With a new petition, Cohen is placing special emphasis on convincing Queens residents that their borough needs yet another gambling facility because State Senator Jessica Ramos is increasingly skeptical of the plan. Recently, Ramos released a poll that showed that a majority of her constituents don’t want a casino. Cohen needs Ramos on board to help get state legislation passed because the Citi Field parking lot is technically state parkland, and needs to be re-designated in order to host a giant building filled with roulette wheels and sad people.
But Cohen has a plan B. “Cohen is already considering ways to work around Ramos if she ends up opposing the bill, according to three people familiar with the strategy who spoke on the condition of anonymity as conversations are continuing,” Politico reported:
The move would entail persuading the state Senate to approve the bill without her, particularly through outreach to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and possibly Bronx state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez, who is being courted to give a similar approval to a Bally’s casino proposal in the Bronx.
“For two years, we’ve worked closely with the community and our local elected officials, including Senator Ramos, as we’ve developed a vision for Metropolitan Park, and we will continue to do so,” [Cohen spokesperson] Ricket said in a statement to POLITICO. “If she ultimately chooses not to introduce legislation in this session, we have both time and multiple pathways to get this done.”
