A new poll finds strong local opposition to a proposed casino in Times Square backed by Jay‑Z’s Roc Nation and partners SL Green and Caesars, a development that could shape the race to replace retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler and other local contests.
The Tulchin Research survey, commissioned by the No Times Square Casino coalition that includes the Broadway League, found 67% of registered voters in and around Times Square oppose the project at 1515 Broadway and 45th Street, with 50% saying they are "strongly" opposed. Just 24% supported the casino and 9% were undecided. The poll queried 400 registered voters between Aug. 28 and Sept. 2 in zip codes 10017, 10019, 10022, 10036, 10018 and 10020; the margin of error is +/- 4.9 percentage points.
The survey shows opposition cutting across demographic groups. Women opposed the plan by 73% to 17%; men opposed it 59% to 33%. Voters 55 and older rejected the proposal by 74% to 16%, and voters under 55 opposed it 57% to 34% in favor. Large majorities expressed specific concerns: 77% worried about increased crime, 75% said the project would make the area less pleasant to live and work in, 74% cited traffic congestion, and 73% said streets could become dirtier.
Opposition appears to carry electoral consequences. The poll found 64% of respondents said they would be less likely to support a candidate who backs the casino, 18% said they would be more likely to support such a candidate, and 18% were unsure. The proposed facility has already become a focus in the open primary to succeed Nadler in Manhattan’s congressional district, and could figure in other local races.
The timing of the poll coincides with a process that could produce a decisive local recommendation. The district’s six‑member community advisory committee — composed of appointees of the governor, mayor, borough president, local state senator, assembly member and council member — held a public hearing and could vote on the bid as early as this week; the panel has until Sept. 30 to act.
Proponents argue the casino would boost jobs, drive traffic to Broadway theaters and provide public‑safety improvements. Caesars Palace Times Square has pledged $250 million in community benefits. Supporters who testified at the first public hearing included rapper Fat Joe, radio host Charlamagne tha God, members of the National Action Network and representatives of several trade unions.
The campaign against the casino has included outreach by theater owners and producers. The Broadway League and other opponents have distributed fliers urging theatergoers to protest the plan; proponents have accused those groups of exaggerating risks in an effort to preserve existing entertainment market share.
Tulchin Research, in a memo accompanying the poll, said the results were "overwhelming, consistent, and deeply rooted," and cited fears of crime, congestion and a diminished quality of life. The coalition that commissioned the survey released a similar poll in May that found 71% opposition in the same area.
Caesars Palace Times Square and its partners disputed the poll results. A statement attributed to the project said the survey reflected "more fake news from theater owners who want to maintain their monopoly on entertainment options in Times Square," and pointed to what the proponents described as a separate, more credible public input process in which two‑thirds of New Yorkers who participated have supported the project. Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation, said the partnership had held "hundreds of conversations" with Manhattan residents and local organizations and that they "overwhelmingly support this project." A Caesars representative accused the Broadway League of "fear‑mongering." The casino partnership did not respond to additional requests for comment.
The debate over the Times Square casino highlights competing appeals to economic development and neighborhood preservation. Proponents emphasize construction and permanent jobs, increased tourism spending and a revenue stream for community programs. Opponents emphasize public‑safety risks, traffic and impacts on the daily life of residents and theater patrons.
With the community advisory committee timetable approaching, local elected officials and candidates are weighing positions amid the visible public campaign by both backers and opponents. Any local advisory backing would be one piece of a larger state review process that would determine whether the project moves forward.