Bally’s Bronx Casino Bid to Continue After NYC Mayor Vetoed Council’s Decision

On Wednesday, New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, vetoed the City Council’s decision on the zoning measure related to the Bally’s casino in the Bronx, enabling the $4 billion project to move forward.

Mayor Vetoes Council’s Decision for Bally’s Bronx Casino

According to the statement by the mayor, the City Council’s decision to treat the Bronx differently from other boroughs contradicts the publicly stated support of the borough’s president and several councilmembers representing working-class neighborhoods throughout the Bronx. The statement further criticizes the Council for rejecting the land use application for the Bronx casino bid while approving three others in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. He argues that such actions unfairly influence the outcome. Adams’ statement concludes that this kind of selective approval is exactly what causes New Yorkers to lose trust in their elected officials.

Adams’ veto follows the City Council’s rejection of a zoning change two weeks earlier, which was an approval Bally’s needed to continue its bid for a gaming license. The state is expected to issue three gaming licenses for the New York City area by the end of the year, with eight applicants currently competing for those spots.

For the time being, the Bally’s Bronx proposal, which involves constructing a casino at the company’s golf course in Throggs Neck, will advance to the next stage of the selection process. A local committee, made up of representatives from elected officials in the area, including the mayor, will now vote to either approve or reject the project. If the committee approves it, the proposal will move on to the state Gaming Facility Location Board, which will make the final decision on the awarding of a license.

Perhaps it should be noted that the mayor’s campaign attorney, Vito Pitta, is serving as a lobbyist for the project, while campaign chairman Frank Carone has also done work for the company’s chairman.

Some Oppose the Casino’s Construction

The Bally’s project faces strong opposition from local Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who successfully persuaded the City Council to vote against the proposal. She persuaded the City Council to reject the proposal through a practice known as member deference, in which the full council customarily follows the lead of the local representative on land use decisions within their district.

Marmorato has characterized the proposal as a “predatory development,” despite the bid receiving backing from other elected officials in the Bronx. In addition, City Council spokeswoman Mara Davis said in a statement that “the mayor’s words have no credibility” and added that “the Council will consider its next steps regarding this land-use application.”