Broadway theater house owners squared off towards rappers Wednesday in a monumental battle over whether or not to open a on line casino in Instances Sq..
Sixteen theaters lit up their marquees and digital billboards with a “No Instances Sq. On line casino” message earlier than and in the course of the first state listening to on the gaming facility proposed at 1515 Broadway — dwelling of the Minskoff Theatre and “The Lion King” Disney musical.
The partnership backing the on line casino proposal contains Caesars Leisure, SL Inexperienced and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation — and put up rapper Fats Joe and radio host Charlamagne tha God to testify on its behalf.
The Broadway League, in the meantime, has spearheaded the opposition to the playing membership, together with close by West Facet retailers and neighborhood teams which are a part of the No Instances Sq. On line casino Coalition.
“A on line casino will create a black gap in Instances Sq.,” Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League, informed The Publish in the course of the listening to.
“It is going to deliver visitors congestion, crime and chaos that we don’t want.”
However the on line casino bidder introduced some bold-faced hip-hop movie star firepower to testify earlier than the Group Advisory Committee — together with Fats Joe, whose actual identify is Joseph Cartagena.
“I’m so excited concerning the undertaking. New York Metropolis is the epicenter of leisure,” the Bronx-born Cartagena, who appears to be like svelte after shedding 200 kilos, mentioned.
He talked about practically $100 million in profit packages that can support many needy New Yorkers, together with minorities whereas alluding to his personal Latino heritage.
“Instances Sq. deserves the on line casino, deserves the roles… I like to see you guys in Instances Sq.,” he mentioned.
Charlamagne tha God, whose actual identify is Lenard Larry McKelvey, host of the iHeartRadio morning present “The Breakfast Membership,” additionally gave the Caesar’s Palace Instances Sq. on line casino bid a plug.
Laks, of the Broadway League, claimed the bald-faced celebs ended up on the entrance of the road to testify, whereas others within the theater district complained that the listening to was held throughout matinee showtimes, limiting the power of Broadway staff to seem.
Greater than 150 folks testified with polar reverse views of the undertaking’s impression on the world.
Supporters mentioned the on line casino could be a boon for Instances Sq. whereas others argued it might degrade the Nice White Manner and surrounding neighborhoods.
“We’d like storytelling — not slot machines,” mentioned Bob Hofmann, vp with the Shubert Group, the biggest house owners of Broadway theaters.Members of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s Nationwide Motion Community additionally confirmed to help the on line casino bid.
The undertaking will likely be rejected if it doesn’t get the OK from the six CAC members. The reviewers of the proposal embrace reps for the governor, mayor, Manhattan borough president, native state senator and meeting member and metropolis council member.
Whether it is accepted by the CAC, the Caesar Palace bid would then be evaluated by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, which is able to suggest as much as three on line casino licenses by December 1.
The state Gaming Fee will then make the ultimate resolution on licensing for bidders who make the ultimate lower by yr’s finish.
