BP Marty Markowitz: "Let’s roll the dice on casino gambling in Coney Island

[Shortline Bus]

 

 

 

 

 

 

"When the 2013 class of the New York State Legislature takes office in January, one of the many potential agenda items in the session will be whether to give the required second legislative approval of a bill authorizing up to seven non-Indian casinos in the state.

 

If that happens, a public referendum would have to be placed on the November ballot and approved by voters. There is a long way to go in the process and even recent polls show New Yorkers fluctuating on their support for casinos this early in the game. But it’s not too soon to consider ideal locations for one or more casinos in New York City, and Coney Island — a.k.a “America‘s Playground” — fits the bill in every way imaginable.

 

The most successful urban casinos are those that are part of a broader entertainment experience, and Coney Island provides it all: world-class beaches, thrilling rides and amusements, a historic Boardwalk, the New York Aquarium, concessions, professional baseball and summer concerts. The area is well served by four subway lines and seven bus routes, providing gamblers with a host of transportation options, including tour buses which can handle a large number of patrons in a single vehicle.

Coney Island has some of the highest unemployment rates in New York City, and a casino would provide well-paying jobs to local residents who should certainly be given hiring priority as part of any agreement."

 

 

Read more: http://www.nydailyne...6#ixzz1xUFrLqn3

[Via Garibaldi 8]

lol... Well I think the bigger question is what do the residents of Coney Island think?? They always come up with this it will create jobs but what type of jobs?? Minimum wage jobs or low paying jobs in return for more traffic and congestion IMO is not something that I would want as a resident in my neighborhood. On the other hand this would certainly ensure more police presence down there, as the last time I was down there and walked around a bit I actually felt okay seeing that so many cops were around. My understanding is that the neighborhood is becoming gentrified (albeit slowly) including the projects further down, which is also another reason for the heavy police presence.

[error46146]

No... Just No.

 

You want gambling on the beach, go to Atlantic City. There's a place for everything.. Stop trying to bring everything into one place.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

No... Just No.

 

You want gambling on the beach, go to Atlantic City. There's a place for everything.. Stop trying to bring everything into one place.

 

 

Atlantic City is NJ... This is about economic development for New York City... Whatever happens though more must be done for transportation if these sorts of things are done...

[B35 via Church]

Let's face it, Astroland... LunaPark... whatever it's called now, is not a big a draw anymore.... and having the Cyclones down there hasn't achieved the desired effect of greatly revitalizing Coney Island either.... Most people that head out to CI now during the summer or whatever are heading to the beach & enjoying themselves that way... It isn't for the amusement park rides, it sure as hell isn't to see the cyclones, and it isn't for the aquarium.....

 

FWIW, I don't agree with bringing a casino to Coney Island, but I can understand it.......

 

- as far as traffic & congestion, while not untrue, that's the same argument Red Hook patrons put up when that IKEA was being propped up.... Now nothin much is made of it....

 

- as far as heavy police presence, that's neither here nor there right now.... Worry about that if/when the casinos are actually set to be propped up..... CI at present date sure as hell isn't crime infested like it was during the 70's & 80's (yeah yeah, I know, it's not the glitz & glamour that is Riverdale either)....

 

- as far as bringing everything into one place, it aint even about that... If that were the case, there'd have been a major shopping area in CI a loooong time ago.... But let's run with that core argument - Well what do you think any downtown area of a city ideally would like/achieve to accomplish? lol.....

 

- as far as creating "well paying" jobs, I gotta say that's a bit of a stretch.... Hardly hear about casino workers holdin bank & feelin proud of themselves after workin a 9-to-5 or whatever.... I remember watchin one of those TLC specials a couple years ago about the casino's down in 'Vegas, and how casino workers are paid next to nothin & are pressed to work long hours on top of it... walmart employees immediately come to mind when it comes to that....

 

"well paying jobs to local residents" is even more of a farce.... This isn't the school system - "hey bro, so what's your zoned JOB".... lmfao....

I know employers discriminate (consider candidates) in terms of where they reside, but whatever CI patrons that are 99ers (or otherwise not earning any income) that believe they will be given priority in today's world are naive in all that is holy.....

 

....and I aint a religious person.

[peacemak3r]

No... Just No.

 

You want gambling on the beach, go to Atlantic City. There's a place for everything.. Stop trying to bring everything into one place.

 

 

Even though Luna/Cyclone are iconic areas in NY, you can technically say the same thing about amusement parks. You want to have a great time at an amusement park, there's Six Flags at NJ or Dorney/Hershey in PA. Just saying.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Let's face it, Astroland... LunaPark... whatever it's called now, is not a big a draw anymore.... and having the Cyclones down there hasn't achieved the desired effect of greatly revitalizing Coney Island either.... Most people that head out to CI now during the summer or whatever are heading to the beach & enjoying themselves that way... It isn't for the amusement park rides, it sure as hell isn't to see the cyclones, and it isn't for the aquarium.....

