Jay-Z-Backed Casino In Times Square Voted Down

A proposed casino in the heart of Times Square – backed by Caesars Palace, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and building owner SL Green Realty – will not be moving forward, per a vote this morning by the project’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

via: Vibe

On Wednesday (Sept. 17), the state’s six-member community advisory committee denied the proposal with a 4-2 vote, per numerous sources.

Those four “nay” votes came from reps for Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, state Sen. Liz Krueger, Assemblyman Tony Simone, and Councilman Erik Bottcher, while the governor and mayor’s appointees stood in support with a “yay.”

Following the decision, SL Green CEO Marc Holliday reportedly blasted the naysayers, saying, “Go run and hide. You have to live with that history forever.”

The Broadway League and the No Times Square Casino Coalition have argued that plopping a gaming hub in the middle of Manhattan’s theater district would destroy the magic that draws millions to Broadway every year. Richard Gottfried, former Manhattan assemblyman, stated, “Most residents of the area we heard from are opposed. The Broadway theater industry is adamantly opposed, and they make a strong case that a casino in this area would do major damage to that gem. There’s lots of other places in the city where a casino could thrive.”

Rev. Al Sharpton, who supported the plan, called the decision a missed opportunity. “I was here for Jay-Z,” Sharpton told The Post. “We haven’t seen Black ownership in the entertainment industry in Times Square. I was disappointed that they didn’t break the color line.”

Meanwhile, Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League, celebrated the “safeguarding” of the culture and community. “A vote to protect the magic of Broadway for the one hundred thousand New Yorkers who depend on it for their livelihoods, and for the tens of millions who come from around the world to experience it,” he said. “A casino can go anywhere, but Broadway only lives here.”

While Manhattan has been denied a new casino, Queens still has a chance to secure one of those licenses.

Hip-Hop icon Nas has teamed up with Resorts World New York City on a $5 billion expansion plan for Aqueduct Park. If approved, their casino would become one of the largest in the world, featuring a 350,000-square-foot floor, 3,000 units of workforce housing, and 50 acres of new park space.

Nas spoke of his new venture and called it a win for his community. “This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders. Clearly, with this project, the world is ours,” he said.

Unlike Times Square, Queens’ community is backing the proposal. Community Board 10 chair Betty Braton praised Resorts World’s track record. “They have been with us in good times and tough times ever since, giving both financial support and their time to this community,” she stated. “I know this partnership will only continue.”

With six casinos in the running and only three licenses on the table, the stakes are higher than ever.