A controversial proposal to build a casino in Times Square, led by Caesars Entertainment, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and SL Green, had its first public hearing on Wednesday.
Marquees belonging to local theaters displayed anti-casino messages, while many locals expressed concern with the project.
Key Takeaways
- Concerns expressed that the casino would increase crime, traffic, and quality of life issues.
- Numerous local theaters displayed anti-casino signage on their marquees.
- The casino group plans to invest $22.5 million and 0.5% of its lifetime profits into the community.
The $5.4-billion project at 1515 Broadway would transform office buildings into a lavish hotel-casino with a variety of entertainment options, retail stores, and general amenities right in the heart of Manhattan’s theater district.
Despite a projected surge in economic stimulus and a variety of guarantees from the casino’s leadership team, there are concerns that the facility would alter the status quo for the local community. Concerns expressed cited quality of life issues, an increase in crime and foot traffic, and unwanted tourism that would reshape the theme of the area.
“A casino in Times Square is a horrific idea,” actor Jack Noseworthy said during the hearing, per CBS News. “There's hundreds of thousands of jobs that are created by Broadway and Broadway theaters, and what a casino is going to do is literally cannibalize those audiences, keep them in the casino, and they're not going to go see Broadway shows.”
“We don't want to sell Times Square to the highest bidder,” Midtown resident Sarah Cardillo added. “We've seen it not work in the past. We've seen what casinos have done to neighborhoods. We don't want to see that come to Times Square.”
While the hearing was available to the public for seven hours on a first-come, first-served basis, the No Times Square Casino Coalition made sure to have its presence felt all day.
The organization, which represents 35 local groups, got 16 theaters to show “No Times Square Casino” on their marquees.
Positive feelings
While there are plenty of dissenters, there are also supporters of the casino.
If approved, the casino would create 4,000 permanent union jobs and 3,000 union construction jobs. That’s a major selling point for union members in need of work.
“I'm here strongly to support union jobs and I feel like this project is a go for me because they have committed to giving us those types of jobs," said Tierra Williams, a Local 7 union member.
Caesars, Roc Nation, and SL Green recently submitted new plans to reinvest $22.5 million over 15 years and 0.5% of the casino’s lifetime profits into the broader Manhattan community. Previously, they had planned on investing that money into an affordable housing unit, though the feedback they received indicated the community preferred it be spread out.
They also plan to host monthly job fairs for members of the theater community, setting them up with positions inside or related to the casino between periods of inactivity on the stage.
“I just think it's going to be an amazing thing for Times Square,” said Matt Goldman, executive director of the Town Hall Foundation.
Who will receive operators’ licenses?
The casino project is one of eight that are hoping to receive one of three New York casino licenses. Each casino project must still receive a vote of confidence from local community advisory boards before they can be approved for licensing.
The Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to announce its choices before the end of the year. Other competitors for the licenses include Bally’s, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, and the developer of the World Trade Center, among others.
