Local politicians spar at second hearing for Bally’s Bronx casino bid

Approximately 90 speakers went before the Bally’s Bronx community advisory committee on Tuesday night during the New York casino bid’s second public hearing, held about two weeks after the first hearing.

However, none of the residents, union leaders, community organisers or other attendees could match the vitriol between opposing local politicians that began the hearing. At one point, the CAC announced police had been called to help calm the situation at the American Turners building on Clarence Avenue. This was followed by a short recess.

In some ways, the political back and forth is symbolic of the proposal itself. The only reason the bid made it to the CAC phase was because of two interventions by New York Mayor Eric Adams. In the first instance, he lowered the threshold of support needed for a city council vote, and he later vetoed another down vote altogether.

The Bally’s project is one of eight applicants for three downstate New York casino licences to be issued by the state by year’s end, but it can only proceed for consideration if the CAC votes to support it later this month.

The chief opponent of Bally’s Bronx is City Council member Kristy Marmorato. She has criticised the project at every opportunity, especially in light of Adams’ assistance. On Tuesday, Marmorato gave an impassioned speech decrying the casino for several minutes, well beyond the two-minute threshold given to non-officials.

“From day one, this project has failed to answer real concerns of our community,” she said. “What’s being proposed is the country’s largest casino, to be built on public parkland. This will fundamentally alter life in our neighbourhood as we know it.”

Septimo, Tapia offer counterpoint in support

To Marmorato’s point, Bally’s Bronx does have ambitious plans. Its $4 billion price tag would represent the largest private investment the borough has ever seen. At 500,000 square feet, the casino would be the largest in the US by size, but there are multiple properties with more than 3,500 slots, as is proposed.

In any case, the size and scope of the project has the potential to be a massive economic driver for the Bronx, New York City’s poorest borough. That is why supporters like Assemblymembers Amanda Septimo and Yudelka Tapia, who also passionately testified for several minutes each, have not been pleased with Marmorato’s opposition.

“At its core, this project is the largest economic development project in the borough’s history,” Septimo said amid the ruckus. “There has never been development this big in our borough’s history. I want to focus on the fact that this is an opportunity for our community that other communities get all the time.”

Septimo’s sentiments are nearly identical to the reasoning given by Adams for keeping the project alive. The mayor said in a statement that he vetoed the city council vote because the denial “deprive[d] the Bronx of the ability to even compete” for one of the three available licences. Of the eight bids, Bally’s is the only one located in the Bronx.

The project is pledging 15,000 construction jobs and 4,000 permanent positions, which are on the higher end of the field of bids. If approved, the casino would become the borough’s second-largest private employer.

“These are union jobs with health care, benefits and real career pathways that can sustain Bronx families and that’s my priority, our families,” Tapia said.

Taking the good with the bad for Bally’s Bronx

For Bally’s, its relationship with the Bronx is two-sided. The negative side is its seemingly inevitable trudge forward that no political manoeuvring or public opposition can stop. The positive comes from its partnerships with local groups, as well as its $8.5 million donation to save the local Preston High School from closure. Both of these sides were illustrated on Tuesday.

“Bally’s plan ensures that more Bronx children grow up in environments that nurture, not endanger, their potential,” testified Jennifer Santos, general manager of the local Legacy Volleyball Club. “I ask you to approve this project for the sake of our kids.”

Numerous Legacy employees, athletes and parents of athletes also spoke in support, perhaps 20 or more. A similar number of Preston students and parents spoke at the previous hearing.

The community board phase, in which each New York project went before its applicable municipal groups, was also divided when considering Bally’s. Community Board 9, for instance, was supportive.

“Beyond employment, the proposal also includes meaningful investments in public space and infrastructure improvements. Community Board 9 stands firmly behind this project,” said Mitchell Halpern, chair of CB9’s land and zoning committee.

Who is opposing the Bronx casino?

Community Board 10, however, was opposed, and voted against the project by a hefty margin in March.

“We are opposed to a casino in Ferry Point,” testified former CB10 member Andrew Tirico. “I’ve also given you two petitions, 880 signatures and 30 written statements by people who live in the community. When CB10 held their two hearings, their vote was overwhelmingly against having a casino in Ferry Point.”

The residents who were opposed seemed like they had been put in a tough spot. None seemed to dispute the fact that the Bronx lags behind its neighbouring boroughs and that it has limited career opportunities. Many were current or former union members who sympathised with their labour colleagues.

But the combination of the casino element, Bally’s history as a company and the proposal’s unseemly political connections was too much for many to accept.

“So what you’re gonna get a job? You do not live here, we live here,” said resident LaVerne Francis. “We do not need that kind of problems around here. And Kristy [Marmorato] knows it and that’s why she voted against it.”

Under state law, the bid’s CAC has now completed its obligation of hosting two hearings. The committee may choose to hold more before its 30 September vote deadline, but only if deemed necessary. A two-thirds majority vote of approval from the CAC is required to advance to state consideration.