Two Bronx legislators announced Monday they’re introducing legislation to aid Bally’s bid to open a casino next to the borough’s golf course formerly run by President Trump’s firm.
The bill pushed by Sen. Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblyman Mike Benedetto would reclassify the parkland for commercial use in order for the gambling and entertainment company’s casino bid to move forward.
The project can’t proceed without the redesignation.
Bally’s took over the lease for the golf course from The Trump Organization in 2023 — renaming “Trump Links” at Ferry Point to “Bally Links.”
Bally’s hopes to build a 500,000-square-foot casino on the Bronx site by its golf course, along with a 500-room hotel with a spa and meeting space, retail shops, a 2,000-seat event center, and two parking garages with capacity for up to 4,660 vehicles.
“In order to keep this process transparent and allow for the community to properly review a complete proposal, we are introducing parkland alienation legislation required for the application process,” Fernandez and Benedetto said in a joint statement.
“This is not an endorsement of this project, rather it is our determination that the Bronx should be allowed to participate and submit an application,” they said.
Similar legislation is expected to be introduced to potentially pave the way for a separate Queens casino bid.
Queens Sen. John Liu said Monday that he is introducing legislation that would give billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen the legal right to move forward with his planned $8 billion casino complex next to Citi Field.
The lots around Citi Field also require state approval to be reclassified from parkland to commercial use to advance Cohen’s casino bid.
Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks is pushing a companion in the lower house.
But a potential roadblock lies with Sen. Jessica Ramos, who represents the district where the casino would largely be built. She has publicly opposed the project.
Another dozen bidders are vying for up to three casino licenses that will be awarded by the state Gaming Commission at year’s end.