New York: Queens senator concedes $8 billion CitiField casino bid may advance despite opposition

A New York state senator opposing Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $8 billion plan to build a casino and entertainment complex next to CitiField in Queens conceded the project may still advance, despite her refusal to introduce required enabling legislation.

Democratic State Senator Jessica Ramos, whose district encompasses most of the proposed “Metropolitan Park” site, said she remains firmly against the project but acknowledged its prospects. “I don’t know if I have the power to block that legislation,” Ramos told The New York Post.

The project, a partnership between Cohen and Hard Rock International, is among several contenders for three downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded by the New York State Gaming Commission later this year.

Before the Queens bid can be formally considered, the state legislature must pass a law to redesignate the CitiField-adjacent lots from parkland to commercial use. Ramos has declined to sponsor such a bill, citing strong local resistance. “Guess what? Three-quarters of my neighbors don’t want it,” she said, citing results from town halls and surveys.

Despite her opposition, State Senator John Liu (D-Queens), whose district includes a portion of the site, has introduced the enabling legislation in the Senate. Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks (D-Queens) has introduced a corresponding bill in the Assembly.

“It does impact his district,” Ramos said of Liu’s involvement. “We are having a profound disagreement about this. I disagree with him. I think he’s wrong.”

Ramos expressed concerns about the casino’s potential impact on low-income and elderly residents. “Why should Roosevelt Avenue end in a casino, especially where it would be right off the train?” she asked, referring to the nearby No. 7 subway line. “We as taxpayers cannot afford for our seniors to gamble away their pension or social-security money because then we have to pony up [funds] to make sure they are taken care of.”

Liu defended his support: “I am close to Jessica, and I know her principled position is based on feedback from her constituents. Similarly, my intent to advance any enabling legislation is based on feedback I received from constituents. Some opposed, but far more in favor.”

The Metropolitan Park proposal has also secured backing from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, City Councilman Francisco Moya, and several local community boards.

New York’s casino expansion traces back to a 2013 constitutional amendment authorizing seven casinos statewide. While four upstate facilities were licensed first, a moratorium on downstate licenses expired in 2023, prompting a flurry of bids for the remaining three.

Ramos said she intends to continue making her case against the legislation but is uncertain about how the Senate will vote. “What has to happen is the bill passes or it doesn’t,” she said. “[Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins] and everyone in this city knows exactly how I feel about this project.”