Mayor Eric Adams and Mets billionaire owner Steve Cohen huddled with a Queens lawmaker to hash out differences about the fate of a project to build a soccer stadium and housing complex in Willets Points near Citi Field — while Cohen eyes a separate bid for a casino next to the ballpark, The Post has learned.
The talks via conference call centered on a dispute that New Yorkers are familiar with: parking — in this case for the soccer stadium, City Hall and other sources confirmed.
But sources familiar with the discussions also said the two projects are intertwined.
Cohen recently suffered a temporary setback when state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), who represents the Willets Point area, refused to introduce state legislation sought by Cohen’s team that would repurpose the lots around Citi Field from parkland to commercial use — in order to build a casino or other entertainment venue.
Councilman Francisco Moya, who represents the area and is considered an Adams ally, also participated in what City Hall called a “spirited” conference call with the mayor and Cohen.
Moya also does not currently support the Cohen legislation or potential casino bid.
Adams, like Moya, is a big booster of the planned $780 million, 25,000-seat soccer stadium near Citi Field, that will be home to the New York City FC.
The mayor also sits on a siting bid that could approve or reject any casino proposal in the city. The state plans to award three casino licenses in the New York City downstate region.
Cohen has been a big booster of Adams. He donated $1.5 million to a Super Pac backing Adams campaign for City Hall in 2021.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has even more sway about the casino selection process, was recently pictured schmoozing with Cohen at Citi Field.
Proponents are relying on Cohen and the Mets to allow the soccer fans to use the Citi Field lots to park during their games because the current plan does not provide additional parking for the soccer stadium. But there is no agreement — as of yet.
The recent talks centered in part on the parking issue and infrastructure improvements needed at Willets Point.
City Hall confirmed the mayor’s conference call with Cohen and Moya, which included top reps to Adams and the Mets owner.
“This meeting featured a cordial yet spirited discussion, as is often the case when groups of New Yorkers come together,” a mayoral spokesman said.
“While this administration continues to support conversations between external parties as they work towards an agreement regarding parking, the project we announced can and will continue to move through the environmental review and land use processes. The timeline of Mayor Adams’ transformational vision for Willets Point has not changed, and the mayor fully intends to deliver 2,500 new affordable homes, a privately financed soccer stadium, and 16,000 jobs to Willets Point on time.”
Sources said Moya claimed after the meeting that Cohen threatened to back ex-con Hiram Monserrate, a former councilman and state senator who previously represented the area, in a Democratic primary if he didn’t get on board with his redevelopment plan.
Monserrate, who in 2012 pled guilty to misappropriating public funds earmarked for a not-for-profit group during his time as a city councilman as well as a separate misdemeanor assault charge involving his ex-girlfriend and was expelled from the Senate, is currently not on the ballot. But he may be reinstated in a pending court case.
Moya responded, “While there’s a lot of noise, I have been laser focused on the important work for my community- delivering 2500 units of affordable housing and 16,000 union jobs with the development at Willets Point.”
Cohen’s team flatly denied any such threat.
“We’ve had extensive conversations with both our local City Council Member and State Senator as part of our efforts to engage the community. We will continue to work closely with them and all of our neighbors as we reimagine the 50 acres of asphalt,” a Cohen spokesperson said.
The Cohen rep called the Monserrate claim a “complete fabrication.”
“It was never stated, implied or suggested that Cohen would support Hiram Monserrate nor has he ever,” the Cohen spokesperson said.
For his part, Monserrate said he has not personally spoken to Cohen but has had conversations with his team during public events, including Cohen’s chief of staff Michael “Sully” Sullivan.
“Moya has been deadly silent on the issue of the casino. Now we know why,” Monserrate told The Post.
Monserrate said he opposes a casino and argues that the community does not need a soccer stadium.
