In a move that could reshape the landscape of Queens, Councilman Francisco Moya has thrown his weight behind Mets owner Steve Cohen’s ambitious $8 billion plan to erect a sprawling casino complex adjacent to Citi Field.

Francisco Moya Endorses ‘Metropolitan Park’ Casino Plan, Lauding Benefits for Queens

Moya, representing the communities surrounding Flushing Meadow Park and Willets Point, voiced his enthusiastic endorsement of the project, dubbed “Metropolitan Park,” emphasizing its potential benefits for both Queens and New York City, reported The New York City Post. Referring to the proposed gaming center, hotel, and music venue, Moya stated that he believed that the project was in the best interest of both Queens and New York City. 

The councilman’s endorsement marks a significant development for Cohen’s endeavor, which hinges on legislative approval to repurpose the land around Citi Field, currently designated as parkland. 

However, not all political players are aligned with Moya’s stance. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, another key figure whose support is crucial for the project’s advancement, remains unconvinced. Ramos, critical of Cohen’s team’s lobbying tactics, has refrained from endorsing the initiative.

Moya, known for his fervent support of development projects, hailed the casino-entertainment complex as an “economic engine” that would attract visitors year-round, enhancing the fan experience for sports enthusiasts frequenting Citi Field and the USTA Tennis Center, as well as supporters of the New York City Football Club.

Cohen’s Casino Project Gains Advantage Amid Regulatory Delays and Political Support

Despite uncertainties surrounding regulatory approvals, industry insiders suggest that the delay in awarding new casino licenses in the New York City area until late 2025 could work in Cohen’s favor, affording him more time to consolidate support in Albany. Cohen’s purported amicable relations with Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul further bolster his position in the high-stakes casino competition.

Cohen’s project is just one among several ambitious proposals vying for a slice of the lucrative casino market in New York City. Competing ventures include proposals from prominent entities such as The Related Companies, Wynn, SL Green, Caesars, Roc Nation, and Thor Equities, among others, aiming to establish their foothold in strategic locations across the city.

As the debate over the future of Queens’ landscape intensifies, Moya’s endorsement underscores the complex interplay of politics, economics, and community interests shaping the trajectory of urban development in New York City. Whether Cohen’s vision for Metropolitan Park materializes into a reality remains contingent on navigating a web of regulatory hurdles and securing elusive political backing.

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Two individuals have been apprehended by FBI agents for their alleged involvement in a violent armed robbery at an illicit gambling establishment in Flushing, Queens, last July. The incident, which resulted in one person sustaining gunshot wounds, has led to charges against Jamel Berry from Astoria and Zhong Wang, a Chinese national.

Robbery at Flushing Gambling Den Leaves Victim Injured

According to authorities, the robbery took place on the night of July 19, 2023, when Berry and his accomplices, including two individuals who are currently at large, stormed into the underground gambling den located on Avery Avenue. Prior to the robbery, Wang allegedly disabled the building’s power supply to aid in the execution of the crime, as reported by the Astoria Post.

Once inside, the perpetrators assaulted one individual with a metal pipe and brandished a firearm, coercing others to comply with their demands. The group then made off with approximately $3,000 in cash before firing a shot that struck an innocent bystander in the abdomen. The victim was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital for medical attention and has since survived the ordeal.

Investigators managed to retrieve surveillance footage capturing Berry, Wang, and their accomplices congregating at a nearby location before proceeding to the gambling den. The footage also captured the suspects fleeing the scene following the robbery.

Astoria Man and Chinese National Detained Pending Further Legal Proceedings

During a hearing at Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors argued that both Berry and Wang posed a significant flight risk if released. They emphasized Wang’s ties to China, pointing out the absence of an extradition treaty between the United States and China, which could complicate efforts to bring him to justice if he were to flee.

Consequently, Wang was ordered to be held in custody, while Berry was placed under home detention pending further legal proceedings. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them, with negotiations for potential plea deals reportedly underway.

