Brooklyn, September 23, 2025 – The push to build a massive casino complex in Coney Island looks all but dead as local leaders and community voices unite in opposition. Four out of six members of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC)—including Council Member Justin Brannan, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and Marissa Solomon—have announced they will vote against the proposal known as “The Coney.”
Developers pitched a 1.6-million-square-foot project combining gaming, a hotel, convention facilities, and entertainment venues, arguing it would bring thousands of jobs and year-round economic activity to a neighborhood dependent on seasonal tourism. They also pledged a $200 million community trust fund, $75 million for public safety, and even floated funding for a potential ferry terminal.
But promises weren’t enough to sway residents or elected officials. At two heated public hearings, about 140 speakers voiced opposition, while only 61 spoke in favor. Concerns centered on fears the project would drive up rents, displace local businesses, and permanently alter the character of Coney Island.
$3B Coney Island Casino Plan Divides NYC: Job Promises, Political Tensions, and Local Outcry
Brannan, who chairs the CAC, bluntly stated, “There are things we need in Coney Island, but a casino isn’t one of them. Casinos exist to make money, not to fix our aging infrastructure or lift families out of poverty.”
Reynoso echoed that sentiment, saying developers failed to prove the project would truly benefit the community. Scarcella-Spanton cited months of testimony from constituents as the decisive factor in her opposition.
The scale of the resistance underscores a broader skepticism toward casino expansion in New York City. Critics argue that promises of economic revitalization often fall short, while the social costs—from problem gambling to rising real estate prices—hit hardest in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Without four “yes” votes from the CAC, the Coney Island bid cannot advance to the state gaming commission. For now, the project appears stalled, if not completely sunk, by the very community it aimed to transform.
