Queens Residents Rally Against Inclusion of Citi Field Casino in State Budget?

Several organizations gathered at the Flushing Library on Friday (28th) to oppose the construction of a casino on the 50-acre parking lot of Citi Field. The opponents stated that the owner of the Mets is pushing to include the “Metropolitan Park” project, which includes a casino, in the New York State budget to bypass the process of amending state laws, urging the governor not to include the project in the state budget.

Protesters held up signs in Chinese, English, and Korean saying “Casinos ruin families”, “The Chinese community will not allow bones to be sucked dry”, and “Don’t gamble with Flushing’s future”, expressing their opposition to the casino project.

The development of the “Metropolitan Park,” located just one subway stop away from Flushing, including the casino, requires a change in the current use of the Citi Field parking lot from “parkland” to include commercial use, necessitating an amendment to state law – allowing for “parkland alienation.”

Speaker and Easthurst resident Tera Fan stated that State Senator Ramos of Jackson Heights and State Senator Liu Chunyi of Flushing have already stated they will not introduce legislation allowing for “parkland alienation.” However, Mets owner Steve Cohen is currently pushing to include it in the state budget to circumvent legislation. The final version of the state budget is expected to be determined around April 1st.

Rebecca Pryor, Executive Director of the Guardians of Flushing Bay, urged Governor Hochu not to include any provisions stripping parkland in the state budget. She noted that Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is built over waterways underground, making it one of the most flood-prone parks in New York City.

She explained that the “Metropolitan Park” project is a large “Las Vegas-style” complex with a Hard Rock Hotel and casino, a 9-story parking garage, and a hotel tower of up to 26 stories, which could harm Flushing Bay. The bay receives over 2 billion gallons of untreated sewage and contaminated rainwater annually, with the project potentially overwhelming the nearby Bowery Bay wastewater treatment plant, causing more sewage and polluted rainwater to flow into Flushing Bay.

Resident Alexis Kaloyandies of Jackson Heights pointed out the dangers of gambling, stating that casinos disproportionately affect young people and low-income individuals. She cited the American Psychological Association, stating that up to 5% of young gamblers will develop disorders, contributing 80% of casino revenue. She believed the promised economic benefits of casino developments are misleading and exploitative to the community, emphasizing the need for parks, infrastructure, and community centers in the Corona area rather than a casino.

Chinese resident Baojin Qiu emphasized the importance of Flushing as a place for Chinese settlement and happiness, advocating for more housing construction and discouraging undesirable activities, urging the governor to halt the project.

Nabil Khatri, a representative from the New York Muslim Center, criticized Mets owner Cohen for not being a resident of Queens yet benefitting from families and individuals visiting the casino, pointing out the harmful effects of gambling.

Resident Marilyn Mendoza emphasized the need for affordable housing, good job opportunities, and resources to help families grow, rather than a casino that exploits the community, urging the governor to listen to the voices of local residents.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Park team, Karl Rickett, responded to the protest activities by stating, “Six neighboring community boards, the Queens Borough President, the City Council, and the community overwhelmingly support Metropolitan Park. We promise to bring this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the community, providing 23,000 union job opportunities, adding 25 acres of park space, and over $1 billion in community benefits.”

Currently, the project has received approval from the New York City Council in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process (41 votes in favor, 2 opposed). State Assemblymember Larinda Hooks has introduced legislation for “parkland alienation,” but State Senator Ramos has not introduced any related legislation.