"Brawls broke out in the packed Coney Island YMCA on Wednesday night at the second and final public meeting of The Coney's Community Advisory Committee. Just over 100 people testified at the four-hour hearing, and dozens more were left waiting outside, unable to enter after the room reached capacity. The majority of speakers - about 85 - voiced their opposition to the proposed casino, with roughly 25 in favor."
"For months, locals have sparred with developers, elected officials, and each other over the fate of the project. The first CAC hearing on Aug. 26 was heated, and tensions boiled over at the Sept. 10 hearing as Coney Islanders made their final arguments to the six-member CAC, which must vote on whether or not to advance The Coney's casino license application by Sept. 30."
""This should have ended for you the moment that violence erupted," one speaker told the casino team. "Because that's what you're bringing. You're bringing anger, you're bringing people who are so thirsty for jobs they're getting violent with people.""
A public meeting at the Coney Island YMCA erupted in brawls during the second Community Advisory Committee hearing on the proposed casino. Just over 100 people testified across four hours while many others waited outside after the room hit capacity. About 85 speakers opposed the project and roughly 25 supported it. Police intervened to break up skirmishes and remove attendees. The Coney proposal would span 1.6 million square feet and include a casino, convention center, hotel, restaurants, and retail. City Council rezoned the area despite local board opposition. Supporters cite jobs and investment; opponents fear displacement of small businesses and harm to neighborhood livability.
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