This is not the first encounter with law enforcement for Jamel Berry, as he was previously convicted in 2020 for attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

The incident sheds light on the prevalence of illegal gambling dens in neighborhoods like Flushing, which have historically been targeted by armed robbers seeking easy money. 

Despite efforts to crack down on such activities, the allure of illicit gambling continues to attract criminal elements, posing a challenge for law enforcement agencies tasked with maintaining public safety.

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Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, an integrated resort that will operate the casino under the Star Entertainment Group’s brand and logo, was originally slated to open in December 2023, but delays in construction and regulatory headwinds have slowed down the completion rate.

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Will Experience Some Delay

Presently, Destination Brisbane Consortium, which is in charge of the resort, is owned by Star, which holds 50%, along with Hong Kong’s Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium International which own 25% each.

Updating the public, regulators, and partners about the expected delays, Star Group CEO and managing director Robbie Cooke said that the project has pretty much experienced the same pressures that other big projects in Australia suffered over the past months.

“We are disappointed, but this transformational development for Brisbane has been eight years in the making already, and it will be well worth the wait,” the executive said. However, he also gave reasons to be optimistic, assuring that the project will be a true game-changer that draws crowds from all over the world.

The resort is set to arrive at a time when competition in Asia is heating up with Thailand and Japan pressing on with their plans to build integrated resorts and boost their tourism. At the same time, Macau’s gambling sector has taken a hit as part of ample regulatory measures that seek to restrict gambling in order to boost consumer protection and other areas of the economy.

Star Group Still Optimistic about New Completion Schedule

The current delays notwithstanding, Star Group is confident about the project’s new timeline, and has confirmed that there have been specific milestones completed over the past weeks. As the building advances, almost all of the Sky Deck bridge section has been completed too. The 250-metre open-air rooftop runaway features bars and restaurants and can host up to 1,500 people.

The Star previously offered a sneak peek of its Sky Deck in February and has made significant progress on the structure since. The completed property is expected to attract 1.4 million tourists a year and offer a significant economic boost to Queensland.

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A majority of Queens residents would favor a casino near Citi Field in Queens according to a survey conducted on behalf of the group pushing for the casino.

Residents Open to the Casino Idea

The survey was conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research on behalf of New Green Willets, the firm lobbying for the casino plan near Citi Field, from April 7 to April 14 among 600 Queens residents, according to the memo sent by the research agency to the lobbying firm on Monday.

The survey revealed that 78% of the borough residents supported the casino project upon receiving further details of the plan, while 65% of the respondents became more supportive as soon as they had been told that the casino hotel would also feature a live music venue and conference spaces, besides casino gaming.

The memo depicting an overall public openness to a casino in the area did not provide details about residents from which neighborhoods had participated in the survey or a geographical breakdown of the results.

The casino in northern Queens is competing with Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Long Island for one of three $500 downstate casino licenses but two of the licenses are expected to be awarded to existing racinos in Yonkers and southeast Queens, intensifying the competition for the final permit.

The New York State launched the bidding process in January and bids are centered on community input, requiring a two-third approval from a panel of representatives, including the mayor, governor, local Assembly member, state Senator, local City Council member, and the local borough president.

The northern Queens casino project is pushed by New Green Willets, a lobbying company with close ties to the owner of the New York Mets, Steve Cohen, which is working behind the scenes to gather the required public support for the casino planned to be built on 50 blocks of asphalt by the ballpark.

The idea of a casino near Citi Field is not met without resistance: in March, its opponents gathered at a library in Flushing and held a press conference during which they urged the local authorities to reject the plan.

A survey conducted by Siena College in January revealed that support and opposition to a casino in Manhattan was balanced as 38% showed support of the idea and 38% opposed it.

Other candidates for one of the downstate casino licenses are seeking to build a casino in the Bronx and at Coney Island in Brooklyn, but an early favorite is seen in the project seeking to put a casino at the Nassau Coliseum site on Long Island.

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