A FULL-SCALE CASINO LICENSE FOR RESORTS
WORLD NYC WOULD BOOST LOCAL TOURISM
organizations begin to erase the huge
losses they have suffered over the last
two years.
Our members are aware of Resorts
World’s push to be allowed to compete
in the bidding process for table game licenses
and they fully support the move.
If Resorts World were able to expand its
offerings as an entertainment destination,
people would flock there to take advantage
of the new options. This would
create potentially thousands of needed
good-paying union jobs in the retail, leisure
and service sectors. And while they
were there, staying in the new hotel, they
would also be infusing cash into other
businesses in the area, many of which
are minority- and women-owned enterprises.
This would create even more jobs
and economic activity indirectly. These
businesses have perhaps felt the loss of
the pandemic more acutely than others,
as their employees and customers have
been adversely impacted by COVID-19.
New York should be exploring any
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JAN. 28 - FEB. 3, 2022 13
OP-ED
BY THOMAS GRECH
When people think of casinos, they
often only think of gaming. But, in the
nearly 10 years since Resorts World New
York City has been open, our members
have come to see it as so much more.
They’ve gone there for concerts, to watch
sporting events, and for comedy shows.
They’ve sat down for a nice meal at the
RW Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.
In fact, the Queens Chamber has hosted
numerous events on site. And they’re not
the only ones. Queens residents and visitors
to the borough have come to view
Resorts World as a destination for entertainment
and good food.
When the world stopped due to the
pandemic, much of life in the “World’s
Borough” stopped as well. Tourism was
curtailed and foot traffic took a huge dip.
With fewer people heading to Resorts
World, neighboring small businesses
were also hit hard. We need an influx
of people to the borough to help these
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and all options that would bring people
back to the city. We’ve seen the good
neighbor that Resorts World has been to
the chamber and its members. We know
its commitment to hiring Queens residents
and helping local entrepreneurs.
We know the work it’s done with the
community and local nonprofits – helping
them achieve fundraising goals,
amplifying their work and connecting
them with volunteers and supporters.
We’ve seen its commitment to providing
its customers access to locally produced
goods.
The chamber believes adding table
games to the facility would do nothing
but strengthen these ties between Resorts
World and the Queens community.
Its success would spell success for all of
us.
Many of our members were forced
to make the hard decision during the
pandemic to lay off employees. And they
weren’t the only ones – over a third of
Queens residents say they or someone
in their household lost their job since the
pandemic started. Many people who are
now unemployed are people of color.
As a representative of over 1,300 organizations
in Queens, we support awarding
Resorts World a full-scale casino
license because the move would also create
thousands of union jobs. As we said,
Resorts World is committed to hiring
minority employees who live in Queens.
This move could quickly create options
for employment and get these people
back to work in the borough where they
live. New York’s path to recovery will be
long. By supporting options that get people
back to work and bring people back
to the most diverse community in the
country, New York can help the borough,
the local business community and the
entire region as they strive to return to
pre-pandemic levels.
Thomas Grech is president & CEO of
the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
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