Queens Heated Over Metropolitan Park Proposal in First Public Hearing

Metropolitan Park, the $8 billion casino and entertainment proposal by Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, hosted its first public Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on September 9, becoming the last of the eight downstate casino bids to hold a public meeting.

Tensions flared inside Queens Borough Hall as supporters and opponents clashed over the bid. Some praised it as a transformative opportunity for jobs, tourism, and investment. Meanwhile, others denounced it as a threat to vulnerable communities and a “money grab.”

For three hours, union cheers collided with anti-casino chants, and anti-casino posters lined the livestream windows. The crowd’s roar at times resembled a ballgame at Citi Field.

A Massive Proposal

The plan would convert approximately 50 acres of Citi Field parking lots into a mixed-use district. It will feature a casino, hotel, live entertainment venues, food halls, and retail space. It will also include 25 acres of public parkland.

Developers claim it would create over 23,000 union jobs, comprising 6,081 permanent positions and 17,100 construction jobs. They also set a goal of hiring at least 30% MWBEs (Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises).

The Metropolitan Park team has also promised a $1 billion investment in the community. That includes a $163 million community improvement fund. There will be enhancements to mass transit and vendor plazas.

Michael Sullivan, Cohen’s chief of staff, told the committee:

“We humbly believe this is the best site in New York City for one of these gaming licenses. It’s the ideal place to tie together these great sports venues and build something beautiful that we can all be proud of.”

Project outreach director Julissa Ferreras-Copeland noted the sheer volume of engagement so far, saying: “With this meeting, we will have now had 18 public hearings on this project. Eighteen times our community has shown up and expressed their support.”

The team had previously told the six-member CAC that the project had received 88% approval from local leaders. It also received 87% approval from canvassed residents.

Supporters Tout Jobs & Investment

Former City Councilmember Daniel Dromm framed the bid as a generational opportunity: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Queens, I can’t encourage it enough.”

Echoing that sentiment, Tom Grech, CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, called it “a once-in-a-lifetime, generational project.”

Community leaders also tied the proposal to equity. Frankie Miranda, CEO of the Hispanic Federation, argued:

“Our people, who were considered essential workers, have been, with a few notable exceptions, invisible and overlooked when it comes to transformational investments. That is why Metropolitan Park is essential to the future of these communities.”

Simon Pelman, a member of Community Board 8, added that the development should reflect Queens’ diversity, saying: “If [Asian residents] want to gamble, they certainly have the right to do that.”

Several backers also highlighted broader economic momentum. “Last night’s overwhelming community support reflects Metropolitan Park’s years of community engagement and input,” said project spokesperson Karl Rickett.

Former councilmember Costa Constantinides pointed to its infrastructure promises: “If we’re not making the investments in our infrastructure that this park plan is going to do, we are going to miss an opportunity.”

And Ben Gutman, executive director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, linked it to the borough’s tourism base:

“We’re second only to Manhattan in our share of the city’s tourism economy, and approximately 12 percent of our workforce is employed directly or indirectly in tourism. The Metropolitan Park proposal will further accelerate both of these trends, which are vital to ensuring Queens’ economic future.”

Resident Larry Gallegos spoke for a block of neighborhood supporters when he said: “Our community wants this project, and we will not be denied by folks who view us as beggars.”

Fierce Opposition Warns of Displacement

Opponents warned that the casino would accelerate gentrification and push out vulnerable residents.

Annie Lowe, an attorney with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, told the committee: “No community benefits agreement could offset the harm of this luxury complex, which will compound the rampant speculation that is already displacing communities of color in Queens.”

Lowe also rejected the promises of developer aid. “We’ve been told that this casino will come with community benefits, but we know through experience that developer-promised benefits are a myth.”

Queens resident Zeke Dunn criticized the hearing process itself: “This whole community input process has asked us as a community the question, ‘What should we beg the rich guys for?’ That’s what this process has been.”

Another resident, Victoria Hoyle, urged the committee: “Don’t let this obvious money grab, by those who don’t care about anything except for their own profits, destroy Queens’ families.”

The last speaker, a 16-year-old student, delivered one of the night’s most impassioned testimonies, declaring:

“It’s nothing but common sense to say no to the casino. You can’t possibly imagine the devastation it would cause to my community. This is not about tourism. … No beautiful green venue can disguise a disgusting business model that hacks our psychology to leech off our wallets.”

Choking back tears, she continued: “Gambling is an addiction. My home is not a destination for tourists to see a fleeting thrill while generations are ravaged right next door. … You’re providing jobs for us to construct our own demise. A casino is the [antithesis] of safety, no matter how pretty you package it.”

What’s Next

The September 9 event was the first of at least two required by law. The second hearing is scheduled for September 16. Then, the CAC must vote by September 30 on whether to advance the bid to the New York Gaming Facility Board. The project needs two-thirds support from the committee to advance.