UFT teacher’s union opposes Times Square casino proposal

Union President Michael Mulgrew spoke to local news outlets about how a potential casino would ‘undermine’ the Theater District and diminish the power of Broadway.

United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew has taken a stance against a proposed casino being placed in Times Square, which could have an effect on the Theater District in New York City. 

Mulgrew told local news outlets that a potential casino set in Times Square would “undermine” the Theater District and diminish the power of Broadway. He also stated that he does not oppose the idea of a casino being placed somehwere other than Times Square, however. 

The teacher’s union President spoke on the Broadway League’s programs that provide students access to shows, such as Broadway Bridges, and seeks to give every public school 10th grader an opportunity to see a performance before graduation.

The proposed casino Mulgrew directly opposed is being funded by Caesars Entertainment, SL Green and Roc Nation. It represents one of three downstate casino licenses the New York Gaming Commission is expected to approve by the end of 2025. 

The state will get a minimum upfront $500m from each bidder awarded a casino license, with proceeds going to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 

Good to know: New York Governor Kathy Hochul shot down a bill that would have accelerated the process for casino bids in New York City on November 26

Other projects include the Wynn Resorts and Related Companies’ proposal to build a $12bn gaming complex in Hudson Yards, New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen’s plan to build an $8bn casino-entertainment complex in Queens and the Las Vegas Sands’ pitch to convert the Nassau Veterans Memorial Museum Coliseum into a casino complex, among others. 

A spokesperson for the Caesars Palace Times Square project stated that the UFT “didn’t do its homework” on the project and that a new entertainment destination would grow the Broadway audience instead of diminish it.

Kirk Geller

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