Members of the local community are sounding the alarm over the proposed $3bn Coney Island casino development.
Longtime Coney Island resident, Ann Michelle Valdez, told News 12 Long Island, “Put money into this property to build something for the community that would involve the youth, so they don’t turn to doing negative things.”
Developers, political leaders and members of the public met to discuss the project on June 28 at the Golden Crown Restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. The proposed development would include a hotel, casino and entertainment venue on Coney Island’s iconic boardwalk.
Developers say the project will bring thousands of temporary construction jobs and permanent jobs to the area.
Robert Cornegy, a partner on a pro-casino task force, told Brooklyn Paper, “Being able to bring decent paying, year-round jobs is something that I feel like I am compelled to push and demand." He also added, “For people of color, black people in particular, labor has created [a] pathway to the middle class in a lot of different industries. The hotel trade is one of the more lucrative opportunities.”
He said jobs associated with the project could offer wages upwards of $30 an hour with benefits that would lift local residents out of poverty.
Cornegy said, “We could potentially miss an opportunity to open up the hospitality industry for a borough that has its own brand." He added, “The ability to match that brand with opportunities in the hotel and hospitality industry is something that we can’t look away from or we shouldn’t look away from.”
But some community members fear the project will bring more traffic, crime and gambling addiction to the area.
For example, the Chairperson for Community Board 13, Lucy Mujica Diaz, argued that the number of jobs promised is being oversold.
Diaz told Brooklyn Paper, “I don’t think it would be a good fit for some of the people because there are still unanswered questions.”
Valdez said she believes the project will only enrich a few people.
She told Brooklyn Paper, “These developers that are coming in here, the majority of them are only looking to put money in their pockets." She added, "They’re not looking to uplift us. Instead, they’re looking to create havoc here because with a casino people here that are living low to middle income are going to spend up their money and they’re going to wind up evicted.”
She also told Pix 11, “Money is gonna go in. Money is not gonna come out.”
The project is in the preliminary proposal stage. Developers are finishing their Request for Application and awaiting the state to announce a submission date.
