Yonkers officials continue to push for 1 of 3 full-gaming licenses for Empire City Casino
The state is expected to grant three full-gaming licenses to downstate communities by the end of the year.
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Yonkers is still rolling the dice for one of the three full-gaming licenses from the state for the MGM Empire City Casino.
The state is expected to grant three of these licenses to downstate communities by the end of the year.
It was a packed house Monday night at the community forum for the proposed redevelopment project for the MGM Empire City Casino.
"I know the impact this could have on your community, our community," says Mark Weingarten, the attorney representing the casino.
Yonkers mayor Mike Spano has called this a “make-or-break” situation for the city.
"It would help the quality of life, provide jobs, provide tax revenues to the city," says Spano.
Spano says a full gaming license will add table games and a concert venue. He says the plan is expected to generate millions in annual tax revenue and more than $1 billion in economic activity. It would also create thousands of local jobs.
Monday's community forum was filled with unions who want to be a part of the construction.
"You're talking several years of construction work. They're ready to go immediately," says Fichard McSpedon, Business Representative for Local 3 IBEW.
However, while residents still have concerns, they now are willing to work with the casino. Residents have expressed concerns over traffic, safety, flooding and garbage.
"There's plenty of room to find common ground with the neighbors," says Larry Wilson, president of the Hyatt Community Association of Southeast Yonkers. "The only problem we have is that we feel that the local neighborhoods are going to bear the burden of all of the impacts."
Some residents tell us they want to see Yonkers get one of these licenses.
"I think they should go in there and make it beautiful and I'm sure they fix all the roads around it and the landscaping," says Lucy Cardile, a Yonkers resident.
