Mayor Eric Adams Vetoes Council Decision Rejecting Bally’s Casino Bid

Mayor Eric Adams stacked some chips in favor of Bally’s on Wednesday after vetoing a decision by the New York City Council that essentially killed the company’s casino proposal.

Just weeks after City Council members rejected Bally’s request for a zoning change that have would let them convert golf course land in the Bronx into a casino, Adams used his executive powers to give the proposal a fighting chance to win one of the three available downstate gaming permits.

Adams suggested that the City Council had left the Bronx at a disadvantage by rejecting the rezoning, depriving the borough of economic opportunity from an increased number of jobs and tourism dollars hitting the former Trump Organization-operated parkland.

“A casino in New York City would bring good-paying union jobs and an economic boost to the surrounding community, which is why I have long advocated for a fair process with as many competitive bids as possible,” Adams said in a statement. “By rejecting the land use application for this casino bid while approving three others in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, the City Council is putting its finger on the scale — and this is precisely the type of action that leads New Yorkers to lose faith in their elected leaders.”

Bally’s had planned to invest $4 billion to build a 500-room hotel and a 500,000-square-foot casino space while creating 4,000 permanent union positions, on top of the 15,000 construction jobs at work while building is underway.

Adams also said his decision was driven in part by requests from the chairs of the City Council Land Use Committee and Subcommittee on Zoning.

But New York City Council’s response brought attention to the tension between the governing body and the mayor after Adams backtracked on the plans redevelop the Elizabeth Street Garden as affordable housing for seniors in June.

“Despite the self-serving claims about housing and land use by Mayor Adams and his second Charter Revision Commission in less than two years, Mayor Adams has issued the first and only land use veto during his tenure for a casino applicant, not housing,” City Council spokesperson Mara Davis said in a statement. “This administration’s hypocrisy and unethical conduct is well documented and has been witnessed by all New Yorkers, so the mayor’s words have no credibility.”

The council vote on July 15 almost held a veto-proof majority, which is when the body adopts legislation with 34 members in support. When the zoning measure was voted on, 29 council members disapproved of the zoning, nine were in favor, and four abstained.

Bally’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The land in question was the Trump Golf Links Ferry Point until September 2023, when the city, which owns the land, bought the organization out of a 20-year contract that had been signed in 2015.

Republican Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who represents the district, led the charge against the casino proposal, saying that the development lacked real community benefits like housing or a hospital, Crain’s New York Business reported at the time.

The $4 billion private investment was projected to deliver 15,000 union construction jobs, 4,000 permanent union jobs, and more than $625 million in community benefits — including millions in funding for schools, parks, youth programs, nonprofits and public safety.

The deadline for applications with the New York State Gaming Commission was in late June, with community advisory boards expected to approve plans by Sept. 30 and a final decision to be made by the state by Dec. 1.

Eight proposals have been submitted to the gaming commission.

Mark Hallum can be reached at mhallum@commercialobserver.com.