New York’s downstate casino license process has entered a decisive new chapter as state and city officials have appointed the members of the Community Advisory Committees (CACs).
These local oversight panels will play a crucial role in determining which of the eight casino applicants will proceed in the process by assessing whether they align with community interests and priorities.
CACs are local oversight bodies that ensure each application receives a thorough community review before being advanced.
Six members comprise each CAC. Key government officials appoint them:
In the case of MGM Empire City in Yonkers, the committee has five members because it falls outside the jurisdiction of New York City. The members are appointed by the Governor, the County Executive, the State Senator, the State Assembly Member, and the City’s Chief Executive (Yonker’s Mayor).
The CAC’s primary role is to evaluate whether each application aligns with local needs and priorities. The committees must hold public meetings to consider community feedback and input.
Without CAC approval, casino license applications cannot be advanced to New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board for final consideration.
MGM Empire City
While most appointees have not publicly stated positions on their assigned projects, a few stand out.
The Manhattan bids, especially Caesars Times Square, have generally created a sharp divide in opinions, gathering lots of support but also many opponents. Still, most CAC members have not previously commented or expressed a stance on this issue.
Richard Gottfried, who sits on both Caesar’s Times Square and The Avenir’s committees, has historically raised concerns about the expansion of gambling, but has not directly spoken against specific proposals.
Manhattan Community Boards 4, 5, and 6 have generally been skeptical of large-scale casinos, citing congestion and negative social impacts.
Meanwhile, Sandra McKee, who’s part of the Freedom Plaza committee, has previously issued letters opposing large-scale developments in the district.
In Queens, State Sen. Jessica Ramos has notably not picked a committee member for the Metropolitan Park project. In the past, Ramos has been critical of the proposal due to concerns about the loss of parkland and its community impact. While she’s softened her stance, the fact that she hasn’t picked a committee representative could signal opposition.
Donovan Richards Jr., who sits on the Metropolitan Park and Resorts World CACs, has not publicly endorsed any of the casinos, but has historically signaled openness to large-scale developments that create jobs.
In Brooklyn, Antonio Reynoso, who sits on The Coney’s CAC, has called for strong community engagement but has been cautious about directly commenting on the project.
Justin Brennan has also been cautious with remarks about The Coney, but has stressed the importance of local jobs and potential revenue. He remains publicly neutral.
Meanwhile, Marissa Solomon volunteers at the Coney Island Museum, which has been an opponent of The Coney casino.
In the Bronx, Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Sorin has not endorsed Bally’s Bronx Casino but has been generally supportive of job creation in the community.
Meanwhile, while Danielle Volpe has not commented directly on Bally’s project, she was appointed by New York City Council Member Kristy Marmorato, who voted against it in the council’s vote on whether to advance the company’s casino proposal to the state legislature.
The two racinos, MGM Empire City and Resorts World New York City, are considered frontrunners by many and generally have more favorable opinions from local communities and politicians.
Two of the Resorts World CAC members, Betty Braton and James Sanders Jr., have previously declared support for the project. Both cite the contribution to the local economy and job creation.
While he has not explicitly endorsed MGM, CAC member Frank Jereis has been historically supportive of Yonkers’ development projects. In the past, Jereis has supported Empire City’s upgrades and modernisation efforts.
Now that the CACs have been appointed, the licensing process can move to the next phase: public hearings.
According to the New York Gaming Facility Board, CACs are required to hold at least two public meetings to gather community input. During this stage, committees can also request that applicants modify or adjust their proposals to better address community concerns.
Following the hearings, the committees will vote on whether to approve each project (likely in late August or September). The votes are contingent on other requirements, such as zoning and environmental reviews, all of which must be finalized by September 30.
To pass the CAC stage, an application must receive approval from at least two-thirds (four out of six) of the members. For MGM Empire City, which has a five-member CAC, the project still needs four votes to meet the two-thirds requirement.
The applications approved by their CACs will then move to the Gaming Facility Location Board for final recommendation. The board is expected to announce the winners by the end of the year.
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