Round 200 individuals attended an “anti-casino” city corridor in Flushing on Sunday, Oct. 19, to protest towards the deliberate Metropolitan Park on line casino improvement adjoining to Citi Subject and criticize state Sen. John Liu for introducing laws within the state Senate that helped the event attain the ultimate stage of a prolonged course of to safe a downstate gaming license.
Liu launched parkland alienation laws in April to reclassify a Citi Subject car parking zone—at the moment designated as public parkland—into industrial property to facilitate the Metropolitan Park improvement.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district represents nearly all of the world the place the event can be situated, had lengthy refused to introduce such laws earlier than Liu, who represents a smaller space of the positioning, ultimately launched the laws in a serious win for the Metropolitan Park improvement.
The state Senate voted 54-5 in favor of the parkland alienation laws, whereas the Meeting voted 134-11 in favor of companion laws launched by Meeting Member Larinda Hooks.
“I respect his right to introduce legislation. That didn’t mean I had to agree with it or vote for it, and I didn’t. So I’m going to stand on my principle,” Ramos informed QNS in Could.
The reclassification was a vital step towards advancing the bold improvement proposal, which goals to remodel 50 acres of asphalt car parking zone right into a sprawling leisure advanced that includes a 25-acre public park, new retailers and eating places, a Style of Queens meals corridor, and a full-scale redevelopment of the Mets-Willets Level subway station, together with enhancements to roads and bike paths.
The $8 billion proposal from Steve Cohen and Exhausting Rock Worldwide additionally incorporates a Exhausting Rock resort and on line casino, a key revenue-generating element of the challenge.
In addition to receiving overwhelming help within the state legislature, Metropolitan Park additionally acquired important metropolis help as zoning and map textual content amendments needed for the event made their manner by means of the town’s Uniform Land Use Assessment Process (ULURP).
All six related group boards voted in favor of the amendments, with the Metropolis Council voting 41-2 in favor in March.
The challenge additionally acquired unanimous help from a Group Advisory Committee final month, with Ramos appointee George Dixon additionally voting in favor of the challenge.
Opponents to the proposed improvement, nevertheless, gathered on the Muslim Middle of New York at 137-58 Geranium Ave. on Oct. 19 to voice their considerations concerning the deliberate on line casino and to demand an apology from Liu for introducing laws to assist facilitate its progress.
The city corridor, hosted by the Muslim Middle of NY, Flushing Staff Middle and the FED UP Coalition, heard from residents who expressed considerations concerning the potential improvement and known as for elected officers to “strike down” the on line casino.
Ramos, who repeatedly declined to introduce the parkland alienation laws within the state legislature, informed attendees that there’s nonetheless a chance to forestall a on line casino from being developed within the space.
Metropolitan Park is one in every of three initiatives remaining within the struggle to win a downstate gaming license. The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board will award as much as three downstate licenses this December, however Ramos said on Sunday that she is hopeful that not all three remaining bids will obtain a license.
“Even though I’m sure he (Steve Cohen) and his team think they have it in the bag, they absolutely do not,” Ramos stated at Sunday’s city corridor. “There is no reason why the Gaming Facilities Board has to do three licenses. They can say they will only do two licenses. We can stop this altogether. I think there can be a world where no casino licenses are granted.”
Ramos speaks at Sunday’s city corridor. Picture through Flushing Staff Middle.
Former state Sen. Tony Avella stated the approval of Metropolitan Park would consequence within the lack of 25 acres of public parkland “forever.”
“This should not be allowed to happen,” Avella stated. “Parkland is sacred and must always be protected for future generations. Shame on those elected officials who support the plan who are allowing this to happen.”
Avella additional said that the Metropolitan Park improvement will set a “terrible precedent” for future developments within the metropolis by giving builders the inexperienced gentle to “seize” parkland all through the town.
Jack Hu, a lifelong Flushing resident, blasted Liu over his help for the challenge, accused Liu of engaged on behalf of the pursuits of Cohen and different billionaires by supporting the event. Hu demanded that Liu, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Gaming Facility Location Board “strike down” the on line casino.
Baojin Qiu, one other lifelong Flushing resident, accused Liu of turning his again on constituents, stating that Liu as soon as pledged to oppose the on line casino earlier than ultimately supporting it. He additional accused Liu of “colluding” with Cohen.
“John Liu, shame on you,” Qiu said.
Picture through Flushing Staff Middle.
In response, Liu stated he appreciated the eagerness of protesters however stated the Metropolitan Park improvement has acquired help at each degree because it made its manner by means of the town and state.
“I appreciate the passion with which some advocates oppose this proposal, but the proposal recently won formal support from the Community Advisory Council unanimously, and also has long been supported by the borough president, state assembly members, city council members, and all nearby Community Boards,” Liu stated in a press release.
Metropolitan Park spokesperson Karl Rickett additionally pointed to the near-universal success that Metropolitan Park has loved within the Metropolis Council, the state legislature, group boards and the CAC.
“The approvals from six out of six Community Boards, the City Council, State Legislature, and the entire Community Advisory Committee underscore the deep and broad community support for Metropolitan Park,” Rickett stated.
He additionally touted the group advantages that the event is touted to create, together with 23,000 union jobs and over $1 billion in group advantages.
“We are committed to making this community-first vision a reality, delivering 23,000 union jobs, 25 acres of public park space, and over $1 billion in community benefits.”
In the meantime, Jackson Heights resident Alexis Kaloyanides pointed to the instance of playing in Atlantic Metropolis as proof that the introduction of a on line casino doesn’t mechanically assure financial success. She stated Atlantic Metropolis is a “wasteland” of empty storefronts with a poverty charge larger than that of Queens.
“This idea that casinos improve local economies has been disproven again and again,” Kaloyanides stated. “There is no multiplier effect for small businesses.”
Organizers of Sunday’s protest signalled their intent to carry a Group Rally Towards the On line casino outdoors Queens Public Library’s Flushing location at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16. Hu stated he’s hoping that 2,000 be a part of the protest, which he stated would make it the biggest within the historical past of Downtown Flushing.
