A Win for the Neighborhood: No Casino in Our Midst
We delivered — and we won. After months of vigilance, advocacy, and community pressure, the plan to place a casino in our neighborhood has been officially blocked. The last remaining Manhattan casino proposal, known as Freedom Plaza, has been voted down by the Community Advisory Committee. With that vote, Manhattan is out of the running for a large-scale gambling complex.
This is more than just a “no.” It is a reaffirmation of our voice, our community, and our values. Below is what this means — and what comes next.
What Happened & Why This Matters
1. Freedom Plaza defeated at the local level
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC), whose approval was required to move the project forward, voted 4–2 against the proposal. That rejection effectively halts the casino plan in our area.
2. Other Manhattan casino bids were already blocked
Earlier proposals — in Times Square, Hudson Yards, and other Midtown locations — had already been eliminated, either via community opposition, procedural hurdles, or land-use rejections. The Freedom Plaza bid was the last standing for Manhattan; now it’s gone.
3. The decision follows sustained community resistance
We were never just opposing a building — we spoke out about traffic, emergency access, school safety, quality of life, security, and small local businesses. That collective voice made a difference. Residents, business owners, and civic groups testified tirelessly in public hearings, wrote letters, rallied neighbors, and made sure decision-makers knew that a casino would be disruptive — not beneficial.
4. No “maybe” — the message is clear
With this CAC vote, and with prior rejections, the path for a casino in our neighborhood is closed — barring an unexpected reversal. For the foreseeable future, the neighborhood is safe from the kind of gambling development that would have altered our streets, security, traffic, and sense of place.
What This Victory Protects
Our children and schools will not face the daily risk of exposure to gambling environments or related crime.
Emergency response and traffic corridors remain unburdened by the surge of vehicles, late-night traffic, and congestion.
Local small businesses continue to rely on pedestrian activity, neighborhood stability, and the trust of loyal customers — not overshadowed by a destination casino.
Neighborhood character and peace of mind remain intact. We will not be transformed into a commercial or entertainment zone against our will.
What Comes Next
Development with integrity: Now that the casino option is off the table, the question remains: what happens to that parcel of land? Any proposals going forward should respect community input, ensure transparency, and contribute to housing, green space, cultural or civic uses, not gambling.
Stay alert & engaged: Developers may try to repackage elements (hotels, entertainment, mixed use) without the casino branding. They might revisit zoning changes or push new proposals. We must continue to monitor, comment, and hold officials’ feet to the fire.
Celebrate & share the win: This is a morale boost. Let neighbors, supporters, and allies know that their efforts mattered. Encourage them to stay active and ready for the next challenge.
Push for long-term protections: Explore zoning reforms, community benefit agreements, and legal safeguards — to make sure in decades to come, we won’t be surprised by another big push for a gaming facility.
A Moment to Reflect — and Look Ahead
When we first sounded the alarm, many dismissed the threat as unlikely or too large to stop. But we believed: because we care. Because we live here. Because we built networks and organized.
This result is not guaranteed by chance — it is the product of sustained community engagement, clear messaging, and unrelenting vigilance.
Let this be a message to every neighborhood: when you stand up, speak out, and mobilize, you can change the outcome. Our neighborhood remains ours.
Now we move forward — not with fear of what might be forced upon us, but with clarity about what we will accept and what we will not. The pages turn now toward constructive, community-driven redevelopment — not forced, unwelcome intrusion.
No casino. Not now. Not ever.
#VictoryForTudorCity #NoCasino #CommunityFirst #ProtectOurNeighborhood #SaveOurStreets #PreserveOurHome