On Wednesday, New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, vetoed the City Council’s decision on the zoning measure related to the Bally’s casino in the Bronx, allowing the $4 billion project to proceed.
Mayor Vetoes Council’s Decision for Bally’s Bronx Casino
According to the mayor, the City Council’s move to treat the Bronx differently from other boroughs contradicts the publicly stated support of the borough’s president and several councilmembers representing working-class neighborhoods throughout the Bronx. The statement criticizes the Council for rejecting the land use application for the Bronx casino bid while approving three others in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, arguing that such actions unfairly influence the outcome. Adams’ statement concludes that this kind of selective approval leads to New Yorkers losing trust in their elected officials.
Adams’ veto follows the City Council’s rejection of a zoning change two weeks earlier, which Bally’s needed to continue its bid for a gaming license. The state plans to issue three gaming licenses for the New York City area by the end of the year, with eight applicants competing for those spots.
Currently, the Bally’s Bronx proposal, which aims to build a casino at the company’s golf course in Throggs Neck, will move to the next stage of the selection process. A local committee, comprising representatives from elected officials in the area, including the mayor, will vote to either approve or reject the project. If the committee approves, the proposal will advance to the state Gaming Facility Location Board, which will decide on the awarding of a license.
It should be noted that the mayor’s campaign attorney, Vito Pitta, is acting as a lobbyist for the project, while campaign chairman Frank Carone has also worked for the company’s chairman.
Some Oppose the Casino’s Construction
The Bally’s project encounters strong opposition from local Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who convinced the City Council to vote against the proposal through a practice known as member deference, where the full council typically follows the local representative’s lead on land use decisions within their district.
Marmorato has labeled the proposal as a “predatory development,” despite support from other elected officials in the Bronx. Additionally, City Council spokeswoman Mara Davis stated that “the mayor’s words have no credibility” and added that “the Council will consider its next steps regarding this land-use application.”
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- Source: SCCGManagement.com