New York State Senator Jessica Ramos officially announced on May 28th that she will not be introducing a bill to build a casino in the parking lot of Citi Field in the Corona neighborhood of Queens.
Ramos stated on May 28th, “I will not legislate the conversion of parkland in Corona for the sake of a casino.”
In a written statement, she emphasized the need for investment, opportunities, green spaces, and entertainment, expressing her strong opposition to the idea of sacrificing parkland for a casino. She denounced the imposition of such conditions and the neglect of generations, which she believes has left many in her community feeling desperate enough to settle for such compromises.
The 50-acre land on the west side of Citi Field in the Queens borough was designated as a parking lot but was planned to be used as parkland. The usage of this land is under the control of the state legislative body. The owner of the New York Mets baseball team, Steve Cohen, who has an 81-year lease on the parking lot at Citi Field, proposed an $8 billion project called the “Metropolitan Park” in collaboration with the casino operator Hard Rock International. The plan includes building a casino, hotel, concert venue, and 20 acres of green space on this 50-acre land.
The transition of the parking lot at Citi Field from parkland to other space requires the legislation of “parkland alienation” to be passed by both houses of the New York State Legislature. Local Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Aubry has already put forth a proposal to allow for parkland alienation, but a similar bill needs to be introduced in the State Senate for any potential change to take place. The stance and decision of the local State Senator Ramos become crucial in this matter. Ramos had previously indicated during a town hall meeting in February that she would make a decision before the end of the legislative session.
At a press conference held in Albany, New York, on May 28th, Ramos stated, “After three town halls, a poll, an audit, I can’t tell you how many one-on-one conversations I’ve had in this region, my conclusion is that the overwhelming majority of my neighbors do not want a casino in our backyard.”
In response to Ramos’s decision, a spokesperson for Cohen’s team, Karl Rickett, stated, “We respect Senator Ramos’s perspective, but New York State never intended for any one person to have the power to unilaterally block or approve casino gaming projects.”
Rickett added, “We still have over a year and multiple opportunities to obtain the necessary approvals. Our team remains committed to making the Metropolitan Park a reality, with casino gaming as the only viable economic engine. The entire development project is projected to create 23,000 job opportunities, bring an $8 billion investment, and substantial benefits to the community.”