By Dan Murphy
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for MGM Resorts’ application for Empire City Casino to secure one of three available commercial casino licenses held its second and final public hearing on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at Yonkers Montessori Academy. The speakers’ list was dominated by local residents, Empire City employees, union members, and several area business owners. Nearly one hundred speakers delivered remarks. Nearly eighty percent of participants spoke in favor of the project, with seventeen percent opposed and four percent neutral. The hearing, slated for 6-10 PM wrapped about an hour early once the list of speakers was exhausted.
The tone of testimony was notably personal rather than scripted. One Yonkers resident and Empire City employee said his job at Empire City allowed him to stop juggling multiple jobs and purchase a home in Yonkers. He described jobs at MGM Resorts as ones that “catapult many families into the middle class.”
Another employee, a single mother and Yonkers resident, credited MGM’s mentorship and professional development opportunities for helping her advance her career while remaining present for her children. She noted that she was able to afford a house and purchased one next to the casino to allow for easy proximity to her children and work. Others highlighted participation in MGM’s Corporate Responsibility Council, pointing to philanthropy and volunteerism as part of the company’s footprint. Union members emphasized they live in Yonkers and backed the project “as neighbors as much as union workers,” a refrain that drew applause without dominating the proceedings.
Local elected officials also signaled support early in the hearing, with Mayor Mike Spano and City Council Majority Leader John Rubbo offering favorable remarks. A handful of area businesses, some long-time partners with the casino and others with no direct ties, spoke to anticipated spillover benefits for hotels, restaurants, and suppliers. A minority of speakers urged caution or said they saw tremendous benefits from the project but still held concerns about the impact on the community.
The CAC announced that it will convene to vote on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. The vote will be public and streamed, but there will be no public comment at that session. A two-thirds CAC vote is required for any proposal to advance to the Gaming Facility Location Board for consideration, and all committees must complete their work by Sept. 30, 2025, under the downstate licensing timeline.
Manhattan bids voted down on Wednesday
In a consequential turn for the statewide race, two of the three remaining Manhattan proposals were rejected by their CACs on Wednesday: the Caesars Palace Times Square plan, backed by SL Green and Roc Nation, failed on a 4–2 vote, and The Avenir, near the Javits Center, led by Silverstein Properties, was also voted down on a 4-2 vote.
What’s next
If the Yonkers CAC delivers the required two-thirds approval on Sept. 25, the bid moves forward in the downstate licensing process; without it, the application cannot advance. Dates are still being set by the CACs for the other projects to cast their votes.
