Senator Jessica Ramos of New York has said unequivocally that she opposes any casino development in the Corona, New York, region, including the Metropolitan Park proposal by billionaire Steve Cohen.
The goal of Cohen’s Metropolitan Park is to develop 50 acres of the parking lot of Citi Field into a resort and casino. The property is state-owned parkland, though, which presents issues from a legal and communal standpoint.
Rejecting the idea of taking a casino as a trade-off, Senator Ramos stressed in her statement the community’s need for investment and open space.
Alternative Proposal for Development
Instead of a casino, Senator Ramos proposed an alternative bill allowing for the construction of a hotel and convention center while increasing green space. This approach seeks to balance economic development with community needs.
Senator Ramos urged Cohen to reconsider the project’s direction, emphasizing community aspirations and potential. “I will not introduce legislation to alienate parkland in Corona for the purposes of a casino. Whether people rallied for or against Metropolitan Park, I heard the same dreams for Corona.
“We want investment and opportunity, we are desperate for green space and recreation for the whole family. We disagree on the premise that we have to accept a casino in our backyard as the trade-off. I resent the conditions and the generations of neglect that have made many of us so desperate that we would be willing to settle.”
Senator Ramos’s statement underscores the importance of balancing economic development with community interests and environmental preservation.
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