TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 22-28, 2022
Resorts World NYC ‘excited’ at prospect of landing
full casino license included in the state budget
23
BY BILL PARRY
The skirl of the bagpipes filled
the air in lower Manhattan last
week as the city’s Department of
Sanitation (DSNY) held a ceremonial
walkout to honor their departing
Commissioner Ed Grayson
as he concluded his nearly
23-year career.
Two rows of DSNY workers
lined up along Worth Street to
salute Grayson who was raised in
Ridgewood, Queens, by his parents
who also worked at the city
agency.
Grayson’s father was a sanitation
worker and supervisor
and his mother was a recycling
outreach coordinator during the
rollout of the groundbreaking
citywide recycling program in
the 1990s.
“It has been an honor and a
privilege to work with all of you
for the past nearly 23 years, and
on behalf of the legacy of my
family that has worked for the
department for 52 years I thank
you,” Grayson said. “It has been
an absolute honor to be one of the
‘Strongest’ and my heart is full.”
Grayson was appointed acting
commissioner in September 2020
after Kathryn Garcia stepped
down to run for mayor. He was
sworn in as commissioner on
New Year’s Eve having worked
his way to the top from humble
beginnings on the back of a collection
truck, then as a supervisor,
a superintendent and as a
chief.
“Growing up in Ridgewood,
everyone in my neighborhood
had a plan for how they’d someday
serve the people of New
York, as so many of our parents
did, including my own,” Grayson
said following his appointment as
commissioner.
Speaking from the front steps
of DSNY’s headquarters with his
wife and kids, he offered praise to
the rank and file before they returned
to their posts serving the
people of the city of New York.
“For 23 years I have loved this
department and that won’t ever
change,” Grayson said. “You are
the most adaptive and impressive
agency in the entire city and it all
worked because of you. You are
the definition of what essential
and critical is.”
The 10,000 workers at the nation’s
largest municipal waste
agency were deeply impacted
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ten died from the virus as operations
continued to collect 12,000
tons of garbage each day.
“It all worked because of you,”
Grayson said. “There will be 8.3
million people that may never
know your name, but know I
know you.”
Grayson and his family live in
Middle Village, where he will be
honored by the Juniper Park Civic
Association during their town
hall meeting on Thursday, April
21, at Our Lady of Hope School at
Eliot Avenue and 71st Street beginning
at 7:30 p.m.
Before delivering his goodbyes
to hundreds of workers,
Grayson shared a final thought.
“I was born on this job and
I will love you forever,” Grayson
said. “God bless New York’s
Strongest, and God bless New
York City.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
BY BILL PARRY
Southeast Queens residents
could be major benefactors of the
inclusion of downstate casino licenses
in this year’s historic $220
billion state budget that was recently
approved in Albany.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo,
who serves as the chair of the Senate
Racing, Gaming and Wagering
Committee, called the inclusion
of the three casino licenses in the
budget a win for the state and the
communities where these licenses
will go.
“By allowing three casinos in
the downstate region to operate
with full licenses, it will create
thousands of jobs when considering
construction and credible postconstruction
union jobs,” Addabbo
said. “It also means additional revenue
for the state, estimated at an
initial $1.5 billion from the three
license fees, and will allow us to
significantly fund important educational
and gaming addiction
programs.”
Addabbo has advocated for one
of the full casino licenses to go to
Resorts World New York City, saying
they’ve proven to be a “great
neighbor and a true economic engine”
in his district since opening
in 2011, having generated more
than $3 billion for New York’s education
fund.
“While this is a nice step forward
for New York state, this does
not mean our work is done. In fact,
our work is just beginning,” Addabbo
said. “Following the budget,
the legislature must monitor the
timely, fair and transparent bidding
process for the licenses, and
ensure that the siting process is
being credibly implemented. I look
forward to working with my colleagues,
the Gaming Commission
and the Hochul administration on
the downstate license issue.”
A full casino license means that
in addition to its 6,500 slots and
electronic table games, Resorts
World would be able to introduce
live dealers at table games such as
poker, blackjack and roulette on
two levels of gaming space.
“Resorts World New York City
could not be more excited for the
nearing of an opportunity to participate
in a competitive process
for a full casino license in New
York City,” Genting America
East President Robert DeSalvio
said. “More than 10 years ago, we
made a commitment to our partners
throughout the state that we
would create good-paying union
jobs, have a strong and diverse
workforce, generate much-needed
education revenue, and be an economic
engine for the entire community.
A decade later, we have
kept our promise backed by more
than $1.1 billion invested in our
world-class property.”
In addition to the gaming and
entertainment spaces, its restaurants
and bars, last summer The
Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at
Resorts World New York opened
to the public featuring 400 guest
rooms, a fitness center, state-ofthe
art conference and meeting
spaces.
“We welcome the opportunity
to work with the state and local
shareholders on this important
and timely leap forward,” DeSalvio
said. “We are ready, willing and
able to immediately double our
workforce by adding more than
1,000 new union jobs and help the
true potential of resort-style gaming,
entertainment and hospitality
be realized right here in the heart
of Queens.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by email
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
Resorts World New York City has the infrastructure in place and a plan
to double its workforce by adding 1,000 union jobs if its awarded a full
casino license. Photo courtesy of Resorts World NYC
DSNY Commissioner Ed Grayson gets a ceremonial walkout
ceremony as he retires after nearly 23 years with New York’s Strongest.
Photos by Corazon Aguirre
Retiring DSNY commissioner gets hero’s
send-off during ‘walkout’ ceremony
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