New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Denies Plan to Aid Steve Cohen’s Queens Casino Bid

^{New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is saying not so fast when it comes to Mets owner Steve Cohen's casino bid in Queens. (Image: Andy Kropa / AP)}

The New York Post reported Wednesday that New York Governor Kathy Hochul could be coming to the rescue of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s bid to build a casino next to Citi Field, though the proposed help would be far short of guaranteeing him a license. 

According to the Post, Gov. Hochul plans to introduce legislation as a part of the 2025 state budget that would list a gambling complex as a permitted use of city parkland.

Metropolitan Park Searching for Parkland Alienation Solution

The Post cited a source close to the situation in its report.

Such legislation would effectively remove a barrier that had all but scuttled Cohen’s Metropolitan Park complex, a massive proposal he is developing with Hard Rock International which includes not only a casino, but also hotel towers, a music venue, public park space, and more.

However, the parking lots near Citi Field on which Cohen wishes to build have long been designated as parkland. That means that Cohen would need the state legislature to pass a parkland alienation bill, allowing it to be rezoned for other uses. 

By tradition, such bills have only been introduced by lawmakers who represent the areas that are being alienated. While Cohen has the necessary support in the New York Assembly, State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) has said she will refuse to introduce such a bill in the New York Senate. 

Cohen isn’t actually the only potential developer who has run into land-use issues. The Bally Links proposal, which would be located in the Bronx at the site of a former Trump Organization golf course, would also need a parkland alienation bill in order to move forward under current law. 

“The Governor is going to try to get all the land use issues for the casino license bids rolled into the budget,” the New York Post quoted a source “close to one of Cohen’s rival bidders” as saying. “She is trying to stuff it in there.”

Still, there are reasons to believe such a move would be made to benefit Cohen. The billionaire hedge fund manager has been a major donor to Hochul. Cohen and his wife, Alexandra, combined to donate $136,700 to the Hochul campaign in 2021.

However, Gov. Hochul says that she isn’t planning on pushing for such a change in her upcoming 2025 budget.

“There are people, shady people, who will try to manipulate the [casino licensing] process to their benefit and be willing to put out lies,” Hochul told reporters on Thursday. “I have had no intention of putting this in my executive budget.”

Even if there is no plan to change the rules for designated parkland, it’s clear that Cohen has been looking to work around Ramos’ opposition to his casino.  

“The state never intended any one person to have the ability to singlehandedly stop or approve a project,” Metropolitan Park spokesperson Karl Rickett said last month, when developers submitted their plans to the New York City Planning Commission. “We have plenty of time and other avenues to get this done and feel confident given the overwhelming support from elected officials, unions, and the local community, that we have the best overall project.”

Cohen, Genting Both Seeking License in Queens

Even if a beneficial parkland provision passes, Cohen will still have a fight on his hands to get one of the three available downstate casino licenses. Nearly a dozen projects are vying for those three slots, with the most problematic for Metropolitan Park being the Genting owned Resorts World New York City racino at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. 

That Resorts World facility – and the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway – have been considered strong favorites for two of the licenses, as they can quickly scale to full casinos without immediate construction required. 

However, recent allegations that Resorts World Las Vegas allowed known illegal bookmakers to play at the casino and potentially launder money there could threaten that favorite status for Genting’s facility in Queens. 

“If Genting doesn’t get a license, it’s a huge opportunity for Steve Cohen,” The Post quoted its source as saying. “There would not be an appetite for two Queens casinos.”