The New York Community Advisory Committee (CAC) recently voted 2 to 4 to reject Thor Equities' bid to build a casino complex in Coney Island. This is the fourth project to be rejected in the New York State casino license review process and one of the proposals with the lowest local support so far. This result will prevent the Coney Island project from entering the state government review stage, while the other three projects have been approved by the committee.
Event Overview and Voting Results
In the recent Community Advisory Committee (CAC) vote, Thor Equities' Coney Island casino project was not approved with a vote of 2 to 4. The project planned to invest $3.4 billion to build a casino complex in Coney Island, and was one of eight proposals competing for three casino licenses in the downstate New York area.
According to New York State regulations, a casino project must receive four favorable votes from the CAC to proceed to the state government review process. The Coney Island project is the fourth application to be rejected out of the seven projects that have completed voting so far.
Voting Background and Local Reaction
The Coney Island casino project received very low local support during the review process, which was particularly evident during two public hearings. The intense debates and clear divisions during the hearings greatly reduced the likelihood of the project being approved by the committee.
Compared to other approved projects, the Coney Island project lacked sufficient community support and recognition from local stakeholders, which was one of the key factors in its failure to pass the review.
Amendment Proposals and Review Process
Before the final vote, the committee reviewed a large number of amendment proposals submitted by the bidder. On September 19, Thor Equities submitted about 150 pages of adjustments covering various aspects of the project, divided into 10 categories of amendment proposals.
These amendment proposals were approved by the committee with a vote of 5 to 1, but just minutes later, the overall application was rejected. This indicates that despite the applicant's efforts to make adjustments, they still failed to address the core concerns of the committee.
Voting Patterns and Trend Analysis
Some clear trends can be seen from the completed CAC votes. Six of the seven bidders submitted amendment proposals at the last moment, but this did not significantly affect the final outcome, as all four rejected projects had proposed amendments.
It is noteworthy that all CAC officials appointed by the mayor and the governor voted in favor of each project. For all rejected projects, including the Coney Island project, these appointed officials also provided support.
Hearing Process and Statements from Various Parties
The hearing process for the Coney Island project was in stark contrast to other projects. For example, Bally's Bronx project was approved with a vote of 5 to 1, with committee members committing to invest in impoverished communities and expressing appreciation for the applicant's cooperation.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso stated, "There were many chaotic and unpleasant moments throughout the process, which I wish had never occurred. I hope it has not caused irreparable harm to the community." The only positive statement came from Alex Somer, appointed by the mayor, but he emphasized the process rather than the specific project.
Subsequent Procedures and Timelines
With the rejection of the Coney Island project, the Metropolitan Park project becomes the last application waiting for a CAC vote, scheduled for Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock. Afterward, all approved projects will be submitted to the State Gaming Facility Location Board for review.
This board will begin a new round of assessments and will make recommendations to the New York State Gaming Commission by the December 1 deadline. Ultimately, the Gaming Commission will issue up to three casino operating licenses by December 31.
Projects Approved So Far
As of now, the projects that have received CAC approval include: Bally's Bronx, Resorts World, and MGM Empire City. These projects will continue to participate in the subsequent state-level review process, competing for the limited casino operating licenses.