 

- as far as traffic & congestion, while not untrue, that's the same argument Red Hook patrons put up when that IKEA was being propped up.... Now nothin much is made of it....

 

- as far as creating "well paying" jobs, I gotta say that's a bit of a stretch.... Hardly hear about casino workers holdin bank & feelin proud of themselves after workin a 9-to-5 or whatever.... I remember watchin one of those TLC specials a couple years ago about the casino's down in 'Vegas, and how casino workers are paid next to nothin & are pressed to work long hours on top of it... walmart employees immediately come to mind when it comes to that....

 

"well paying jobs to local residents" is even more of a farce.... This isn't the school system - "hey bro, so what's your zoned JOB".... lmfao....

I know employers discriminate (consider candidates) in terms of where they reside, but whatever CI patrons that are 99ers (or otherwise not earning any income) that believe they will be given priority in today's world are naive in all that is holy.....

 

 

My point was that they have to consider if they believe that these jobs are worth more traffic and such that will come down there. I mean if transportation is encouraged and provided then it won't be a problem.

 

 

 

- as far as heavy police presence, that's neither here nor there right now.... Worry about that if/when the casinos are actually set to be propped up..... CI at present date sure as hell isn't crime infested like it was during the 70's & 80's (yeah yeah, I know, it's not the glitz & glamour that is Riverdale either)....

 

No, it isn't as bad as it used to be, but it still IMO could be one reason why more folks don't come down. I mean I would think people don't want to be confined to just the amusement area. If you decide to drift further past that area it is still clear that a heavy police presence is there to keep things under control so to speak, though I was surprised at the amount of whites walking and taking bike rides right by those housing projects. This was going back to when the X28 ran down there on the weekends, which is what I used to go down there. Now it could have improved further though.

[Grand Concourse]

Atlantic city shows that once you leave the casinos and cross onto the block(s) behind the casinos, it's a 'good luck getting home' sort of thing. I certainly didn't get a good feeling of safety going past those run down homes from inside the car. Even if they bring casinos to CI, all the cops will be on property and crime may not change or get worse with thugs hanging around to probably rob some people. I would say no to this idea.

 

As for CI's amusement parks, it's a collection of flat rides and the cyclone and wonder wheel. Given the choice of that or Six Flags 2 hrs away with all the big rides they have and a more or less decent security, I'd rather stick with Six Flags. Even the 'extreme' side isn't all that thrilling and what sucks about it is that it's considered separate from Luna Park in terms of pricing for the unlimited rides. What CI needs is a few more signature rides like the roller coaster in those artist renditions that stretched over several blocks.

[B35 via Church]

My point was that they have to consider if they believe that these jobs are worth more traffic and such that will come down there. I mean if transportation is encouraged and provided then it won't be a problem.

 

The transportation is already there by way of the subway, and all the other buses that venture down around stillwell/surf/mermaid..... It wasn't like IKEA for example, where it's just the one bus that serves it.....

 

as far as believing if the jobs are worth the increase in traffic it'll bring (which is a good point), well neither one of us can really answer that.....

 

 

No, it isn't as bad as it used to be, but it still IMO could be one reason why more folks don't come down. I mean I would think people don't want to be confined to just the amusement area. If you decide to drift further past that area it is still clear that a heavy police presence is there to keep things under control so to speak, though I was surprised at the amount of whites walking and taking bike rides right by those housing projects. This was going back to when the X28 ran down there on the weekends, which is what I used to go down there. Now it could have improved further though.

Sure it could (be a reason), but I kinda doubt it - especially on any significant scale....

 

Still clear? No one's doubting the actual police presence being there...... A police presence'll always be there b/c you got that little precinct (or whatever that is, once you enter the surf av. side of the subway station.... just like they have @ union square & rockaway park/b 116th stations) in the immediate area.....

 

I get it, there are apartments & project buildings where lower class blacks & hispanics live & dominate once you pan west of the immediate area.... Yeah Coney Island has a stigma attached to it....*shrugs* .... Anyway, the white people walking about & riding bikes along surf av are most likely those that either live in one of those trump village apts. or points east of it..... including brighton bch & manhattan bch.... Can't really blame them for not wanting to ride along the boardwalk; poor bastards might fall through...... that, and quiet is as kept, during the off season, there's "strange activity" around the boardwalk area.....

 

 

 

 

Atlantic city shows that once you leave the casinos and cross onto the block(s) behind the casinos, it's a 'good luck getting home' sort of thing. I certainly didn't get a good feeling of safety going past those run down homes from inside the car. Even if they bring casinos to CI, all the cops will be on property and crime may not change or get worse with thugs hanging around to probably rob some people. I would say no to this idea.

