New York: Plan to build a casino near Citi Field draws opposition from community organizations

A plan to build a casino near Citi Field in New York City has spurred a rally by concerned residents opposing the move. Protesters gathered outside on the steps of the Flushing Public Library on Friday to voice their opposition, arguing that building a casino in the area would "devastate the Flushing community."

The protests against the potential Queens casino come as MLB’s Mets owner Steve Cohen explores the idea, having held several “visioning sessions” earlier this year. Last month, he released a report which said community members would like to see something built in the area, but made no specific mention of a casino.

However, Cohen is reportedly looking into winning one of three licenses that will be made available to build a casino in the New York City area. This has led to protests from residents that claim that casinos "siphon off money from local communities, while residents in Flushing are struggling with rent and the soaring cost of living."

"Flushing Workers Center is happy to join others in speaking out against the treatment of our community and to unequivocally say no to a casino at Willets Point,” said Sarah Ahn of the Flushing Workers Center as per ABC 7. “This is not about whether or not we like to gamble, it is about whether or not we sit silent and let someone come in and get more people hooked to gambling, destroy families, and bring only more problems to Flushing.”

Protesters also want to protect 50 acres of public parkland. "There are no two ways about it," said Rebecca Pryor, Executive Director of the Guardians of Flushing Bay, as reported by the cited source. "Privatizing 50 acres of public parkland in the middle of low and middle-income communities of color is environmental injustice. This is not the time to sit back and enable a 50-acre, public parkland grab.”

Those against the plan are calling on local community organizations, NYC parkland advocates and elected officials to oppose the Citi Field casino license and to protect parkland. “We do not need a backroom deal casino,” added Pryor. “We need transparently planned, community-generated neighborhood projects that absorb rainfall, reduce air pollution, protect our public parkland and prioritize rather than prey upon our environmental justice communities.” 

We reject a racist casino that will only get more people hooked on gambling, siphon our hard-earned wages, and destroy families!

Let's join together & protect our community--residents, workers, and small businesses--and demand development that helps Flushing thrive! pic.twitter.com/pq8PqTL1hy

— Flushing Workers Center (@FlushingWorkers) March 4, 2023

Friday’s rally also included members of the Flushing for Equitable Development and Urban Planning (FED UP) Coalition and the Flushing Anti-Displacement Alliance. The parties are calling for plans that promote development that will benefit the community, as residents cope with inflation. 

Flushing residents aren’t the only ones that have protested against plans to bring a casino to their community. Last month, the Village of Garden City voted to formally oppose the development of a casino at the Nassau County Hub in Long Island, New York, which had been proposed by gaming and hospitality giant Las Vegas Sands.