I don't think we should build any new casinos in New York City
Summary
A stranger on the subway has a fiery take about New York's casino expansion plans. He's furious that developers want to build casinos in Flushing, a working-class Asian immigrant neighborhood, and on 20 acres of public land in the Bronx that would somehow net Trump $100 million. Kareem agrees completely. The problem? "They know that unfortunately folks in my community struggle with the addictions of gambling and they want to exploit that." Instead of casinos extracting wealth from vulnerable communities, he argues, the city could build affordable housing, parks, or even bring the New York Giants back to actual New York. He's organizing with the Flushing Anti-Casino Group for a rally on November 16. Kareem's takeaway is perfect: "There's no such thing as a friendly neighborhood casino." The episode ends with Kareem promising to visit Flushing for all-you-can-eat crab at Shaking Crab.
Full Transcript
So, what's your take? I don't think we should build any new casinos in New York City.
100% agree. Are there any casinos in New York City? There's one in Jamaica, right? And they're trying to propose two new casinos. One right next to my lifelong home of Flushing and then another in the Bronx on public land. By the way,
Why wouldn't they put it in a place like Times Square? Even that would be better than like right next to my lifelong home of Flushing, which is a working-class Asian immigrant neighborhood.
They want to put it in the Asian neighborhood. Racist, racist, racist, racist. Because they know that unfortunately folks in my community struggle with the addictions of gambling and they want to exploit that. But also like think about the fact that like we live in the most valuable land in the history of the world. Kareem, we can put so much on that land. We can build affordable housing. We can build parks. Here's another hot take. We can finally bring the New York Giants into New York City. But instead of doing that, they're going to build a casino to destroy our communities and extract wealth from us. By the way, the casino that they're trying to build in the Bronx, it would take away 20 acres of public land. And also, Trump would get $100 million because of it because that's his former uh golf course.
If you want to go to the casino, go to Atlantic City. Go to Vegas.
Go upstate. That's what I'm saying.
Just make a little day out of it. There's no need to do it here.
There's no such thing as a friendly neighborhood casino. Exactly.
So, how do we stop the casino from being built? I'm a part of a grassroots community group called the Flushing Anti-Casino Group and we're holding historic rally on November 16 at 1 p.m. in front of Flushing Library. Everybody, please be there. Stop this casino. It's predatory. It's horrible.
Let's cook. Is there a website? We have an Instagram called No Casino FMCP, which stands for Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Where am I going to get the all-you-can-eat crab though? Uh, I mean, I can give you some spots. I'm a lifelong resident.
They got all-you-can-eat crab. Yeah, there's a place called the Shaking Crab that's been around for a while.
When are you going to visit Flushing? Tomorrow. Support my local economy.
I'm coming for the crab.