UNIONS TO SEN RAMOS: “MAKE METROPOLITAN PARK A REALITY”

CASINO PUSH: A coalition of unions is urging state Sen. Jessica Ramos to back Steve Cohen’s bid for a casino at Citi Field.

Seven unions including Laborers’ Local 79, the Transport Workers Union and the District Council of Carpenters, along with the Building Trades Employers’ Association, wrote to Ramos to express their “emphatic support” for the proposed $8 billion sports and entertainment complex.

The billionaire New York Mets owner is partnering with Hard Rock International on the plan, known as Metropolitan Park, for the parking lot adjacent to the stadium. They’re competing in a crowded race for one of three New York City-area casino licenses.

Ramos’s support is essential. Because the site is technically public parkland, Cohen needs legislation in Albany to authorize the change of use — but Ramos, whose district includes Citi Field, has not yet decided whether she will introduce such a bill.

“We implore you to do everything in your power to make Metropolitan Park a reality,” the unions wrote in the letter. “Our members cannot afford to miss out on the thousands of union construction job opportunities Metropolitan Park will create.”

Ramos said in a statement in response: “Every project should be union — shovel to broom.” — Janaki Chadha

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The Honorable Jessica Ramos
New York State Senate
District 13
74-09 37th Avenue, Suite 302
Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Dear Senator Ramos:

We write today to express our emphatic support for Metropolitan Park, Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International’s vision to transform the 50 acres of asphalt around Citi Field into a revolutionary sports and entertainment park. Mr. Cohen and Hard Rock International are promising a historic investment in Queens, pledging to spend approximately $8 billion to bring their year-round entertainment destination to life. That investment will create more than 15,000 good paying permanent and construction jobs.

There can be no mistake. Metropolitan Park is a union project. The project is committed to using union labor and has signed a Card Check Neutrality Agreement with the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and Memorandum of Understanding with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity. Those agreements clearly provide that all components being constructed by Mr. Cohen and Hard Rock International are within scope.

Taste of Queens, a food hall and community space, is the only element of Metropolitan Park being structured by a separate developer. It will be a mission-driven complex, providing an outpost for local restaurants, kitchen access and climate controlled vending for street vendors and low- or no-cost space for community events. Taste of Queens will be built by a developer controlled by Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Cohen has committed to using union construction labor for that project too.

A union construction project of the magnitude of Metropolitan Park in Queens is a tremendous economic opportunity for our members, especially our local members still recovering from job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. We implore you to do everything in your power to make Metropolitan Park a reality. Our members cannot afford to miss out on the thousands of union construction job opportunities Metropolitan Park will create.

Sincerely,