A new poll suggests that public opposition to a casino at Citi Field is growing
A recent poll conducted at the recommendation of New York State Senator Jessica Ramos shows that residents aren’t keen on the idea of a new Casino in Queens, NY. 61% of respondents are against a Las Vegas-style casino in Queens. 75% say that the idea of a gaming venue in the Citi Field area is undesirable.
Ramos, who represents part of the New York City borough, recently said that she’s seeking more insight into how her constituents feel about a proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino project. The effort, led by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, would transform the land around Citi Field into a massive entertainment complex that includes a park and retail casino.
Katy Honan filed a report for The City, saying, “The pollsters asked 432 registered voters who live within her State Senate District 13 — which includes Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Woodside, and Astoria — between March 5 and March 10, starting with [the] favorability of local, state, and national politicians and their feelings on the city.”
Many local politicians and business owners support the Metropolitan Park plan. However, the project’s fate is largely in Ramos’ hands. An anonymous donor to Senator Ramos put up $27,500 for Slingshot Strategies to conduct the survey.
Ramos said she’ll wait until May to decide whether to introduce legislation in the State Senate to partner with a bill introduced by State Representative Jeff Aubry last year.
While many of her constituents are against a casino in Queens, they may end up with one anyway. Resorts World New York is also located in the borough and is widely considered one of the leading contenders to win one of three downstate gaming permits that could be issued in 2025.