 

As for CI's amusement parks, it's a collection of flat rides and the cyclone and wonder wheel. Given the choice of that or Six Flags 2 hrs away with all the big rides they have and a more or less decent security, I'd rather stick with Six Flags. Even the 'extreme' side isn't all that thrilling and what sucks about it is that it's considered separate from Luna Park in terms of pricing for the unlimited rides. What CI needs is a few more signature rides like the roller coaster in those artist renditions that stretched over several blocks.

 

Perhaps, but to be honest, unless some sort of massive expansion takes place (which there's really no space for, now that the brooklyn cyclones ballpark is there), CI as a major attraction regarding the amusement park sector is spent..... I'm not wild about 6 flags, but we both know nothin remotely close to that will be morphed into out of what CI currently is.... lol....

 

as far as AC safety.... don't let the bright lights emanating from the casino buildings fool you.... AC is still not to be desired - perfect example of a city that would be defined by the saying "A wolf in sheep's clothing".... speaking of boardwalks, if you like your life, you don't venture over on AC's boardwalk - especially if you're by yourself during the day & you don't know how to handle yourself.....

 

....and the poverty stricken locals in AC are banking on ppl. to fall into that venus flytrap too !

[Shortline Bus]

The transportation is already there by way of the subway, and all the other buses that venture down around stillwell/surf/mermaid..... It wasn't like IKEA for example, where it's just the one bus that serves it.....

 

as far as believing if the jobs are worth the increase in traffic it'll bring (which is a good point), well neither one of us can really answer that.....

 

 

 

Sure it could (be a reason), but I kinda doubt it - especially on any significant scale....

 

Still clear? No one's doubting the actual police presence being there...... A police presence'll always be there b/c you got that little precinct (or whatever that is, once you enter the surf av. side of the subway station.... just like they have @ union square & rockaway park/b 116th stations) in the immediate area.....

 

I get it, there are apartments & project buildings where lower class blacks & hispanics live & dominate once you pan west of the immediate area.... Yeah Coney Island has a stigma attached to it....*shrugs* .... Anyway, the white people walking about & riding bikes along surf av are most likely those that either live in one of those trump village apts. or points east of it..... including brighton bch & manhattan bch.... Can't really blame them for not wanting to ride along the boardwalk; poor bastards might fall through...... that, and quiet is as kept, during the off season, there's "strange activity" around the boardwalk area.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps, but to be honest, unless some sort of massive expansion takes place (which there's really no space for, now that the brooklyn cyclones ballpark is there), CI as a major attraction regarding the amusement park sector is spent..... I'm not wild about 6 flags, but we both know nothin remotely close to that will be morphed into out of what CI currently is.... lol....

 

as far as AC safety.... don't let the bright lights emanating from the casino buildings fool you.... AC is still not to be desired - perfect example of a city that would be defined by the saying "A wolf in sheep's clothing".... speaking of boardwalks, if you like your life, you don't venture over on AC's boardwalk - especially if you're by yourself during the day & you don't know how to handle yourself.....

 

....and the poverty stricken locals in AC are banking on ppl. to fall into that venus flytrap too !

 

 

 

Although it is a much bigger city, Las Vegas is also very similar to AC. Just a mile away from the strip" aka Las Vegas Ave. (I been to Vegas 1x Thanksgiving weekend 2003)there a "hood" that would make NYC tougher ones i.e Far Rockaway, East NY, etc. seem safe. Vegas as a whole has among the worst crime rates (along with Oakland) in the entire west coast. So Casinos/major gambling areas have a more negative effect that hurts more the poor than anyone.

 

And back to CI. What amazing is that while most of NYC neighborhood demographics has changed in last 20 years, Coney Island has changed very little. The area between West 37(start of Sea Gate)and West 17 is majority Black, Latino and Russians/Eastern European White immgrants from the old Soviet Union. Sea Gate which was mostly Jewish, Irish and Italtians when i grow up there in 1980'/'90's has now become Asians and Hispanics. Just my takes.

[B35 via Church]

So Casinos/major gambling areas have a more negative effect that hurts more the poor than anyone.

 

I don't get what you're tryin to say here.....

 

Are you saying that casinos built in already bad/troubled areas increases crime that much more?

I'm not getting how a casino hurts the poor moreso than anyone else exactly.....

[Shortline Bus]

I don't get what you're tryin to say here.....

 

Are you saying that casinos built in already bad/troubled areas increases crime that much more?

I'm not getting how a casino hurts the poor moreso than anyone else exactly.....

 

 

Si Senor(at least in Vegas and AC). There been studies to prove it. Casinos came to Vegas in the 1950's (created by the Mob aka organzied crime) while AC got them starting in 1978.

[Grand Concourse]

@b35: AC has gotten that bad? I think I was last there in 2003. All I know is ever since I've been to Vegas, AC is not even on my list of places to go. The main thing is: stay within the confines of the casino and don't venture off anywhere past.

