Candidates clash over Ferry Point Bally’s casino approval and community benefits

At a Bronx Talk debate for the Democratic primary in the 82nd Assembly District, candidates sparred over the recently approved Bally’s Ferry Point casino project, its promised benefits and whether local elected officials adequately represented residents’ objections.

“Community overwhelmingly said they did not want this in their district,” Felix Ortiz told the forum, saying he was “not pleased that this went through” and accusing the incumbent of being “compromised.” Ortiz argued the project would extract money from local residents and urged that major executive positions and meaningful resources be prioritized for district residents.

Assemblymember Michael Benedetto defended the outcome and his approach, saying opponents should have registered objections at the state Gaming Commission hearings. He highlighted what he described as the project’s local investments, saying, “we’ve got 18 million dollars of projects coming to the community every single year.” The moderator noted Community Board 10 had voted overwhelmingly to oppose the project.

The forum transcript lists the Bally’s proposal and regulatory approvals cited by candidates: a 15-year license and a complex that the program described as including 3,500 slot machines, 210 table games, 40 poker tables, a 500-room hotel, two parking garages and a 2,000-seat event center. Candidates and the moderator cited a proposed local benefits package described in the discussion as valued at $765 million; candidates said the package’s payments were structured to flow after project completion.

The exchange included pointed accusations and counter-accusations. Ortiz accused Benedetto of voting to alienate parkland and of being aware of a deal that would have provided $115 million to the Trump Organization; that charge was framed as an allegation in the debate and met with rebuttal from Benedetto, who said opponents did not take opportunities to testify at the hearings and defended his record of securing local projects including preservation for Preston High School.

Candidates differed on the path forward now that the Gaming Commission has issued a license. Ortiz said he would insist the casino prioritize jobs and executive-level hiring for district residents and press for community benefits that meaningfully return to the neighborhood. Benedetto said he intended to work with the owners to ensure the annual community funds are directed to local priorities.

There was no formal vote or policy action during the debate. The candidates directed listeners to vote in the Democratic primary on June 23; early voting runs June 13–21.