A brand new ballot performed on behalf of New York Mets proprietor Steve Cohen and Queens Future indicated there’s robust help in Senate District 13 for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park proposal, which features a on line casino resort.
New York Mets proprietor Steve Cohen. A ballot performed on his behalf signifies robust help for a Queens on line casino close to Citi Discipline. (Picture: New York Submit)
Not solely is that the New York State Senate district the place Citi Discipline is positioned, it’s additionally the realm represented by State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D). She’s the lawmaker that has but to introduce laws to take away the parkland designation of Willets Level — a transfer that’s seen as important for the Metropolitan Park challenge to maneuver ahead.
The ballot performed on behalf of Cohen and Queens Future confirmed 62% of registered voters within the district help the addition of a gaming venue there. That runs counter to a ballot Slingshot Methods on on the request of Ramos, which indicated 75% of these surveyed are against a on line casino at Willets Level and 61% don’t desire a gaming venue wherever in Queens.
The Cohen ballot additionally claimed 31% of these queried are much less more likely to vote for Ramos if she opposes the on line casino challenge in comparison with simply 14% that mentioned they’d be extra more likely to help her as a result of that opposition.
Explaining Discrepancies in Cohen, Ramos Polls
In comparison with conventional political polls pitting two candidates in opposition to each other, the chasm between the Cohen and Ramos polls is exceptionally vast.
One cause for that’s whom the polls surveyed. The Slingshot survey performed on behalf of Ramos surveyed 423 folks, all of whom stay in Senate District 13. Alternatively, the Cohen surveyed requested the on line casino query of 600 Queens resident, simply 250 of which stay in that district.
Ramos has declined to determine which of her donors paid $27,500 for her ballot, however the Queens Chronicle reported that Slingshot purchasers embrace Bally’s and Resorts World New York — each of that are competing with Cohen and Laborious Rock Worldwide for one of many three downstate on line casino licenses anticipated to be awarded late subsequent yr.
At the moment a slots-only venue, Resorts World New York is positioned in Queens and is rumored to be one of many main contenders for one among three permits as a result of the venue is established and operator Genting is pledging a $5 billion growth ought to or not it’s granted the power to transform the property to a Las Vegas-style on line casino.
Cohen Ballot Timing
Ramos’ ballot was performed between March 5 and 10 whereas the Cohen survey was carried out between March 15 and 23. A consultant for the Mets proprietor advised the Queens Chronicle that the ballot wasn’t a response to the same effort by Ramos, however fairly performed as a result of it had been awhile since that they had accomplished a temperature verify on the on line casino concept.
Entities tied to Cohen have persistently tried to drum up help for the on line casino amongst native leaders and residents. New Inexperienced Willets LLC, the Cohen-backed group supporting the on line casino effort, has persistently mentioned the $8 billion plan will likely be about way more than a on line casino. It’ll function an leisure and eating district designed to draw locals, in addition to ample inexperienced house that will likely be open to the general public.
Along with job creation and tax income, Cohen teams beforehand mentioned $1 billion in financial profit from the on line casino will movement on to the Queens neighborhood to help habit remedy, youth applications, and extra.
