NEW YORK (WABC) — The first two downstate casino proposals to receive Community Advisory Committee approval advanced in separate votes in Yonkers and Queens on Thursday.
Unlike three Manhattan casino proposals, all defeated in identical 4-2 votes, the casinos in Yonkers and at Aqueduct Raceway in Queens both survived the crucial vote, which advances them to the state’s four-member Gaming Facility Location Board, set to choose up to three locations in the New York City region on Dec. 1.
The Empire City Casino and Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct have attracted less local opposition than the Manhattan proposals, which were all rejected by the community panels, tasked with reviewing each plan and weighing public sentiment.
Not only are the two the first two applicants to emerge from the CACs, but they also advanced with unanimous approval.
They are among the five remaining bids up for community approval by the end of next week.
Casino proposals in Throgs Neck in the Bronx and one backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen next to Citi Field in Queens have strong community backing and are also expected to be approved.
Separately, the group backing The Coney in Coney Island all but acknowledged they will not be approved because of too much community opposition.
Asked whether requiring Community Advisory Committee approval set up the Manhattan casinos to fail, Gov. Kathy Hochul said earlier this week that “there is strong interest” in “communities who support” having a casino, which will bring jobs and other benefits, as well as traffic and other potential headaches.
“The communities have spoken, these are their neighborhoods, its their livelihood, its where they raise their kids and their voices have been heard, the process continues,” Hochul said.
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