City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez (C.D. 13) released the following statement on Friday, Sept. 8, regarding the fate of Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in The Bronx, currently leased and operated by The Trump Organization and, according to recent media reports, subject to a possible buy-out by Atlantic City’s Bally’s Casino.

“It’s time that we move forward and transform the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point into something that offers the local community and The Bronx an opportunity to see real economic prosperity and inclusivity,” said Velázquez, who represents some or all of the Bronx neighborhoods of Allerton, City Island, Country Club, Edgewater Park, Ferry Point, Locust Point, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway, Schuylerville, Silver Beach, Spencer Estates, Throggs Neck, Van Nest, Waterbury LaSalle, Westchester Square, and Zerega.

“As we move toward a new future for Ferry Point, I look forward to starting a mutually beneficial relationship with Bally’s, a partnership that will support and uplift our Bronx communities and reflect the ideals of the borough,” she continued. “Working together, through Bally’s thoughtful stewardship, we can create a more inclusive project at Ferry Point and find a solution that is representative of who we are as a district and as a borough.”

The councilwoman concluded, “Any potential project that makes a home on this property should be renamed to something that honors the rich history and diversity of The Bronx and its spirit.”

Reports of the buy-out by Bally’s come as former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, the principal owner of The Trump Organization, continues to face various litigations in relation to his business activities, his actions pertaining to the insurrection on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the handling of classified documents recovered by the FBI at his home in Mar-a-Lago after leaving office, as well as other civil lawsuits regarding alleged defamatory comments made during a CNN townhall in May of this year about E. Jean Carroll.

Simultaneously, the former president is continuing with his bid to win the Republican nomination for president in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Trump denies any wrongdoing. A person charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

Read our previous story on the Trump Golf Links here, and Bronxites’ reactions to the hosting of a prior Saudi-sponsored women’s golf tournament at the Ferry Point golf links here.

Norwood News has contacted Bally’s Casino for comment on the recent media reports of a possible buy-out by Bally’s and The Trump Organization for comment on both the reports of a possible buy-out and on the various litigations faced by the former president. We will update this story should we receive a response.

According to financial results released at the end of the second quarter of 2023, released on Aug. 3 by Bally’s Corporation, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under BALY, highlights included overall revenue of $606.2 million, an increase of 9.7% year-over-year, record Casinos & Resorts revenue of $333.2 million, up 11.1% year-over-year.

Other highlights included International Interactive revenue of $247.8 million, up 5.6% year-over-year, an announced deal with the Oakland As of Major League Baseball (MLB) to construct a new stadium on a portion of the company’s Tropicana Las Vegas site, and Rhode Island legalizing iGaming and naming Bally’s as the sole provider in the State with an expected launch of March 2024.

Norwood News has contacted Rhode Island State government for comment on any potential breach of monopoly laws in reference to this latter point. According to findlaw.com, Rhode Island antitrust law is similar to antitrust statutes in other states in that it focuses on the prevention of monopolies and conspiracies to restrain trade. Violators face the possibility of criminal penalties, including prison, in addition to civil lawsuits.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.