The local population rejects Coney Island Casino during the last public hearing

By Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper

Brawls broke out in the full Coney Island YMCA on Wednesday evening during the second and final public meeting of the CONEY Community Advisory Committee.

A little more than 100 people testified during the four -hour hearing, and dozens were still waiting outside, unable to enter after the room reached capacity. The majority of speakers – about 85 – expressed their opposition against the proposed casino, with about 25 in favor.

For months the locals have spared with developers, chosen officials and each other about the fate of the project. The first CAC hearing on 26 August was heatedAnd tensions that were cooked during the hearing of 10 September, while Coney Islanders fought their last arguments at the six-member CAC, who must vote on whether or not to promote the Casino license application for September 30.

Speakers on both sides struggled to make themselves heard about the crowd of the crowd, and police officers had to separate skirmishes at least twice and remove those present from the meetings.

“This should have ended for you when violence broke out,” a speaker told the Casino team. “Because you bring that. You bring anger, you bring people who are so thirsty to jobs that they become violent with people.”

The proposal of the cone

De Coney, supported by a team of developers led by Thor Equities, would extend over 1.6 million square feet and include a casino, congress center, hotel, restaurants and retail space.

Developers have said that, if approved, the coney would create a $ 200 million Community TrustAnd book a number of new jobs for residents of Coney Island. Last week, developers announced that the local population would be able to buy ownership shares from the casino and, just before the Wednesday meeting, said that it would be $ 10 million for building a ferry station on Coney Island.

In June, the city council approved A redevelopment that causes the Ceary to, if he receives a license, to build larger, larger buildings as part of the project. Local Community Board 13 had voted earlier overwhelming against The re -use.

The task of the CAC is to assess the public support of the project and to decide whether or not the license request of the project should be made to the full of the State Gaming Facility Location Board. Two -thirds of the committee must vote yes to continue the application.

Split locals on proposed jobs, economic investments
Although developers say that the Ceany would offer thousands of jobs and all year round economic opportunities to the playground of the people, opponents fear that it would dispel small companies and make the NABE unlivable for the local population.

“The only thing that will bring Casino to Coney Island is increased congestion, enormous traffic, more crime, especially robberies against seniors, tons of mental problems, tons of bankruptcies,” said former councilor Ari Kagan. “And don’t tell me about jobs. You can go to Atlantic City and see how many jobs are made in Atlantic City.”

Many were skeptical about the number of jobs that the casino would create for residents of Coney Island. Developers say that the CONEY would bring 4,500 building tracks and 4,000 permanent jobs, of which 2,300 would be full -time.

But although developers said that 25 percent of the permanent jobs would go to Coney Islanders, the casino license application Says that only 9 percent of employees would come from Coney Island and Gravesend.

“The jobs will not save you,” said old resident and artist Sheila Maldonado. “We already know that those jobs are not the real number that they say … I do not understand what value it entails, except to cover the bags of billionaires, to serve as a tax care, to accommodate money for the few people who get it, and the rest will be broken and will become bamboo.”

But others said the jobs are desperately needed. Sean Campbell, an executive representative of the NYC District Council of Carpenters, said that Coney Island has had to deal with “decades of disinvestment, high unemployment and limited opportunities.”

Building workers in the area have long been ‘used’ by predatory contractors who have given priority to profit above paying employees, he said.

“Building workers at the coney would be compensated with fair wages, benefits, protection and especially dignity, something that all employees earn,” Campbell said.

Dick Zigun, the ‘Non -Selected Mayor’ of Coney Island, said that he lived and worked on the peninsula for almost 50 years. Zigun founded the art organization Coney Island USA and the iconic mermaid parade, but left of the org -That is avid anti-casino-in 2022.

“I am also an entrepreneur and a realist who has always supported new growth and new attractions,” said Zigun. “I want it all here. It was all here before. Both the West End and entertainment were poorly treated by Robert Moses and by the city, but we have to stop fighting.”

Zigun said the casino would encourage the neighborhood by bringing more tourists to the area and believes that it would also benefit the locals by bringing more congress, entertainment and jobs.

“I’m scared, really scared, about what happens if we don’t get this one-off mega investment,” he said.

Some speakers said the Ceary had caught a different kind of economic investments – people pay to speak for the casino during the hearing.

“$ 80. That is the amount that the pro-Casino side is paid,” said Malik Hassanm, executive director of Mas Brooklyn. “Don’t believe my word. They told me. I was outside, they immediately told me that they get $ 80.”

Patrick Wall, executive director of Coney Island USA, said that the casino, with restaurants and entertainment inside, would give visitors no reason to leave and visit near small companies and attractions.

‘We know people be paid To say good things about this casino, “Wall said.” We know that former public officials are being paid to say good things about this casino. We know that active politicians have had donations From this casino. If you are paid to say good things about this, how good can this be for the community under those conditions? “

Joe Sitt, the founder of Thor Equities, criticized various locals.

In the 2000s, Sitt bought dozens of hectares of land in Coney Island and, after a long fight, sold 6.9 Hectare from that country to the city as part of the re -use of Coney Island 2009. In exchange for the sale, the then mayor Mike Bloomberg agreed to make one of the property of Sitt in Rezone to make way for a large hotel.

But the hotel never came and the locals have long Sleed his Not to leave his property for years. On September 9 News broken that Thor shares can lose another From the properties from Manhattan to shielding.

“Our exhibition center is surrounded by various Thor shares filled with waste, rats and illegal companies,” said Charles Denson, executive director of the Coney Island History Project. “Only Joe Sitt, the shield king, could come up with a casino scam that would make it worse.”

Christian Molieri, a resident of Brighton Beach and member of Community Board 13 and the Polar Bears of Coney Island, said that the Nabe has a hard time – but does not feel that the casino is the solution.

“This proposal uses every crack in our already vulnerable infrastructure,” he said. “Poverty, under -financed schools, overloaded health systems and a home crisis that pushes families to the edge.”

Sheila Smalls, president of the O’dwyer Gardens Tenant Association, said that the project is a chance to “recover what has been lost over the years”.

“What I see in this vision of the Ceary and the training that I have received from the company is that they will give us money back to renovate our Coney Island,” she said. “Investments back in Coney Island to help us. Investing in this community means a better future for our children to elevate our community.”

The next steps
The hearing ended after four hours, while the YMCA prepared to close for the night. A number of people had registered to speak, but did not get the chance, said councilor Justin Brannan, chairman of the CAC, and were encouraged to submit their comments online.

The CAC must make their voice before September 30. If four of the six committee members vote, yes, the CONEY application will be further revised by the Gaming Facility Location Boardwho will make its final decisions by the end of the year.

A total of eight casinos, including the coney, compete for three gaming letters. Two existing casinos – Empire City in Yonkers and Resorts World in Queens, both of which currently offer limited options, but would be able to add live table games if they received a license – are considered leaders.

“After a productive CAC -public meeting process, De Coney is pleased to continue to move its proposal forward,” said spokesperson Robert Busweiler in a statement. “Time and again we have heard the need for jobs, economic development, staff training and community support … De Coney is looking forward to continuous involvement in the Coney Island community.”

Note from the editors: a version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn paper. Click here To see the original story.

Related stories

E -Mail tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner X And Instagramand like us on Facebook.