“Thousands of Jobs for Homeless Moms” — Christine Quinn Throws Support Behind Hudson Yards Casino

Christine Quinn, former City Council Speaker and a key advocate for the West Side during her tenure as Councilmember, has officially backed the controversial Hudson Yards casino bid by Wynn Resorts and Related Companies.

In a video released on the Wynn New York City website , Quinn, now CEO of the non-profit Women in Need (WIN), expressed her support for the project, framing it as a critical opportunity to address the city’s most pressing issue: homelessness, particularly among families with children.

“I am supporting Related and Wynn New York City’s bid for the Hudson Yards because it is the one that most recognizes that the biggest problem facing this city is that of homeless families with children,” Quinn said in the video. “I am ready for thousands of jobs for homeless moms working with Wynn New York City.”

This week, Related and Wynn said that the $12 billion total project proposal to build Hudson Yards West was a “once-in-a-generation commitment” that would provide “significant quality-of-life improvements for the neighborhood and enormous economic opportunity for the entire city”. In their press release , they said that Wynn New York City would create 5,000 permanent union careers and 35,000 union construction jobs during development.

Quinn began her political career as a Councilmember in 1999 by winning a special election for the New York City Council’s 3rd district — which comprises Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea and Greenwich Village. She was reelected in 2001, 2003 and 2005, and served as Speaker of the City Council from 2006 to 2013. She was succeeded as West Side councilmember by Corey Johnson and then Erik Bottcher. Quinn’s tenure was marked by controversies, including accusations of mishandling discretionary funds and allegations of political retaliation . Despite these issues, she played a significant role in passing key legislation, such as a smoking ban and equal benefits bills.

The deal to create Hudson Yards was created during Quinn’s time as Councilmember and Speaker. At the groundbreaking in December 2012 , she was pictured alongside Related boss Stephen Ross and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “The Hudson Yards project speaks volumes about the attractiveness of New York City, and the West Side of Manhattan in particular, to private investment,” said Speaker Quinn at the event.

There are currently three casino proposals close to Hell’s Kitchen , including at Hudson Yards. The others are from developer Silverstein Properties for a 46-story gaming facility at W41st Street and 11th Avenue, and Developer SL Green has joined forces with legacy casino brand Caesars Palace and Jay-Z-founded entertainment company Roc Nation to propose an eight-story, 250,000 square-foot gaming facility and a 950-room hotel at Times Square’s 1515 Broadway.  The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board plans to award licenses to three “downstate” casino proposals in the coming years.

There are also two other Midtown bids in play: a casino at Saks Fifth Avenue from Hudson’s Bay and a facility tentatively titled the Freedom Plaza casino and apartment complex near to the United Nations building, proposed by the Soloviev Group. In addition to the five Manhattan bids, there are several additional borough, Long Island and Westchester-based applicants, including bids for facilities at Citi Field in Queens, Coney Island in Brooklyn, the site of the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, the site previously housing the Trump Links golf course in the Bronx and two “racinos” in Queens and Yonkers.

This endorsement from Quinn, a figure deeply connected to the West Side and its community issues, comes amid growing tension between the proposed casino project and local residents, particularly those connected to the High Line and the surrounding neighborhoods of Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea. As reported this week, a video rendering of the project has only heightened fears and opposition within the community, who argue that the West Side deserves better than what the casino promises.

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