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Efforts to block a new casino near Citi Field in Queens, New York, intensified as opponents gathered on Sunday at the proposed site in Flushing. The rally comes amid a legal battle involving Mets owner Steve Cohen, the city, and the United States Tennis Association, which claims priority rights to the land.
The USTA recently filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that the administration of Mayor Eric Adams violated their lease agreement to aid Cohen's casino plans. According to The City, the USTA argues that the "superiority clause" in their lease grants them priority use of the parking lot during the U.S. Open, which the proposed casino would infringe upon.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Nancy Bannon has issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the city from finalizing any agreements related to the casino project until the USTA's rights are considered. The casino, named Metropolitan Park, is part of a $8 billion bid by Cohen and his partners, Hard Rock, to secure one of three downstate casino licenses.
The casino project faces strong opposition from local residents who fear the potential negative impact on the community. Despite gaining support from some city leaders and the community advisory council, the proposal remains contentious. Queens Eagle reports that the USTA's lawsuit highlights the city's alleged failure to include the superiority clause in its agreements with Cohen's group, Queens Future.
As the legal dispute unfolds, the state's Gaming Commission is set to visit the proposed site, along with other contenders for the casino licenses, including a bid by Bally’s in the Bronx and Resorts World in South Ozone Park. The outcome of the lawsuit and the state’s decision on the casino licenses will significantly impact the future of the Metropolitan Park project.
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