MAYOR ADAMS ISSUES REPORT ANALYZING BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AVAILABLE FOR NYC THROUGH DOWNSTATE CASINO PROPOSALS, LAYS OUT RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE CASINO BENEFITS FOR FIVE BOROUGHS

 

“Casting the Dice” Provides Detailed Analysis of Each Casino Proposal for New York City, Including Opportunities for Economic Development and Job Creation

Lays Out Both Site-Specific Suggestions and General Recommendations to Make Sure New Yorkers Benefit From a Downstate Casino

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today issued “Casting the Dice: Casinos in New York City,” a comprehensive report analyzing each of the seven casino proposals located within the five boroughs and laying out clear recommendations to make sure that any casino located within New York City benefits both the surrounding community and the entire city with billions of dollars in economic impact, thousands of jobs, and improvements to local neighborhoods. The report examines the financial, economic, and design impacts of each of the casino proposals; additionally, the report lays out seven general recommendations for all parties involved in the casino licensing process to consider as proposals continue to move forward.

“A casino would bring thousands of additional good-paying union jobs and billions of additional dollars in economic development to New York City, which is why our administration has fought for a fair process with as many competitive bids for the city as possible,” said Mayor Adams. “This report will help make sure that any casino within New York City benefits all of the five boroughs and that our city makes the most of this once-in-a-generation chance to open up a casino downstate.”

“From the start, the Adams administration has worked to make this process fair, transparent, and centered on community needs,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This report reflects the careful analysis of our city agencies and provides clear recommendations to guide state decision-makers in the months ahead.”

Given the potential benefits of a casino for New York City — including jobs, tourism, economic development, and additional investment in the surrounding areas — the Adams administration has helped promote a fair process with as many competitive casino bids for the city as possible. Additionally, through the Adams administration’s appointments to Community Advisory Committees (CAC) that evaluate each of the individual applications, the city has been able to advance the public interest and evaluate proposals based on equity and potential benefits to the city while mitigating any potential risks. Today’s report builds on that work.

Following a comprehensive review by several city agencies, Casting the Dice offers a comparative analysis of every application, showcasing the potential jobs and economic impact that each casino could have on New York City.

	Bally’s	Coney	Avenir	Caesars	Freedom	QF	Aqueduct
Construction Jobs, Direct	6,936	6,976	11,269	7,190	17,907	16,224	7,942
Construction Jobs, Indirect & Induced	3,297	3,316	5,356	3,417	8,511	7,711	3,775
Permanent Jobs, Direct	1,547	1,617	1,822	2,017	2,736	2,559	1,765
Construction Economic Impact, Net New (Net Present Value) ($M)	$1,623.4	$1,627.6	$2,642.9	$1.676.6	$4,193.5	$3,787.9	$1,855.4
Operations Economic Impact, Net New (30-Year Net Present Value) ($M)	$7,256.8	$10,674.1	$9,884.8	$9,650.6	$10,113.3	$11,525.2	$7,629.7

Casting the Dice includes detailed economic analysis showing the impact of each individual casino proposal for New York City. Source: New York City Mayor’s Office.

Following an acceleration of two CAC votes this week by Manhattan elected officials without thorough debate or analysis, two casino proposals failed to advance through the process. Nevertheless, key recommendations in this report were shared with the respective CACs and applicants ahead of the vote and before publication to ensure they had all the information necessary for a vote. The Adams administration continues to encourage all CACs to utilize the full-time allotted for a comprehensive review of all proposals.

Additionally, in order to make sure that every proposal best serves the surrounding community and the city, the report makes concrete recommendations for the land use, design, and urban planning elements of each individual application.

Finally, the report calls on all parties involved in the licensing process — including applicants, the Gaming Facility Location Board, and the New York State Gaming Commission — to incorporate the following principles into their decision making:

• Consider a revised, regular distribution of gaming revenues to make sure that casinos located in New York City benefit all five boroughs.
• Ensure that community benefit funds have clear, accountable government structures.
• Establish meaningful enforcement mechanisms to ensure that commitments and pledges by license applicants are codified and followed.
• Promote transparency and clear oversight in decision-making throughout the process.
• Invest in initiatives that promote quality of life, treat addiction, and address traffic.
• Prioritize participation by minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
• Create detailed workforce plans to ensure that local communities have access to good-paying jobs and other economic benefits from a casino.

CITY OF NEW YORK TAKES ADDITIONAL ACTION OPPOSING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IN AMERICAN CITIES

 

New York City and Coalition Again Support California’s Case Against Federal Administration 

 

Brief Contends That Cities — Not Military — Hold Lawful Expertise and Authority Over Domestic Law Enforcement, Are Better Suited to Ensure Public Safety While Protecting First Amendment Rights 

The City of New York — as part of a coalition of 36 localities from around the nation — has filed another amicus brief supporting California Governor Gavin Newsom’s ongoing case against the federal government’s unlawful deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. In the brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to deny the federal government’s motion to stay a September 2, 2025 district court ruling in Newsom v. Trump, which enjoined the federal government from deploying federal troops in Los Angeles to execute the law in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. This ruling, the second time the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has blocked the federal government’s actions in this case, held that the Trump administration exceeded legal limits that prohibit the use of the military for domestic law enforcement.  

