Queens Senator Might Not Have Power to Block Steve Cohe’s Citi Field Casino Bill

New York Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) acknowledged that her opposition to a local casino proposal may not be enough to stop the projects.

Ramos has long opposed New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s proposal to build a casino on the parking lot space outside Citi Field. In an interview with the New York Post, Ramos conceded that she might not have the power to block a bill that would remove the Willets Point build site from its parkland classification and clear the road for the project.

Cohen’s project is being assisted by Hard Rock, which is hoping to land one of three New York casino licenses that will be available before the end of the year.

I don’t got the power

On April 1, Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) introduced Senate Bill 7121A, which would “discontinue the use of parkland and alienate certain land within the Flushing Meadows Corona Park” in Queens.

The bill targets the Citi Field  parking lots, which would be reclassified and would adopt commercial zoning classifications. 

“I don’t know if I have the power to block that legislation,” Ramos said about the transformative measure.

New York Law stipulates that matters involving parkland must transpire in the legislature. They do not require a member of government who proposes a change to represent the area mentioned in their proposal.

Ramos said that Liu’s district, which includes Flushing, would be affected by the casino, but only a small part of it includes the area around Citi Field.

“It does impact his district,” she said to The Post. “It’s not like it was introduced by someone from a different geography. 

“He has a direct vested interest in what happens there. We are having a profound disagreement about this. I disagree with him. I think he’s wrong.”

Changes imminent?

Liu introduced the bill last month with the understanding that he had a strong working relationship with Ramos. He also said that residents of his district have registered their support for the casino, a claim that flies in the face of what Ramos previously shared.

A Slingshot Strategies poll commissioned by an anonymous donor to Ramos last year asked 432 voters within District 13 for their opinion on a Las Vegas-style casino. They reported that 75 percent of respondents said they did not support that type of facility at Citi Field, and 61 percent said they didn’t support it anywhere in Queens, The City’s Katie Honan reported.

The casino cannot be built until the land is reclassified. 

Notably, Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks (D-Queens) introduced a measure to re-designate the Citi Field area for a gaming facility in the lower chamber.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, city Councilman Francisco Montoya, and several community boards have also voiced their support for the project.

The recipients of the New York casino licenses are expected to be announced in December.