Steve Cohen’s Citi Field casino plan clears major hurdle at New York Senate

A bill crucial to Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $8 billion plan to build a casino and entertainment district next to Citi Field passed the New York State Senate on Tuesday in a 54–5 vote, marking a step forward for the long-debated development. The measure, which previously cleared the Assembly, now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul for consideration.

The legislation would allow New York City to reclassify 50 acres of public parkland currently serving as parking lots around the stadium, paving the way for Cohen and his partner, Hard Rock International, to move ahead with their proposal. The bill requires that 20 acres be converted into usable public park space.

“This is just the start, and we are committed to working closely with the community and fans every step of the way,” Cohen said following the vote. “After years of community engagement, thousands of conversations, and the leadership of our local elected officials, we are one step closer to transforming these asphalt lots into something our neighbors can truly be proud of.”

Despite broad support in the chamber, the project continues to face opposition, especially from local Senator Jessica Ramos, whose district encompasses much of the proposed development site. Ramos criticized the plan during an emotional speech on the Senate floor, arguing that the community deserves more thoughtful development than a casino.

Rendering of the proposed development

“After decades of public neglect, it feels like the first serious proposal on the table is a casino. That is not the kind of development that my community deserves,” Ramos said. “Casinos may bring lights, but they also bring shadows.”

Ramos, along with Senators Joe Addabbo, Jabari Brisport, Cordelle Cleare, and Liz Krueger, all Democrats, voted against the measure. Addabbo, who chairs the Senate gaming committee, emphasized that decisions of this magnitude should take local perspectives into account. Krueger voiced broader concerns about the state’s reliance on gambling for economic development, stating: “The house always wins.”

The plan includes a High Line-style pedestrian and bicycle bridge connecting Downtown Flushing and Willets Point, alongside the casino, park, and entertainment amenities. Supporters say the proposal would generate over a billion dollars in infrastructure improvements, while creating thousands of jobs and new opportunities for small businesses.

State Senator John Liu, who sponsored the bill and represents part of the site, said it would “create thousands of jobs for local residents and opportunities for local small businesses, and provide over a billion dollars in transit, park, and other infrastructure improvements.”

Rendering of the proposed development

The vote follows an extensive lobbying campaign by Cohen and his partners, who have spent more than $3.3 million over two years on more than a dozen lobbying and consulting firms, including entities tied to former state and city officials.

Cohen’s project is one of nine proposals vying for three downstate casino licenses, which the New York State Gaming Commission is expected to award later this year. While Hochul has not publicly taken a stance, her office said the measure will be reviewed. Cohen is a major donor to the state Democratic Committee, chaired by Hochul.

Community opposition remains vocal. Alexis Kaloyanides, a Jackson Heights resident involved in organizing against the project, said: “I think the message it sends is that our elected leaders are more in line with a billionaire developer than they are the working-class neighbors in our community.”

Ramos echoed that sentiment during the vote, stating: “This is not about a building or a parcel of parkland. It’s about power. It’s about whether communities like mine are treated as partners or as pawns.”