A Bronx community board has spoken out against Bally's planned New York casino.

A Bronx community board has spoken out against Bally's planned New York casino.

 Prior to a community panel's non-binding vote to reject Bally's New York casino project, the crowd booed Soo Kim, the company's CEO.

 The proposed Bally's hotel-casino facility at what is now named Bally's Links at Ferry Point was opposed by 29-5 votes of the Bronx, New York, advisory board known as Community Board 10.  The organisation associated with President Donald Trump used to own the golf course.

 Following a heated meeting, a non-binding vote was taken on March 20th.  As one audience member was removed, there was a loud disagreement and profanity from the board.  The project's 500-room hotel, 200,000-square-foot casino, and 2,000-seat event centre were authorised by the city planning board, who had previously decided to rezone and remap the area that is currently parkland. The meeting followed this decision.

 A mere advisory vote is all that the board has.  The idea put out by Bally will now go on to Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson after a protracted public review process.  Following that, it will be reviewed by the City Council, the Bronx Borough Board, the Department of City Planning, and, finally, the mayor's office.

 Eleven companies, including Bally's, are vying for three downstate casino licenses that are set to be handed out before the year's end.  Locals who are strongly against the project spoke up during the hearing, contradicting Bally's claims that they have widespread support for it.

 Chairman of Board 10  Five spoke in favour of the idea and five spoke against it; Joseph Russo invited all ten.  As Bally's chairman Soo Kim made comments about growing up in neighbouring Whitestone, Queens, the audience booed and heckled him.

 According to the Bronx Times, Kim pointed out that the casino will be surrounded by "a couple hundred acres of golf course, a cemetery and a major interstate that carries 40 million cars a year" while speakers voiced concerns about traffic and possible crime linked to the project.

 Anger directed at Bally's by chairman
 The teasing and jeering throughout Kim's presentation irritated Russo.

 "My god, what on earth is wrong with you?"  He spoke.  "The place you all called home as kids was a barn?"  The panel then asked the audience to step aside so they could continue their discussion behind closed doors.

 Kim made no mention of the disruptions or Russo's comments in her post-vote statement to the Bronx Times.  He emphasised that the borough still had Bally's backing.

 He assured the Bronx that their dedication would not change despite the board's recommended vote.  Even though they might not be able to make it to board meetings in person, over nine thousand registered voters in this area have shown their support by signing commitment cards.  Our plan will be fine-tuned based on what we hear and what we learn from the community to make sure it benefits the Bronx and New York City for generations to come.

 Union offers backing for casino
 Several union officials were among those who voiced their support for the New York casino project, pointing to the potential economic boost that the project could offer to the Bronx.  With this project, Bally's hopes to create 15,000 temporary jobs and 4,000 full-time positions.

 On the waterfront tract where the East River meets Long Island Sound, there would be a 17-acre golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and a $2.5 billion (£1.94 billion, €2.32 billion) casino resort.