Steve Cohen’s $8B Casino Complex Plans for Queens Face Major Setback
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Steve Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets, is facing a significant obstacle in his ambitious plan to develop an $8 billion casino-entertainment complex near Citi Field. According to the information provided in a report in The New York Post, despite his high-profile partnership with Hard Rock, the project has hit a critical roadblock as State Senator Jessica Ramos, who represents the Flushing-Corona area where the casino is proposed, has announced her opposition to the necessary legislative changes.
Nearly a dozen bidders are competing for three state casino licenses to operate in or around New York City.
Steve Cohen’s vision for the “Metropolitan Park” is an expansive casino-entertainment complex aimed at transforming the area around Citi Field into a premier destination. As was reported by The Post, the proposed $8 billion project, in partnership with Hard Rock, seeks to redesignate lots currently zoned as parkland for entertainment use. This redesignation is essential for the project to proceed, as it would allow Cohen and his partners to apply for the required permits and clear regulatory hurdles.
Senator Ramos has taken a firm stand against the project, citing the needs and desires of her constituents. The report in the Post also indicated that Ramos, who represents the district encompassing the proposed site, stated unequivocally that she will not introduce legislation to change the zoning of the parkland.
“I will not introduce legislation to alienate parkland in Corona for the purposes of a casino,” Ramos said in a statement on Tuesday, according to The Post report. She emphasized that her community is in dire need of green space and recreational facilities for families, not gambling establishments.
Ramos articulated the broader concerns of her constituents, many of whom feel that accepting a casino as a trade-off for economic development is not in their best interest. “We disagree on the premise that we have to accept a casino in our backyard as the trade-off. I resent the conditions and the generations of neglect that have made many of us so desperate that we would be willing to settle,” she added, The Post report noted.
This opposition underscores a fundamental clash between the promise of economic development and the preservation of community resources and quality of life.
“Mr. Cohen and Hard Rock would still make a profit, albeit less,” Ramos acknowledged to The Post. She suggested that finding a compromise would demonstrate Cohen’s genuine commitment to the community. “Mr. Cohen and his team have often declared their love for our community and said they recognize our potential. Finding a path forward would be a good way to show it.”
Without the rezoning legislation, Cohen’s project cannot move forward for consideration by state regulators who are evaluating various casino bids for New York City. The Post report also indicated that although it is theoretically possible for another state senator to introduce the bill, such a move would be politically challenging. Lawmakers are generally reluctant to override the opposition of a colleague on issues directly impacting their district.
Currently, a redesignation bill has been introduced in the state assembly but must also pass through the state senate to proceed. Given Ramos’ firm stance, the path to legislative approval appears fraught with difficulty.
The New York State Gaming Commission is expected to award three casino licenses by the end of 2025. This timeline gives Cohen and other bidders some time to improve their odds, but the competition is fierce, The Post report said. The selection process will consider various factors, including community impact, economic benefits, and support from local and state officials.
Cohen’s casino project has garnered support from other key Queens politicians, including Borough President Donovan Richards and City Councilman Francisco Moya, who also represents the area, The Post report affirmed.
Borough President Donovan Richards argued that no single elected official should have the power to block such a significant investment. “No one elected official should be the sole arbiter of this $8 billion investment, so I strongly urge Governor Hochul and the State Senate to explore other avenues to bring the Metropolitan Park proposal to life and ensure that Queens continues to get the money we deserve,” Richards stated, as was reported by The Post.
Cohen’s team remains steadfast in its commitment to the Metropolitan Park project, emphasizing that gaming is the essential economic driver needed to realize the proposed 23,000 jobs, $8 billion investment, and substantial community benefits. Cohen’s representative reiterated this point to The Post: “Our team remains committed to bringing Metropolitan Park to life, with gaming as the only viable economic engine to make the 23,000 jobs, $8 billion investment, and substantial community benefits possible.”
Karl Rickett, a spokesman for Metropolitan Park/Cohen, expressed confidence in the project’s prospects. “While we respect Senator Ramos’s point of view, the state never intended any one person to have the ability to single-handedly stop or approve a gaming project,” Rickett said in an email to The Post. He highlighted the widespread support for the project from elected officials, unions, and the local community, asserting, “We have over a year and multiple pathways to secure the required approvals.”
For his part, Steve Cohen has invested heavily in lobbying and building support for his casino bid. The Post report revealed that his efforts include a notable $116 million donation from his foundation to CUNY’s LaGuardia Community College, a move seen as part of a broader strategy to win community favor.
With the casino project facing significant hurdles, Cohen might need to consider alternative plans. Senator Ramos’ proposal for a convention center and hotel, coupled with increased green space, offers a viable alternative that could still provide economic benefits while addressing community needs.
The Post also reported that a Democratic colleague criticized Ramos, saying, “Much like her fake run for mayor that everyone knows isn’t happening, her yearlong, pre-determined ‘decision’ on the local casino was nothing more than a self-absorbed play for attention.”
Ramos’ position echoes the actions of Queens State Senator Michael Gianaris, who in 2019 unilaterally blocked Amazon from opening a $3 billion East Coast headquarters in Long Island City. Ramos has expressed confidence that her stance will be respected by her legislative peers. When asked by The Post if she could be thwarted, Ramos replied, “I would be very surprised. I think that would be a disservice to our legislative body if members’ wishes were not respected. I’m in a position to defend the will of my constituents, and I would be shocked actually, I would be very surprised, if the state senate would allow for someone else to introduce such legislation.”
Cohen’s aggressive approach has not gone unnoticed by rival bidders for the state’s casino licenses. A source from a competing bid remarked to The Post, “His entire approach has been to outspend and intimidate with his wallet. And that kinda sucks. I’m glad the system is working.” This sentiment underscores the competitive and contentious nature of the casino licensing process.
Interestingly, Cohen’s difficulties in Albany could have broader implications. Another bidder, Bally’s, which acquired the lease for the former Trump golf course at Ferry Point in The Bronx, also needs legislation to convert parkland for casino use, the Post report revealed. Cohen’s challenges may signal potential hurdles for other projects requiring similar legislative changes.
