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Ramos Says Queens Casino Could Win Without Her Help

State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), the New York lawmaker who has consistently opposed a potential casino hotel in her area, mentioned that she may lack the means to obstruct legislation that could promote the Metropolitan Park initiative. 

In an interview with The New York Post, Ramos acknowledged that she may lack the influence necessary to prevent a newly suggested bill that, if passed, would strip Willets Point of its parkland designation — a stance Ramos has continually opposed.

"I don’t know if I have the power to block that legislation,” she told The Post.

In late March, State Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) proposed a bill aimed at removing the parkland designation from the parking lots surrounding the New York Mets' home field and assigning commercial zoning classification to the area. His proposal is seen as a possibly major catalyst for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park project, led by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International. 

Queens Casino Parkland Alienation Doesn't Require Ramos's Backing

Metropolitan Park and another casino proposal in the New York City area are facing challenges regarding parkland classification. Those labels must be removed for those proposals to advance. 

According to New York law, changing the classification of parkland must go through the legislative procedure. Yet, there are no requirements that the legislation needs to be proposed by a representative from the relevant area. Regarding the Metropolitan Park plan, Ramos recognized that her colleague Liu’s district would be impacted by the casino proposal. He represents Flushing, but only a small section of his district encompasses Citi Field. 

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

Last month, when he presented his bill, Liu recognized his positive working relationship with Ramos but noted that Queens residents support Metropolitan Park — a statement that contradicts some of the state senator’s earlier assertions about the initiative. 

Queens Casino Introducing Tailwinds 

Ramos’s recognition that she may have limited capacity to impede the parkland alienation bill contributes to the positive recent news cycle for Metropolitan Park. Shortly after Liu revealed his legislation last month, Cohen and Hard Rock formed a partnership with a New York real estate developer, adding an affordable housing element to the gaming venue proposal — a feature that was absent in the initial plan. 

The casino supporters mentioned that Slate Property Group, LLC could construct 450 affordable housing units two miles away from the suggested location of Metropolitan Park. This proposal may enhance the Cohen/Hard Rock offer. 

Furthermore, the latest New York City mayoral polls indicate that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is in the lead, which may benefit the gaming industry's goals in the city as he has consistently supported the concept of Las Vegas-style gaming establishments in the largest city in the US.