Ramos Says Queens Casino Could Win Without Her Help

Posted on: April 20, 2025, 06:20h. 

Last updated on: April 20, 2025, 06:20h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.
  • State senator has opposed parkland alienation legislation
  • Admits Metropolitan Park could come to life despite her objections
  • She’s a New York City mayoral candidate

State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), the New York politician that’s long objected to a proposed casino hotel in her borough, said she might not have the ability to stand in the way of legislation that could advance the Metropolitan Park project.

Queens casino
State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens). She said she might not be able to stop a parkland alienation bill that would help a Queens casino bid. (Image: Spectrum News)

In an interview with The New York Post, Ramos admitted she might not have the sway needed to block a recently proposed bill that, if approved, would alienate Willets Point of its parkland classification — something Ramos has consistently opposed.

I don’t know if I have the power to block that legislation,” she told The Post.

In late March, State Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) introduced a bill that seeks to strip the parking lots around the New York Mets home field of their parkland classification and apply commercial zoning classification to that space. His proposal is viewed as a potentially significant catalyst for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park plan, which is being spearheaded by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International.

Queens Casino Parkland Alienation Doesn’t Need Ramos’s Support

Metropolitan Park and at least one other New York City-area casino proposal are dealing with parkland classification issues. Those designations need to be stripped in order for those bids to proceed.

Under New York law, efforts to alter parkland classification must occur through the legislative process. However, there are no stipulations that the bills must be introduced by a lawmaker representing the area in question. Specific to the Metropolitan Park plan, Ramos acknowledged that her colleague Liu’s district would be affected by the casino plan. He represents Flushing, but just a small part of his district includes Citi Field.

“It does impact his district. It’s not like it was introduced by someone from a different geography,” she told The Post. “He has a direct vested interest in what happens there. We are having a profound disagreement about this. I disagree with him. I think he’s wrong.”

When he introduced his bill last month, Liu acknowledged he has a sound working relationship with Ramos, but added that there’s support for Metropolitan Park among Queens locals — a proclamation that runs counter to some of the state senator’s previous claims about the project.

Queens Casino Adding Tailwinds

Ramos’s acknowledgement that she might not be able to do much to block the parkland alienation bill adds to what’s been a favorable stretch of news flow for Metropolitan Park. Soon after Liu unveiled his legislation last month, Cohen and Hard Rock announced a partnership with a New York real estate developer, introducing an affordable housing component to the gaming venue plan — one that wasn’t included in the original proposal.

The casino backers noted Slate Property Group, LLC could build 450 affordable residences two miles from the proposed site of Metropolitan Park. It’s possible that proposal proves accretive to the Cohen/Hard Rock bid.

Additionally, recent New York City mayoral polls show former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) leading, which could be supportive of the gaming industry’s ambitions in the city because he long endorsed the idea of Las Vegas-style gaming venues in the largest US city.