Bally’s Bronx Casino Bid Clears Key Hurdle with Boost from NYC Mayor

New York City Mayor Eric Adams stepped in at a critical time to help secure a crucial City Council vote. This vote might open the door for Bally’s Corporation to construct a big casino on the site of a former Trump-branded golf course in the Bronx.

Despite Opposition, Council Approves Measure Aiding Bally’s Casino Proposal

The Council passed a home rule resolution on June 11. This resolution allows the state Legislature to consider a law that would let Bally’s repurpose parkland at Ferry Point. Such measures need a two-thirds majority. However, the mayor’s official support lowered the bar to a simple majority. The final tally showed 32 votes in favor, 12 against, and seven abstentions, reported the New York Post.

Bally’s aims to vie for one of three downstate casino licenses the state plans to give out later this year. Their pitch includes a 500,000-square-foot space for gambling, a hotel with 500 rooms, a spa, shops, a venue for shows that seats 2,000 people, and lots of parking space. The project, which they think will cost about $4 billion, is one of at least eight expected bids.

While the plan has support from a number of Bronx officials, including Majority Leader Amanda Farías and state lawmakers who represent the area, it met strong opposition from Council Member Kristy Marmorato, whose district includes the proposed location. Marmorato slammed what she called a push by Bally’s and its lobbyists to bypass local worries and said the process undermined community input.

Clock Ticking on Bally’s Casino Plan as Parkland Status Holds Up Progress

It is worth mentioning that the land in question still holds the official designation of public parkland, which means the state must pass a “parkland alienation” bill to allow any construction to begin. The resolution that the City Council passed now lets state lawmakers look into such legislation before their session ends later this month.

People also worried about Bally’s acquisition of the Ferry Point golf course from the Trump Organization in 2023. If Bally’s gets a casino license, the Trump Organization will get $115 million more because of that deal. Even with this link, the mayor’s office said he wanted to make sure all casino applicants had a fair chance.

A spokesperson for the mayor said Adams wants to bring union jobs and money to the city, no matter which plan the state picks. Bally’s welcomed the council’s choice and thanked officials for seeing what they called a “big chance” for the Bronx.

The state legislature faces a tight window to take action on the parkland bill before the casino license application cutoff on June 27. If lawmakers do not give their approval, Bally’s proposal would lose its shot at consideration.