© Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Queens, New York) – Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets is pushing for a casino to be built in Queens. The eight-billion dollar project is being backed by one hundred civil leaders and local business owners. The casino is expected to be built right next to Citi Field. Right now, the property is protected by the state as parkland. It can not be used for any commercial use. Cohen is asking New York State Senator Jessica Ramos to help change the designation of the land. In Albany, Ramos is sticking to her guns and is unwilling to make that change.
Back in April, Ramos polled her constituents and found that 75 percent of them don’t want a casino in their neighborhood. Firing back, Cohen’s team did their own poll and found that 75 percent of her constituents actually want the casino development once they hear positive things about the bid. Other local politicians in Queens back the casino bid, but Senator Ramos refuses to help until she hears more support from the residents themselves. A spokesperson from Cohen’s team says that they’ve done over 15 community workshops, some of which Ramos attended, and has even offered a one billion dollar community benefit package.
