Save Iconic Coney Island’s Historic Amusement District!

Statement on the City Council’s Approval of Demapping and Air Rights in Coney Island

We are deeply disappointed by the City Council’s decision to support demapping public streets for the benefit of a private casino developer and to grant air rights within the heart of Coney Island’s Amusement District. This action disregards broad and sustained opposition from local residents, small businesses, community leaders, and advocates who have worked tirelessly to protect the integrity and future of this iconic and historic Amusement District.

Coney Island is more than just a neighborhood — it is a cornerstone of New York City’s and this nation’s cultural identity. For over a century, it has been a place where working families from every borough could come together, where amusement met affordability, and where public space was celebrated. The approval of this development represents not only a loss of land, but a profound threat to a shared legacy of equity, inclusion, and imagination.

These votes in favor were made despite the absence of support from those who know Coney Island best: its residents, its Community Board, and its core amusement businesses and institutions. The overwhelming local opposition reflects a deep and principled understanding of what is at stake — and a determination to preserve a Coney Island that serves the many, not the few.

A casino is not a neutral or benign addition to a neighborhood. It brings with it a well-documented rise in addiction, economic instability, and social harm — particularly for the most vulnerable. These risks cannot be overlooked in pursuit of speculative private revenue. Public decisions must be guided by public good.

The process that led to this outcome raises serious concerns. Public land is a public trust, and its future must be shaped with the full and meaningful participation of those who live and work in the community every day.

Coney Island deserves better – and this fight is not over. We call on all New Yorkers who care about our city’s public spaces and cultural landmarks to make their voices heard. Contact the six elected officials who hold influence over the upcoming Community Advisory Committee vote. Let them know: Coney Island’s future should be determined by the community, not by casino developers.

Save Iconic Coney Island’s Historic Amusement District!

Sign our petition below and email the six politicians listed below:

Re: Petition Opposing The Coney Development

Dear NY Governor Kathy Hochul, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, NY Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny, NY State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and  Council member Justin Brannan,

I am writing to express my deep and unequivocal opposition to the recent decision to rezone public streets and provide air rights in Coney Island to accommodate a private casino development—an action that disregards the will of the community, undermines public trust, and endangers the cultural and economic fabric of this historic district.

The decision to support “The Coney Development” was made without meaningful community engagement or consent, despite overwhelming and well-documented opposition from Coney Island residents and small businesses. The voices of the very people who live, work, and raise families in this neighborhood were not only ignored, but actively overridden in favor of private interests. This is not democracy—it is a betrayal of it.

Equally troubling is the City Council’s failure to consider the unified stance against this casino by the Coney Island amusement parks and the broader business community within the Amusement District. These stakeholders are the stewards of Coney Island’s unique identity—one rooted in family-friendly entertainment, cultural heritage, and affordable recreation for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Their rejection of the casino underscore the profound incompatibility of this project with the district’s historic character and long-standing economic ecosystem.

The process that led to this decision raises serious ethical and procedural concerns. Rezoning public streets to transfer control to a private developer, without full transparency or inclusive public deliberation, represents a gross misuse of public power and resources. This was not a project initiated in good faith with the community—it was a private deal, brokered with the aid of public officials and funds, to advance a project that has been rejected by Coney Island residents and small businesses  time and again.

Casinos are not engines of sustainable development—they are predatory institutions that exploit financial vulnerability, depress surrounding businesses, and increase social burdens such as crime, addiction, and poverty. Coney Island deserves investment in  education, healthcare, and small business support—not a casino that siphons wealth from the community under the guise of economic development.

The future of Coney Island should be shaped by its residents, not dictated by corporate developers behind closed doors. I urge you to reconsider and reverse this decision, to halt the casino project, and to recommit to a vision for Coney Island that reflects the values, voices, and needs of the people who call it home.

Respectfully,

There are  six politicians (below) that  will decide if the Casino gets built in Coney Island. They will each appoint one member of the board that decides on the Casino. Email each of them to say you are against the Casino in Coney Island and will not vote for any politician who does not vote against the Casino.

Emails:

AskJB@council.nyc.gov; spanton@nysenate.gov; AskReynoso@brooklynbp.nyc.gov;

brook-krasnya@nyassembly.gov; Governor.Hochul@exec.ny.gov; mayoreric@cityhall.nyc.gov

Sample letter 1:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]

Re: Opposition to The Coney Development

Dear NY Governor Kathy Hochul, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, NY Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny, NY State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and  Council member Justin Brannan

I am writing to express my deep and unequivocal opposition to the recent decision to rezone public streets and provide air rights in Coney Island to accommodate a private casino development—an action that disregards the will of the community, undermines public trust, and endangers the cultural and economic fabric of this historic district.

The decision to support “The Coney Development” was made without meaningful community engagement or consent, despite overwhelming and well-documented opposition from Coney Island residents and small businesses. The voices of the very people who live, work, and raise families in this neighborhood were not only ignored, but actively overridden in favor of private interests. This is not democracy—it is a betrayal of it.

Equally troubling is the City Council’s failure to consider the unified stance against this casino by the Coney Island amusement parks and the broader business community within the Amusement District. These stakeholders are the stewards of Coney Island’s unique identity—one rooted in family-friendly entertainment, cultural heritage, and affordable recreation for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Their rejection of the casino underscore the profound incompatibility of this project with the district’s historic character and long-standing economic ecosystem.

The process that led to this decision raises serious ethical and procedural concerns. Rezoning public streets to transfer control to a private developer, without full transparency or inclusive public deliberation, represents a gross misuse of public power and resources. This was not a project initiated in good faith with the community—it was a private deal, brokered with the aid of public officials and funds, to advance a project that has been rejected by Coney Island residents and small businesses  time and again.

Casinos are not engines of sustainable development—they are predatory institutions that exploit financial vulnerability, depress surrounding businesses, and increase social burdens such as crime, addiction, and poverty. Coney Island deserves investment in  education, healthcare, and small business support—not a casino that siphons wealth from the community under the guise of economic development.

The future of Coney Island should be shaped by its residents, not dictated by corporate developers behind closed doors. I urge you to reconsider and reverse this decision, to halt the casino project, and to recommit to a vision for Coney Island that reflects the values, voices, and needs of the people who call it home.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Title/Organization, if applicable]

This is a suggested sample of what you could write when you email each politician… or just tell them how you feel.

A letter from our CEO:

June 12, 2025 – Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises; 11:00 am – 250 Broadway, 16th Floor Committee Room, New York, NY 10007

To testify at this hearing on the following item(s) remotely, please register at:  https://council.nyc.gov/land-use/

You may submit written testimony to landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov. They will take written testimony up to 72 hours following the completion of the public hearing

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