Community Board 10 voted 29 to 5 against a proposed Bally’s hotel-casino complex on March 20, following a raucous and chaotic public meeting that ended abruptly with expletives from the board chair and the removal of the audience from the room.
The vote concerned a zoning change under Bally’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application to de-map and rezone parkland in Ferry Point Park for a 500-room hotel, 200,000-square-foot casino and 2,000-seat event center. The board’s vote is advisory and marks the first step in a lengthy public review process.
Bally’s is among 11 contenders for three downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded by the end of 2025. The proposal has stirred significant controversy among local residents, despite the company claiming support from 3,200 of 3,700 residents contacted through door-to-door outreach.
The meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd, with many attendees repeatedly interrupting speakers during the public comment period. Board Chair Joseph Russo initially allowed 10 speakers in favor of the project and five against before closing the meeting to the public.
Tensions escalated when Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim began his remarks, referencing his own childhood spent in nearby Whitestone, Queens. His comments drew immediate jeers from the crowd.
Kim attempted to address concerns about traffic and location, noting the casino would be bordered by “a couple hundred acres of golf course, a cemetery and a major interstate that carries 40 million cars a year.”
As heckling intensified, Russo lost his cool.
“God damn it, what the hell is wrong with you?” he said. “Where did you guys grow up, in a f—ing barn?”
Shortly after, the audience was ushered out as the board continued its deliberations behind closed doors.
In a statement to the Bronx Times after the vote, Kim did not reference the interruptions or Russo’s remarks but maintained Bally’s support for the borough.
“While we acknowledge the Board’s advisory vote, our commitment to The Bronx remains unwavering,” he said.
Kim emphasized the company’s outreach efforts.
“That includes more than 9,000 signed pledge cards from registered voters in this community — many of whom may not attend Board meetings but have made their voices heard,” he said. “We will continue to listen, learn, and refine our proposal to ensure it delivers lasting, generational impact for The Bronx and New York City.”
Public criticism of the project has been ongoing. At a February 25 hearing, more than 100 people attended to express concerns, and many of those sentiments were echoed again during the March 20 meeting.
However, some attendees showed support for the project, holding signs reading “Bally’s Resort = $100 million in park beautification in CB10” and “Bally’s, thank you for trying to save Preston,” referring to Bally’s failed $8.5 million bid to acquire the closing Catholic school.
Before the meeting was closed, five residents spoke against the project and 10 in favor. Shouts of “Where do you live?” and “This is a setup!” erupted as speakers took the microphone.
Several union workers voiced support for the project, citing the economic boost it could bring to the Bronx, including a promised 15,000 construction jobs and 4,000 permanent jobs. A representative told the Bronx Times that all union members who spoke were residents of CB10.
Other speakers who did not say they were union workers supported the project for its local benefits as promised by Bally’s. The company proposed a $625 million community benefits package that included jobs for Bronx residents, funding for schools and youth programs, infrastructure improvements and more.
“I’m here to say yes because we need to build the Bronx,” said Marion Franklin. “We have to come together and bring this to the Bronx, because I’m telling you, we are in need of jobs for our people.”
Edward Romeo, who said he was a former CB10 member, also expressed support.
“I like the idea of big business coming to the Bronx and doing something with that area that we’ve been starting at for a very long time,” he said, referencing the “long, weird history” of the Bally’s Links golf course.
“With everybody running out of the Bronx, I believe it’s time to let somebody in, something positive,” he added.
However, Nadir Khan, who said he has lived in Throggs Neck for 30 years, voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about safety and traffic.
Despite the potential economic benefits of the project, “We cannot overlook the serious concerns surrounding safety, security and traffic conditions,” Khan said. “We need real assurance that our community won’t bear the burden of increased crime and policing challenges.” He also warned of increased traffic from Westchester and Connecticut and potential loss of public green space in Ferry Point Park.
Another longtime resident, whose name was not clearly audible, said her family had lived in the area for 75 years and worried about declining property values.
“Potential homeowners will now view this area as undesirable,” she said. “The list of negatives continues to grow. The greed and political influence simply will not be tolerated by those of us who are lifelong residents.”
After the public was removed, Russo apologized for his earlier remarks, and no board members objected. Members then discussed the application in more detail.
According to March 11 committee meeting minutes, the Housing and Zoning Committee had already voted 9 to 3 against the application.
During the entire board’s final discussion, 13 members spoke against the proposal, with at least two citing strong opposition from constituents. Four members, including Russo, spoke in favor.
Russo urged his colleagues to vote on the zoning change itself — not the overall Bally’s plan — emphasizing that a “yes” vote would allow the board to stay engaged in the process.
“We’re not voting on Bally’s to build this” but for a permanent zoning change on what is now parkland, Russo said. “If we vote no, we’re at the mercy and whim of others who don’t necessarily represent the interests of Board 10.”
He noted that the ULURP process would take time — typically seven months.
“If we vote yes, bulldozers aren’t crossing over Whitestone Bridge tomorrow morning. And if we vote no, it will not kill the project by any stretch of the imagination.”
The board ultimately voted 29 to 5 against the proposal. District Manager Matt Cruz thanked members for their thoughtful deliberation.
“I told you this would be the biggest vote of your tenure,” Cruz said.
The Bally’s proposal now moves to Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, followed by the Bronx Borough Board, the Department of City Planning, the City Council and, ultimately, the mayor’s office.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
