources.
In a binding agreement, Cohen and his casino partner Hard Rock International have committed to investing $100 million in Flushing Meadows Corona Park as compensation if the high-line park project fails. The Waterfront Alliance will oversee the execution of the project and manage the funds. In addition to addressing land use and approval hurdles, Cohen also faces a looming deadline for casino license applications.
According to Crain’s New York, the deadline for three casino license applications open to New York City is June 27, and with 11 known contenders, resolving land use issues is a prerequisite for selection. Two of the licenses are likely to go to the “Resorts World” in southeastern Queens and a small racetrack casino in Yonkers, leaving one license up for grabs. The conversion of Citi Field’s land use would significantly bolster Cohen’s competitiveness. Lobbying firms Tusk Strategies, Lemma Strategies, and Dickinson & Avella have lobbied Liu’s office on the Citi Field project and parkland legislation this year.
In a statement on Sunday, Romos reiterated her position, stating, “My stance remains unchanged. I cannot support the establishment of a casino in Corona and vehemently oppose any land use conversion that goes against the wishes of the community.”
Outside the venue, the Flushing Workers Union and Anti-Displacement Alliance organized a protest against the conversion of the Citi Field parking lot into a casino. They argued that Liu’s legislation would turn public land into private use, paving the way for billionaire Cohen’s casino at the expense of the community’s interests. They also raised concerns that the casino would exacerbate issues such as gambling addiction, family breakdown, and even fatalities, particularly affecting vulnerable groups and the Asian community.