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32 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE casinos inNYCboroughs. The amendment needs tobe passed through community boards and borough presidents’ offices and adopted by the Commission itself before the NYC Council votes on it. Recap of the Casino Application and Award Process The Coney details depend on a request for proposals (RFA) issued by the NYS Gaming Commission in January 2023. The approval process was anticipated to be lengthy, and a determination was expected later in 2023 at the earliest. As of December 21, 2023, no determination was issued. Joe Sitt, a Coney Island native and real estate developer for Thor Equities, is vying for one of the three downstate casino licenses. His goal is to turn Coney Island into a year-round destination instead of its current status as a summertime hangout, primarily limited to the boardwalk. Thor expects to spend $3 billion to redevelop five acres that would include a casino, a roller coaster, an indoor water park, hotels, and museums. The Gaming Facility Location Board was tasked to oversee the application process and select the three NYC casino sites. After its review, theBoardwill make recommendations to theGaming Commission, which is authorized to decide which licenses to award. The conditions required for the Gaming Commission to approve a casino application include gaining public support from community advisory committees and compliance with state and local zoning laws.  ApplicantstothisRFAmustfirstbeapproved by a community advisory committee and complete the municipal zoning process before the evaluation of any applications. The application process allows strong community opposition to defeat a casino bid before state regulators can even review the application. A local Community Advisory Committee was formed to hold public hearings for each application, and to issue formal findings 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. Community Feedback Community Board 13 Chairperson of Coney Island, Lucy Diaz, declared: “We don’t want what Atlantic City has. We’re already drowning in traffic half the year. Now you want to bring more traffic in. We don’t want it.” Robert Cornegy, a former NYC council member, is a consultant for The Coney and describes his support for the casino in altruistic terms, committing to an economic development agenda. He has knocked on over 16,300 doors to get 4,000 physical signatures in favor of the casino. As of August 23, 2023, the number of signatures reached 10,000. Local Opposition Last April 26th, Community Board 13 members voted online on an official resolution opposing the Coney. The resolution passed by an overwhelming vote of 23-8, rejecting the casino proposal. The Community Board’s resolution is non-binding, has no legal bearing, and cannot singlehandedly stop the casino project. However, Community Board 13 includes many local politicians who will have a legal say in the future and the Community Board’s vote does not look promising for the project. Former Councilman Ari Kagan backed the Community Board’s majority vote arguing The Coney will bring more traffic, crime, and mental health problems. The Sephardic Community Federation took a firm stand against the proposed casino. Spearheading the “No Coney Casino” initiative, the SCF launched the website noconeycasino.com , urging all community members to sign a petition protesting the casino’s approval. Thor expects The Coney to bring 4,000 union jobs to the neighborhood. Cornegy believes they will be decent paying, year-round jobs in hospitality, hotel, and gaming. In response, Community Board 13 Chair Diaz says these jobs are not necessarily the best match for the community. Another concern is that approximately 11,000 of Community Board 13 residents live in NYCHA housing. Applying for casino jobs may lead to these residents losing their rent subsidies. A growing number of Coney Island residents are against The Coney, claiming it would usher in a wave of gentrification that also destroys Coney Island’s unique character. Your Influence Counts As American baseball superstar Yogi Berra succinctly put it, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Developers are confident that the draw of promised financial gain, more jobs, and urban renewal will lure Coney Islanders into supporting The Coney’s bid for a mega casino complex. Detractors site strong community opposition to the project due to fears of more crime, traffic, pollution, and questionable financial gain as an indicator that it will not pan out. Wewill all have towait and see. In the meantime, you can make your voice heard. What Can You Do? Sign the “No Coney Casino” petition electronically, which takes only 30 seconds. Go to www.noconeycasino. com/#SignthePetition . Contact the officials below to find out who is representing you at the Community Advisory Committee meetings. Communicate your questions and concerns to: 1. NY State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, 718-727-9406 2. Assemblyman Michael Novakhov (District 45), 718-743-4078 3. Local City Council member Justin Brannan (District 47), 718-307-7151 4. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, 718-802–3700 5. Mayor Eric Adams, 311 6. Governor Kathy Hochul, 518-474-8390 “We don’t want what Atlantic City has…” - Community Board 13 Chairperson of Coney Island, Lucy Diaz