"One of three downstate casino proposals approved by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board last month, it would transform what is now an empty 50-acre asphalt parking lot in Willets Point into a casino, hotel, food hall and entertainment venue that supporters say will bring tens of thousands of jobs. But many have raised concerns because the low-lying area, hemmed in by Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek, is flood-prone."
"As climate change intensifies, bringing sea level rise and extreme weather, it will only become more so in the coming years, critics say. Neighbors and advocates warn that placing a large-scale commercial complex here-instead of dedicating this area to water absorption and drainage-could increase flooding risks for surrounding communities as well. They point to the city's own comprehensive waterfront plan, which aims to reduce development in the floodplain and help people relocate from high-risk areas."
"'Shame on you John Liu! Shame on you John Liu!' was the spontaneous chant from a crowd of about 200 protesters who showed up Oct. 19 at the Muslim Center of New York in Flushing to protest the plan to build a large casino complex next to Citi Field, home of the Mets."
A proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino would convert a 50-acre asphalt parking lot in Willets Point into a casino, hotel, food hall and entertainment venue. Supporters say the complex will create tens of thousands of jobs and was approved as one of three downstate proposals by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board. Opponents, including climate activists and local residents, warn that the low-lying site, bounded by Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek, is flood-prone and vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme weather. Advocates urge a climate-resilient park for stormwater absorption and cite the city waterfront plan to limit floodplain development.
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