FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 22, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 4
Resorts World ‘excited’ at prospect of landing full casino license
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Southeast Queens residents could be major
benefactors of the inclusion of downstate casino
licenses in this year’s historic $220 billion state
budget 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 post-construction 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
signifi cantly 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 Th e
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New
York opened to the public featuring 400 guest
rooms, a fi tness center, state-of-the-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.”
Queens DA lauds White House for new ‘ghost gun’ regulations
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz
is hailing President Joe Biden’s new regulations
aimed at reigning in the proliferation
of ghost guns, untraceable firearms that
have turned up at multiple crime scenes
across the borough.
Biden announced the new crackdown Monday
that changes the defi nition of a fi rearm
under federal law to include unfi nished parts,
like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of
a long gun. It says those parts must be licensed
and include serial numbers.
“President Biden’s new rule provides long
overdue common sense federal regulations
of ghost guns,” Katz said. “Th ese are personally
manufactured, fully functional and virtually
untraceable fi rearms that are assembled
by purchasing parts on the internet. Th ey are
increasingly being recovered at crime scenes all
over the country.”
Th e new regulations give Katz a new tool in
her ongoing crackdown on what she calls the
“polymer pipeline” here in Queens. Last month,
Maryland resident Wenli Bai was arraigned
at Queens Criminal Court on a 336-count
complaint following the largest bust of ghost
gun kits in New York state. Recovered were
enough parts to build 74 ghost guns, 129 highcapacity
magazines and additional ghost gun
components, prosecutors said.
“Our office has worked tirelessly to rid
Queens County of ghost guns and our efforts
have resulted in seven takedowns in the
past eight months,” Katz said. “Mandating
manufacturer licenses and component serial
numbers on ghost guns will help keep us safe
and allow for greater accountability when these
weapons are used to wreak havoc on our communities.
We commend the eff orts of the Biden
administration on gun safety.”
Mayor Eric Adams said the Biden administration
is taking important steps to “sever the
iron pipeline that delivers deadly weapons to
New York City, where guns are not made but
are too frequently used.” Adams also praised
the nomination of DOJ prosecutor Steve
Dettelbach as director of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“The NYPD has taken nearly 1,800 guns
off the streets this year alone, yet the guns
keep f lowing into our city, leaving a trail
of death and destruction in their wake,”
Adams said. “In order to do their part in
damming the rivers that feed the sea of gun
violence, the ATF needs a permanent director
and Congress should immediately turn
their attention to confirming this critical
nominee. At the same time, the Biden administration
deserves real credit for taking
strong steps to tackle the problem of ghost
guns. Untraceable ghost guns are just as
deadly as any other firearm, and they
should be treated as such, not as a novelty
item or curiosity.”
The exterior of Resorts World NYC.
Photo courtesy of Queens district attorney’s offi ce
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz says President Biden’s new regulations on ghost guns will help her
further shut down the “polymer pipeline” here in Queens.
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