Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed the City Council’s rejection of Bally’s Bronx casino proposal, potentially reviving the bid. On Wednesday, Adams announced his veto of the Council’s recent vote, which denied a crucial rezoning needed for the proposed gaming facility at the former Trump-owned Ferry Point Park. The Council now has 10 days to secure the 34 votes required to override the veto.
In June, Council members initially supported the proposal by voting 32-12 to pass a home rule resolution that allows state lawmakers to “alienate” roughly 16 acres of public parkland—a necessary step whenever the city repurposes park space for private use.
However, the plan advanced only because of support from Adams. While a home rule action typically requires a two-thirds majority, the threshold drops to a simple majority when the mayor formally endorses it. Without Adams’ backing, the resolution would have fallen two votes short, as 6sqft previously reported.
On July 16, the Council voted 29-9, with four abstentions, in favor of a motion by Council Member Kristy Marmorato—who represents District 13—to deny the land-use changes required to construct the casino. The vote exemplified the body’s tradition of member deference, where lawmakers typically support the wishes of the local representative on land-use issues, according to the New York Times.
Following the decision, an Adams spokesperson told the Times that the administration was “reviewing its options in response to [the] vote.” According to Crain’s, the mayor faced pressure from prominent Bronx officials and supporters of the project to use his veto power despite opposition from some council members.
Council members Rafael Salamanca and Kevin Riley, chairs of the council’s land use committee and zoning subcommittee respectively, published an op-ed in the Daily News arguing that the Bronx needs the economic benefits promised by the project.
In an official statement released Wednesday, Adams defended his veto, arguing that the Council’s rejection has deprived the Bronx of the opportunity to compete for one of the downstate casino licenses.
“A casino in New York City would bring good-paying union jobs and an economic boost to the surrounding community, which is why I have long advocated for a fair process with as many competitive bids as possible,” the mayor said.
Adams continued: “In stark contrast, the City Council’s disapproval of the Bally’s Bronx bid deprives the Bronx of the ability to even compete for a $4 billion private investment that would deliver 15,000 union construction jobs, 4,000 permanent union jobs, and more than $625 million in community benefits—including millions in funding for schools, parks, youth programs, nonprofits, and public safety—if selected by the state.”
Bally’s proposal seeks to bring a 500,000-square-foot gaming hall to the former Trump-owned golf course in Throggs Neck, along with a 500-room hotel featuring a spa and meeting space, retail shops, a 2,000-seat event center, and two parking garages with space for up to 4,660 vehicles.
In September 2023, Bally’s purchased the operating license to Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point for $60 million, securing control of the property after the city tried and failed to take over the golf course from the Trump Organization. Bally’s removed the massive Trump sign that greeted drivers exiting the Whitestone Bridge, hoping the move would strengthen its bid for a state gaming license, as 6sqft previously reported.
Although the proposal had backing from leaders of the Bronx County Democratic Party, it faced criticism from local elected officials and community members concerned about the potential impact of a casino in the area. Additionally, the site is near a prominent casino in Yonkers that is also competing for a full-scale gaming license.
Marmorato lambasted Adams’ veto as “sickening” in an official statement released Wednesday, calling the mayor’s action a direct violation of the wishes of the local district.
“This veto is nothing short of an insult to the residents of District 13,” she said. “Let me be perfectly clear: I stand firmly with my constituents, and no one—not even other Bronx representatives—will come into our district and force something on us that we do not want.”
Marmorato continued: “At a time when we are fighting to preserve member deference—the long-standing principle that the councilmember who represents a district has a decisive say in land use matters—the mayor’s attempt to remove all Council authority and override the voices of our local communities is sickening.”
The council member expects to have enough support to override Adams’ veto. The City Council has previously overridden several of Adams’ vetoes, including one in 2023 when he rejected legislation expanding rental assistance, and again in 2024 after he vetoed bills banning solitary confinement in city jails and requiring police to document more low-level civilian stops.
Adams’ veto marks the sixth one that a mayor has issued on a land-use decision dating back to 1989, when the current system was established, according to Crain’s.
Bally’s bid is one of eight remaining casino proposals in the running for one of three downstate gaming licenses set to be awarded this year.
These include New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $8 billion “Metropolitan Park” next to Citi Field, the Bjarke Ingels-designed Freedom Plaza near the U.N., “The Avenir” complex across from the Javits Center, a Jay-Z-backed Caesars Palace casino in Times Square, a proposal in Coney Island dubbed “The Coney,” Resorts World NYC in Jamaica, Queens, and MGM Empire City in Yonkers, which is seeking a license to expand into a full-scale casino.
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