Proposed casinos in downstate New York continue to try and drum up support from the public for the ventures. Last week, Jay Z’s entertainment company Roc Nation took to Twitter with a public letter advocating for a Times Square casino in partnership with Caesars Entertainment.
The letter asserts multiple times that preserving the culture of Times Square and the theater district is at the heart of what the company is doing.
“The winning license must always put the well-being of New Yorkers at the top of their agenda and do right by its residents. This is too important of a moment in our city’s illustrious history,” the letter read. “Roc Nation and our partners are here to ensure Times Square remains connected to all facets of culture. There’s no better location for a Caesars Palace entertainment destination than the Crossroads of the World.”
The letter also cited benefits the property would bring to the city, including improved sanitation, the benefit to mass transit, and the general boost to businesses in the surrounding area.
There was also mention of how the casino would “protect” the interests of the theater district in Times Square, which has been a hotly debated topic around the proposal.
A group of theater organizations and local restaurants recently formed the No Times Square Coalition, which opposes the project over concerns it will jeopardize the decades it took to rehabilitate the area. Even with the clout Jay Z and Roc Nation bring, the theater community remains opposed to a casino in the area.
It will be up to the Community Advisory Committee to tell the New York Gaming Facility Location Board if the proposal has sufficient community support to move forward in the competitive bidding process.
