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Queens Residents Renew Lawsuit Over Metropolitan Park Casino License

Queens Residents Refile Lawsuit Over Metropolitan Park Casino License – Legal Dispute Challenges Approval Process in New York

Key Takeaways

• Queens residents plan to renew their lawsuit against the New York State Gaming Commission over its approval of the Metropolitan Park casino license.
• The original case was dismissed on March 27 due to being filed in the wrong county.
• Petitioners argue that public hearings limited opposition participation and lacked adequate access for non English speakers.
• The Gaming Commission approved the $8 billion project unanimously in December.

Residents Move to Reopen Legal Challenge

Queens residents are preparing to refile a lawsuit against the New York State Gaming Commission following the dismissal of their earlier case. The renewed legal action targets the Commission’s approval of a casino license for the Metropolitan Park project, an $8 billion development proposed near Citi Field.

According to petitioners, the new filing could be submitted as early as Friday. They intend to file a motion to reargue the previous ruling, maintaining that their initial lawsuit in New York County was valid because the Gaming Commission made its licensing decision there. In addition, a parallel filing is expected in Queens County.

The original case was dismissed on March 27 by Judge Nicholas W. Moyne, who ruled that it had been brought in the wrong county. Judge Moyne later recused himself from the matter, citing what he described as a tangential social relationship with a member of the respondent that could create the appearance of partiality.

Petitioners argue that the dismissal was incorrect under state law and are seeking to reopen the case through the renewed filings.

Background: License Granted to Queens Future LLC

The disputed license was issued to Queens Future LLC, the development group behind Metropolitan Park. The project is led by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International. Plans include redeveloping approximately 50 acres into a mixed use complex featuring a casino, hotel towers, and entertainment facilities.

Since its introduction in 2023, the proposal has drawn both political backing and community opposition. In December, the Gaming Commission voted unanimously to approve the casino license.

Karl Richett, a spokesperson for Metropolitan Park, stated that the project underwent what he described as an unprecedented and transparent approval process with broad support. According to Richett, the proposal received 89 percent backing across multiple levels of government, including six Queens community boards, the Queens borough president, and both city and state legislators.

Richett also said that Community Advisory Committee hearings included 127 speakers, a figure he noted exceeded participation levels seen in other approved casino projects. At two hearings held last September, he said most speakers supported the proposal, with about 85 percent speaking in favor during one session.

Allegations Over Public Hearing Procedures

At the center of the renewed lawsuit are claims concerning the public hearing process connected to the license approval.

Court filings argue that hearings held last September limited opportunities for opponents to speak and reduced scheduled speaking times. Petitioners also allege that the process did not provide adequate access for non English speaking residents or individuals with work constraints.

Bernadette McCrann, a Flushing resident and lead petitioner, said she observed procedural issues during the second Community Advisory Committee hearing on September 16. She cited early line formations that, in her view, allowed supporters of the project to secure speaking slots before others could participate. McCrann also stated that updated hearing information was not consistently communicated in languages other than English.

Another petitioner, Jack Hu, said he had followed the project for several years but did not learn about certain Community Advisory Committee hearings until after they had taken place. He stated that he believed there was no meaningful effort to gauge the actual opinions of the community.

The lawsuit further alleges potential conflicts of interest involving members of the Community Advisory Committee and claims that the Gaming Commission did not ensure the integrity of casino sponsors in accordance with legal requirements.

Community Awareness and Opposition Data

Opposition groups have pointed to survey data to support their claims about limited community engagement. A survey conducted last year by the MinKwon Center for Community Action found that 83.5 percent of Asian American respondents in Flushing reported that they were either unaware of or unable to participate in the casino’s Community Advisory Committee process.

Petitioners argue that this data reflects broader concerns about transparency and accessibility in the approval process. They maintain that the lawsuit seeks to address what they view as procedural bias rather than focusing solely on the merits of the casino project itself.

Metropolitan Park representatives dispute these characterizations, reiterating that public input requirements were met and that participation levels were significant compared to other casino approval processes.

Implications for the Metropolitan Park Project

The renewed legal challenge introduces additional uncertainty around a project that has already secured unanimous approval from the Gaming Commission. While the license has been granted, the outcome of the new filings could determine whether the approval process withstands judicial scrutiny.

For stakeholders, including local residents, policymakers, and industry participants, the case centers on procedural compliance rather than on new licensing criteria. The focus remains on whether public hearing standards and statutory requirements were adequately fulfilled during the approval phase.

Our Assessment

The renewed lawsuit places the approval process for the Metropolitan Park casino license under further legal review. Petitioners are challenging the procedural integrity of public hearings and the Commission’s oversight obligations, while project representatives cite broad governmental support and compliance with participation requirements. The next steps will depend on how the courts address the motion to reargue and the parallel filings in New York and Queens counties.