A New York Senate committee voted to advance a key bill that supports the casino
Plans to build a casino next to Citi Field took a step forward this week after a New York Senate committee voted to move a key bill forward, despite hesitation among lawmakers. The legislation, introduced by Senator John Liu, would allow Mets owner Steve Cohen to build on land currently used as a parking lot, which is technically designated as parkland.
The vote in the Senate’s Committee on Cities didn’t come with strong backing. No senators voted in favor outright. Instead, four allowed the bill to advance without a recommendation, and three voted against it. Despite the lukewarm support, the bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Cohen’s vision includes more than just a casino. His proposed project, called Metropolitan Park, would bring a hotel, food hall, live music venue, green space, and other attractions to the site. But the plan hinges on both legislative approval and securing one of three downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded later this year by the state’s Gaming Commission.
The bill has also been introduced in the Assembly by lawmaker Larinda Hooks, though it hasn’t yet been brought up in committee. Locally, the issue has been met with mixed reactions. State Senator Jessica Ramos, whose district covers much of the project area, has consistently opposed the casino plan, citing concerns from her constituents.
Cohen, who partnered with Hard Rock, shifted focus to Liu after Ramos declined to sponsor the bill. Part of the new deal also includes a proposed pedestrian bridge called the Flushing Skypark, though that idea is still vague. If it can’t be built, Cohen has committed to donating $100 million to nearby Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
While the latest vote doesn’t guarantee the project will move forward, it gives the casino proposal new momentum just months after it appeared to be stalled in Albany.