[Shortline Bus]

@b35: AC has gotten that bad? I think I was last there in 2003. All I know is ever since I've been to Vegas, AC is not even on my list of places to go. The main thing is: stay within the confines of the casino and don't venture off anywhere past.

 

 

Being fair A/C on the boardwalk by the casinos ( I never been there in middle of winter)during the summer is generally safe. However going past say the AC Bus Terminal then you could have problems. I was last in AC, just this past July 4th weekend. Was planning to go during recent Memorial weekend but canceled due to cold/flu i got.

[Grand Concourse]

I usually go to AC during the summer and by car, so for the most part I am more or less safe and never had any incidents. But with so little to do there: steel pier sucks and I'm not into gambling, AC sucks imo.

[B35 via Church]

@b35: AC has gotten that bad? I think I was last there in 2003. All I know is ever since I've been to Vegas, AC is not even on my list of places to go. The main thing is: stay within the confines of the casino and don't venture off anywhere past.

 

I usually go to AC during the summer and by car, so for the most part I am more or less safe and never had any incidents. But with so little to do there: steel pier sucks and I'm not into gambling, AC sucks imo.

 

They got a couple places now where you can go clothes shopping around arctic & michigan (about a block after you come off the expwy) and what not; places like fossil, gap, old navy, american eagle, etc.. But yeh, AC will always be known for it's casinos....

 

.....as far as it having gotten that bad, I'll put it to you this way, since it's hard to quantify.... AC is walkable, but you have to worry far more about shady characters (not necessarily hardcore gangstas & violent assaults [although it can happen of course], but petty theieves & other lesser off ppl. tryna pull a fast one over on you [and they're usually the older folks too]) moreso than you would if you were going to Coney Island..... However, you have a better chance of a fist fight breaking out, going to CI.....

 

If you give me some parameters, I can tell you which is worse/better b/w AC & CI......

[Shortline Bus]

They got a couple places now where you can go clothes shopping around arctic & michigan (about a block after you come off the expwy) and what not; places like fossil, gap, old navy, american eagle, etc.. But yeh, AC will always be known for it's casinos....

 

 

 

If i want to go shopping at outlet stores lol, seriously I would go to other areas in Jersey for american eagle, old navy, etc. Or even to Franklin Mills in Philly in that area. Closer to home I got Woodbury Commons in Monroe/Harriman, NY. When I go to AC for the nice resturants, maybe catch a concert/show or boxing match, looking for nice attaractive ladies and yes play a few dollars on the slots.

[MTARegional Bus]

Keep the casinos out of Coney island, it turns people homeless because they wasted money. That money sometimes is their lifesaving just because they think there lucky there going to win a jackpot.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Keep the casinos out of Coney island, it turns people homeless because they wasted money. That money sometimes is their lifesaving just because they think there lucky there going to win a jackpot.

 

 

Sounds like your talking from personal experience...

[MTARegional Bus]

Sounds like your talking from personal experience...

 

 

I have been to Atlantic city before, while the beach front looks like Disneyland outer shore looks so depressing. I had so many people begging for money on the beach side walk once ever 12 min it was almost like a line.

 

Speaking of casinos I heard they were building one in Riverdale.

 

[Grand Concourse]

@B35, not sure, I guess for me it'd be to visit that ocean pier mall place, maybe steel peir, and as far north as the taj mahal on showboat area. If I'm going to gamble, it would be a few slot machines and maybe a few hands at the tables. Not really a big gambler and for the most part I'm just gonna 'take pics' and nothing else there. I'll probably chain my wallet to my pocket or something.

[error46146]

Even though Luna/Cyclone are iconic areas in NY, you can technically say the same thing about amusement parks. You want to have a great time at an amusement park, there's Six Flags at NJ or Dorney/Hershey in PA. Just saying.

 

 

I was never really in favor of them rebuilding Coney Island and Luna Park either.. Like you said if you want amusement parks you can go to Six Flags.

 

The Cyclone is a classic landmark in New York City; that will not be going anywhere soon.

 

In addition, as for creation of jobs, I don't buy any of that "this creates jobs" bullshit as I still haven't found any summer jobs yet coming from any of these new developments that have recently occurred (or anywhere at all).. I'm 19 years old and applying for Summer Youth for the 5th straight year (quite pathetic but i have no other choice at this point)

[peacemak3r]

I'll tell you this, SYEP never gave me a job...ever.

 

I did though get hired to the Resorts World at Aqueducts but I left the job after 2 weeks, the hassle of the commute was hectic and I didn't want to deal with it,

[Joe]

Gambling in Coney Island: an interesting mix of overall skellery and degenerate gamblers. Bring it on!

[VWM]

Hey, if it creates jobs i don't have a problem with it.