Mayor Adams revives Bally’s bid for Bronx casino by vetoing NYC Council vote.

Bally’s Corporation has received renewed prospects for establishing a casino in the Bronx following Mayor Eric Adams’ recent veto of a City Council measure aimed at terminating the proposal. This decision marks a crucial turning point for Bally’s initiative, which faced significant opposition from the Council during a vote last month.

The City Council had decisively voted against the casino project with a tally of 29 to 9 on July 14, suppressing the bid spearheaded by Bally’s in favor of local interests. However, Mayor Adams’ veto opens the door for further deliberation, allowing the Council the potential to override his decision with a two-thirds majority vote.

In a statement released after his veto, Mayor Adams articulated his rationale, emphasizing the importance of ensuring equitable opportunities for all boroughs in the competitive landscape of casino bidding. He noted that treating the Bronx differently from other boroughs could undermine the collective interests of the city and disenfranchise local leaders and constituents, including the Bronx borough president and Council members representing neighborhoods within the borough.

Complicating the landscape further, Frank Carone, the mayor’s campaign chairperson, is reportedly consulting on the Bally’s project, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. Carone has stated that he has not engaged in conversations with the mayor specifically regarding the casino’s proposal, and Vito Pitta, the campaign’s attorney and a lobbyist for the initiative, did not respond to requests for comment.

The Trump Organization is also positioned to benefit financially from the casino project, with a purchase agreement that could yield up to 5 million should Bally’s proceed with their plans.

Local Council member Kristy Marmorato, a staunch opponent of the casino, has aligned her stance with the broader opposition within the Council, leveraging “member deference” practices to consolidate support against the proposal. In response to Mayor Adams’ actions, Council Speaker Mara Davis criticized the administration, arguing that the focus should shift toward more pressing housing needs rather than supporting a casino bid that does not contribute to housing solutions.

For any proposed changes to the zoning of the site, currently classified as parkland, Bally’s would need the city’s approval to transition it into a mixed-use development. As conversations continue, the City Council is expected to evaluate potential next steps regarding the contentious land-use application. The discourse surrounding this issue will indubitably shape the future landscape of both the Bronx and New York City’s broader casino development narrative.