Citi Field is the home of the New York Mets.
Photo: Edwin Martinez / Impremedia
NY Mets billionaire owner Steve Cohen’s plan to build a casino and entertainment complex next to his Citi Field stadium in Queens was temporarily blocked by Democratic state Sen. Jessica Ramos.
The bill needs to be approved by the state Legislature in Albany, but Senator Ramos told New York Post on Sunday that he would not present it in the last weeks of the legislative session.
“My neighbors and I are not currently in a place where it would be appropriate to introduce legislation of alienation of parks”, Ramos said. He estimated that “65%” of the people who spoke at the session (on Friday) opposed the casino project.
(It was) “the first of many necessary conversations I’m going to have about the casino proposal near Citi Field. More to come,” Ramos wrote. on his Twitter account on Saturday.
The lots and other property around Citi Field in Willets Point have been considered parks since they were designated as part of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in 1939.
Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Queens) introduced legislation in March that would allow the Mets owner redevelop overflow parking lots around Citi Field to install a casino and entertainment complex. A 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium is also planned nearby.
But the measure cannot become law without the support of the Senate and, of course, of Governor Kathy Hochul. Ramos, as a local senator, has influence over the designation, an important first phase for Cohen and his New Green Willets LLC to redevelop the property around Citi Field.
The legislative session ends in June. The state casino locating commission has yet to issue any of the three downstate casino licenses. Other offers that plan to operate a casino in NYC include the Steve Ross-Related Companies/Wynn Resorts partnership to Hudson Yards (Manhattan West), and owner SL Green/Caesars Entertainment team in Times Square.
A representative for Cohen issued a statement saying they will continue to speak with Ramos and residents about redeveloping the site. “We have been working closely with Senator Ramos from the beginning and her input has been an important part of our approach. We will continue to work with her and our neighbors in Queens as we incorporate her feedback and We maintain an open dialogue with the community and a transparent process on how best to reimagine the 50 acres of blacktop around Citi Field.” said the spokesman.
“Based on the input we have received in 15 listening sessions, hundreds of meetings, and more than 20,000 door-to-door conversations, we believe that to both Mets fans and the surrounding community you’ll like what you see when we unveil a vision that includes a new green space, thousands of new jobs and permanents and entertainment that draws people to the area every day of the year.”
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