May 14, 2025
My Statement Regarding the Parkland Alienation Vote of the Citi Field Parking Lots:
As a proud progressive legislator representing one of the most diverse districts in New York, I made the deeply contemplated decision to vote affirmatively on the parkland alienation bill to allow expanded uses on the Citi Field parking lot site to include much-needed public park space, retail, entertainment, hospitality, child care and community facilities, and a casino gaming facility.
Over the course of more than two years, I engaged with a wide range of stakeholders—constituents both for and against the project, union members, nonprofit leaders, small business owners, healthcare workers, and anti-human trafficking advocates. Their insights were critical to my deliberation. I deeply value the time and insights shared by everyone who engaged with me.
During a time when Trump is slashing funding for Medicaid and dismantling programs that address mental health, homelessness, and workforce development, this project would bring:
23,000 union jobs with robust health care with a commitment to local hiring and at least 30% participation by women- and minority-owned businesses.
A new 25-acre NYC Department of Parks public park
$25 million for mental health, addiction recovery, and youth and senior services, including a health clinic and a community center in neighborhoods in or adjacent to my Assembly district
$163 million in grants to local nonprofits addressing food insecurity, housing stability, immigrant legal aid, and community programming
450 units of fully affordable housing in Corona
A fully ADA-accessible 7 train station at Mets-Willets Point
I want to be very clear about several important facts:
This is not new parkland alienation. The 50 acres in question are currently asphalt parking lots around Citi Field. Though still technically designated as parkland, they have never functioned as actual park space. These lots remain under lease to the Mets for the next 80 years, through 2105.
This bill does not approve a casino. It simply permits a broader range of uses for the site—including a 25-acre public park, retail, and hospitality venues—if and only if the New York State Gaming Commission grants a license through its rigorous multi-step review and approval process.
While I share many of the concerns raised about the potential impacts of gambling, it’s important to note that any recipient of a gaming license is legally required to make substantial, ongoing investments in problem gambling prevention and addiction services.
There are three downstate casino licenses that will be awarded within the New York City metropolitan area. Any proposal seeking one of these licenses must submit a detailed application to the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board. All community benefit commitments—including investments in public services, infrastructure, jobs, and labor peace agreements with unions—must be clearly outlined in the application and will be binding once submitted.
I thank every constituent who called, emailed, or met with me about this project. Your perspective shaped my thinking every step of the way. Ultimately, constituent outreach showed support for the project outweighed opposition by more than 5 to 1.
In the end, I voted to allow the permitted uses to change on this site because the scale of union job creation, affordable housing, climate-resilient infrastructure, accessible transportation, and direct community investment will be transformative for the people of Queens and the communities in and around my district.