Coney Island leaders not feeling lucky about casino plan
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A pitch to build a casino and entertainment complex in Coney Island got losing snake eyes from community leaders who voted against a gambling joint along Brooklyn’s historic beach and boardwalk.
Community Board 13 members overwhelmingly passed a resolution rejecting the plan, 23 to eight — with the chairwoman saying she didn’t want to turn Coney Island into another Atlantic City, where casinos surround an economically struggling neighborhood.
It’s not a good sign for the ambitious project.
Board members are appointed by the borough and local council members — elected officials who’ll sit on a sitting board to determine if a casino in Coney Island is desirable.
Last week’s CB 13 online meeting started with an alarmingly bad omen.
Just before the casino debate and vote, the meeting was hijacked by a masturbating creep, forcing administrators to temporarily shut down the public discussion.
“I completely agree with the overwhelming opposition from the community in Coney Island,” said Brooklyn Councilman Ari Kagan, who represents Coney Island. “I hear this not just in Coney Island but all over southern Brooklyn. … The overwhelming majority of people I talk to are against the casino.”
Kagan said a casino at Surf and Stillwell avenues will bring more traffic, crime and mental health problems.
“We don’t want what Atlantic City has,” said CB13 chairwoman Lucy Mujica Diaz.
“We’re already drowning in traffic half the year. Now you want to bring more traffic in. We don’t want it.”
The casino and entertainment complex is being pushed by a Coney Island consortium vying for one of three potential. downstate licenses. It includes developer Thor Equities, gaming operators Saratoga Casino Holdings, The Chickasaw Nation and Legends, the sports and entertainment firm co-owned by the Yankees.
The project faced mostly negative feedback at a CB13 community forum on April 19, when the consortium gave a presentation at Gargiulo’s restaurant.
The non-binding resolution was stacked against the casino and entertainment complex. Typically resolutions ask whether a voting member is for or against a project — with a “yes” vote being for the project and “no” vote being against it.
But the five-page casino resolution — with critical information claiming how bad the project would be for Coney Island — say a “yes” vote was to reject the casino bid and a “no” vote was in support of it.
The resolution also faulted the consortium for wanting a Citi Bike docking station, which CB 13 opposes because of traffic problems. And the resolution pointed out that 10 new residential complexes housing approximately 5,000 people with minimal to no parking were recently constructed — and eight more are planned.
It noted the popular Nathan’s hot dog eating contest around the Fourth of July and the Mermaid Parade attract tens of thousands — as does Maimonides Park, where the Mets’ minor league baseball affiliate, the Cyclones, play.
CB 13 said Coney Island already “suffers from a high crime rate” and that a casino will lead to an “addiction-driven machine” and “destroy our quality of life and destroy families,” offsetting some job creation.
Opponents also argued local businesses may not benefit from a casino since most gamblers stay inside the venue, where they also eat and drink.
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“Our community cannot endure the substantial burden and problems that this venue will generate,” the board’s resolution said.
“We request that our local elected officials collaborate with us to address our existing problems, not drown us with additional problems. Community Board 13 is listening to our community and recommends opposing a casino development in our district and urges our elected officials to inform the Gaming Commission the decision of the community they represent.”
Robert Cornegy, a consortium consultant, insisted there’s support for the casino and entertainment plan, asserting he helped collect, from door-to-door, over 3,300 signatures from residents and merchants.
He complained the resolution was stacked against the project.
“I do believe that the resolution was unfair to the project by wording it that way and steering the vote that way. I haven’t seen a resolution worded that way before,” said Cornegy, a former Brooklyn councilman.
The consortium released renderings last month that showed a dazzling new “Coney” casino and hotel would be erected just steps from the storied Brooklyn boardwalk and beach, located smack between the iconic Cyclone and Wonder Wheel.
A sleek, glass-enclosed hotel with a multi-colored rooftop would be built right behind the casino. The plan also includes a convention hall.
“A gaming and entertainment venue on Coney Island is going to bring year-round jobs, create economic opportunities, improve public safety, help small businesses, and revitalize an iconic community looking to build a brighter future,” the consortium said in a statement Sunday, .
“New Yorkers know a good deal when they see one, that’s why after going door to door and business to business, we’ve received more than 3,300 signatures from the community in support of the gaming and entertainment venue and why we will continue going everywhere and talking to everyone about why Coney Island just makes sense.”
The casino consortium added, “Any judgements about this project – which is going to have enormous benefits – before the full details and community benefits agreement are finalized is premature, shortsighted and leaves the community struggling with the very same issues around unemployment, infrastructure and public safety it currently bemoans.”
Other gaming operators are vying for one of three downstate casino licenses.
Gaming giant Bally’s is betting on The Bronx — proposing a casino on the Trump Organization’s public golf course at Ferry Point.
The owners of the existing slots parlors at the Aqueduct race track in Ozone Park, Queens, and Yonkers race track — Genting/ Resorts World and MGM’s Empire City — are expected to submit bids to expand their offerings to include table games.
Meanwhile, Mets owner Cohen is eyeing a casino near the team’s stadium in Flushing, potentially partnering with Seminole Hard Rock. A 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium is also planned in the vicinity.
Others planning bids to operate a casino include the Steve Ross-Related Companies/Wynn Resorts partnership for Hudson Yards, the landlord SL Green/Caesars Entertainment team in Times Square.
And Sands Casino last week announced a deal with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to open a gaming facility and entertainment complex at the old Nassau Coliseum hub in Uniondale if the state grants it a license.
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