Ellen Geller Kamaras
The debate surrounding the controversial gambling complex, The Coney, continues, with emotions running high, and both sides reiterating their strong positions.
Pros and Cons
Opponents argue that the casino will only benefit the developers and investors, will change the character of iconic Coney Island, and will result in many harmful consequences to residents, children, families, local businesses, and visitors. The Coney will increase traffic, crime, illegal drugs, and intensify the gambling addiction crisis.
The Coney’s advocates contend that it will improve the quality of life for residents by offering needed economic prospects of new jobs and revitalization to a neighborhood that has grappled with seasonal ebbs and flows.
Public Hearings
Community Board (CB) public hearings began in January in response to Thor Equities’ application to build the 1.3 million square foot gaming facility in the heart of the Coney Island community. Thor plans on converting five acres of the Coney Island Boardwalk into a huge entertainment complex with a casino, convention center, hotel, and music venue. Thor Equities owns the five acres of land at Surf and Stillwell Avenues.
Gaming facility license applications by the eleven developers competing for the three gambling sites in and around NYC are due in the summer.
The application process allows strong community opposition to defeat a casino bid before state regulators can even review the application.
For each application, a local Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was formed to hold public hearings and to issue a formal finding of how much community support the proposed casino has.
At least two-thirds of the committee members must approve the project before state regulators begin evaluating the application.
If a CAC’s determination shows support is lacking, the application will not be forwarded to the NYS Gaming Commission and Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) Board for its review and issuance of a license.
A final decision on the three gambling licenses is expected by the end of 2025.
On the day of the January 9th CB 13 hearing, The Coney Consortium, announced before the hearing that they would create a $200 million community trust fund to support the area provided The Coney is approved. A board of local stakeholders would oversee the trust and decide what the funds would be used for, such as for Boardwalk enhancements and improving neighborhood safety.
Included in CB 13 is our own precious community.
Land Use
The January 9th hearing, held at the Coney Island YMCA, was the first of many, with public participation encouraged, in person or remotely. The hearing addressed a land use application submitted by The Coney developers to facilitate the construction of the casino if it receives a license.
The consortium asked NYC to close and “demap” the three main streets in the amusement zone that connects Surf Avenue to the oceanfront and transform these critical city streets into “landscaped pedestrian walkways” for the casino and the adjoining hotel’s benefit.
This demapping plan would jeopardize the safety of the millions of summer visitors and destroy the existing businesses encircling the casino complex. It would also impede emergency access to the Boardwalk, the beach and the amusement park and would create negative consequences to the nearby public school, disabled parking, and wheelchair accessibility to the Boardwalk and the beach.
Clips posted across social media showed a loud and heated stand-off at the Y with residents and business owners speaking out and disagreeing loudly about The Coney.
Significant Vote
The next CB 13 hearing on The Coney land use occurred on January 15, and a full board vote was convened on January 22. On January 22, CB 13 voted 24-11 against changing land use rules for The Coney. The vote denied Thor Equities’ application to close part of Bowery Street and purchase air rights above existing buildings to pave the way for the gambling facility.
Although the CB’s vote is only advisory and was specifically for the project’s proposed land use, its majority vote hints that a vote on the casino application could yield a similar
outcome. Public approval can significantly influence who will receive the three NYS gaming licenses.
SCF Takes a Stand
While not geographically included in CB 13, the Sephardic Community Federation is firmly opposed to The Coney gambling license application.
SCF has worked tirelessly to preserve the community’s values, protect against addiction risks and economic disruption, and ensure a prosperous and vibrant future for all residents of Southern Brooklyn. They took a leading position in encouraging other community organizations to join their fight against the Coney by creating the No Coney Casino Petition: see SephardicFederation.org..