#GETTING TO FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK LICENSE#

The civic leaders are especially outraged by Cohen characterizing the land at issue not as public parkland, but merely as “50 acres of vacant asphalt.” The 50 acres in question – the former site of Shea Stadium – are not only leased for parking operations at Citi Field, but also host numerous events, including carnivals and fairs, para-athletic sports matches and a variety of other public uses. We will expose such deceptions every step of the way.” “He’s soliciting public opinion, without disclosing that his plans impact public parkland, or that his true ambition is a casino. “We believe that Steve Cohen is trying to create a perception of public support for a vague concept of an ‘entertainment venue’ – but that he may later misrepresent that as support for a casino to be built on the parkland,” said Jena Lanzetta, a Bayside community activist. It also comes one year after numerous Queens civic groups first notified the NYS Gaming Commission of strong objections to siting a casino in the vicinity of Citi Field stadium, including on the public parkland.Īlthough Cohen’s visioning session will be held just as the Gaming Facilities Location Board is accepting applications for three downstate casino licenses, and although Cohen reportedly intends to submit an application to construct a casino on parkland surrounding Citi Field, Cohen’s press release for his upcoming “visioning session” conspicuously lacks any specific mention of building a casino on the parkland – instead vaguely referring to an “entertainment” venue on “50 acres of vacant asphalt.” Their announcement of opposition comes days before Mets owner Steve Cohen will hold a “visioning session” to advance his desired development scenarios for that parkland. Queens, New York – Prominent civic leaders have organized to oppose the construction of a casino or other commercial structures on the public parkland surrounding Citi Field stadium. A downloadable copy of our letter with supporting documentation may be found here. Save Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is writing to the Location Board to ensure it is aware at this early stage of strong opposition to siting a casino in the Citi Field area, and the reasons why. (The Location Board's choices then go to the Gaming Commission for final approval.)

#GETTING TO FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK LICENSE#

Once casino license applications are received, those that survive the upcoming Community Advisory Committee process, and then obtain any necessary land use approvals, will be evaluated by the Location Board, which will eventually choose which of the remaining applicants receive casino licenses. With 3 members in place, the Location Board can issue a Request for Applications for casino licenses and did so on January 3. So far, the Gaming Commission has appointed 3 members (out of a maximum 5) of the Gaming Facility Location Board: Quenia A. Therefore, we are providing those written responses directly to the Location Board members now and will continue to supply them with information as circumstances warrant. Save Flushing Meadows-Corona Park cannot presume that the Location Board members ever saw the written objections to the Citi Field area that were submitted in 2021. That feedback includes objections of civic groups to the Citi Field area as a potential casino site.Īlthough numerous civic organizations submitted written objections to the Gaming Commission in 2021 in response to its Request for Information, the Commission never prepared the report of the results of the RFI that was to be distributed to the state legislature and the governor. (Flushing NY, January 29, 2023) Save FMCP, a coalition of concerned groups and residents committed to protecting public parkland at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, has submitted the feedback received by the Gaming Commission in 2021 to the members of the Gaming Facility Location Board and has also made it publicly available.

Getting to flushing meadows corona park