 

“We will always fight to protect our city’s right to make the best public safety decisions for New Yorkers. Already in 2025, the NYPD has safely managed over 3,200 protests without major incidents. We have the greatest police department in the world, and they are more than equipped to handle all public safety concerns that come our way, including protests,” said Mayor Adams. “We do not need a deployment of the National Guard to our city. Instead, we hope to continue to work with the federal government to stop the flow of illegal guns to our city from across the nation. We remain committed to keeping New Yorkers safe through smart, precision-driven policing.” 

 

“Turning the military into a domestic police force with no local oversight sets a dangerous precedent for cities across this nation,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “As demonstrated in this brief, the unnecessary deployment of armed soldiers in cities violates federal law that has been in place for over a century and threatens the economic and social stability of communities by sowing chaos and fear. We urge the court to deny the Trump administration’s request for a stay so the district court’s injunction can take effect.” 

 

In the amicus brief — prepared by the City of Los Angeles — the coalition argues that the federal government’s use of the military inflicts irreparable harm and encroaches on the authority of states and localities, which are better trained to handle domestic law enforcement. The brief further maintains that the Los Angeles Police Department responded successfully to the wide-scale protests, including the No Kings’ Day protests on June 14, 2025, in which 200,000 people poured onto the streets, and there was no basis for the federal government’s intervention with armed soldiers who are primarily trained to defend America against attack.   

 

Moreover, the brief contends that the deployment of federal troops negatively impacts immigrants who contribute greatly to regional economies. The brief observes that these communities are living in fear, “unable to engage in the simplest daily tasks — going to work or sending children to school — without considering the risk to their safety and freedom.” In Los Angeles, the brief states, more people are staying home, resulting in a “ghost town,” and that the visible decline in economic activities has caused businesses to close and has contributed to a significant reduction in local tax revenue available to fund schools and other vital public services. 

 

The brief warns that other cities may face similar consequences, as the federal government has stated plans for further troop deployments across the nation. 

 

Joining the City of New York and the City of Los Angeles in filing the amicus brief are the cities of Alameda, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Long Beach, Monterey Park, Oakland, Salinas, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, California; Hartford, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Iowa City, Iowa; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Albany and Rochester, New York; Beaverton and Portland, Oregon; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; Burlington, Vermont; Seattle, Washington; and Madison, Wisconsin; as well as the counties of Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and Sonoma, California; Boulder, Colorado; and Tacoma, WA; as well as the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

  

Permits Filed for 2738 Kingsbridge Terrace in Kingsbridge, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 2738 Kingsbridge Terrace in Kingsbridge, The Bronx. Located between Perot Street and West Kingsbridge Road, the lot is closest to the Kingsbridge Road subway station, served by the 4 train. Renato Marinaj of SMR Of NY Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 55-foot-tall development will yield 18,905 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 36 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 525 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a penthouse and a 20-foot-long rear yard.

Noel T. Wong of ADB Associates is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed earlier this month. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

VCJC News & Notes 9/19/25

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

1. Shabbos schedule
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 9/19/25 @ 6:39 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 9/20/25@ 7:42 pm

   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.
   

2. Shabbos parsha

   Parashat Nitzavim 5785 / פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים

   20 September 2025 / 27 Elul 5785

   Parashat Nitzavim is the 51st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20

   In Nitzavim (“Standing”), Moses addresses the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of following God’s covenant and of not worshiping other gods. He describes the process of repentance and returning to God, and stresses that God’s commandments are achievable and “not in the heavens.” [1]

   
   

3. Rosh HaShannah
   September 22 @ 6:34 pm

   Erev Rosh Hashanah Candles

   September 22 @ 6:40 pm

   Eruv Rosh Hashanah Aft./Eve. Services
   
   
   September 23 @ 8:15 am

   Morning Services – Rosh Hashanah Day 1

   September 23 @ 10:45 am

   Rosh Hashanah Day 1 – Shofar Blowing Apx Time
   
   
   September 24 @ 8:15 am

   Morning Services – Rosh Hashanah Day 2

   September 24 @ 10:45 am

   Rosh Hashanah – Day 2 – Shofar Blowing Apx Time

   September 24 @ 6:40 pm

   Rosh Hashanah – Day 2 – Aft./Eve. Services

   September 24 @ 7:34 pm

   Rosh Hashanah – Yom Tov Ends
   

4. Fast of Gedalyah, Sept 25
   Begins: 5:34 am
   Ends: 7:32 pm

5. From the Derfner Judaica Museum
   

   1. OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK: Guided Exhibition Tour

      Sunday, October 19, 1:30 p.m. in person

      Reserve a spot art@riverspring.org or 718-581-1596

      
      

      To learn more about Open House New York, click here.

      
      
      AND

      Creating Fantastical Spaces

      Join the Museum's Senior Curator for a Free Virtual Talk

      Tuesday, October 28, 2 p.m. on Zoom

      Click here to register
       

      5901 Palisade Avenue

      Riverdale, New York 10471

      718-581-1596

      www.derfner.org

6 - Buy a shirt, support VCJC
JpodPlus, operated by Jack Kleinfeld, will donate all profits made from the sale of its Bring them home, NOW!, T-shirt to VCJC.  The shirt is available in adult, youth long sleeve, and youth short sleeve tees. The shirts are available in several colors and will be shipped directly to the buyer from the Print On Demand manufacturer.  The adult version in black is shown below, along with a few of the available colors.
Other shirts and Print on Demand products can be seen at the store site.

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463