Iwas born and raised in Coney Island. The boardwalk, the beach, the scent of Nathan’s fries on a summer afternoon—this isn’t just scenery to me. It’s my home. It's where generations of families, including mine, have found joy, work and identity. That’s why I’m speaking out against the proposed casino. Because what’s being sold as economic development is really a gamble on the backs of the people who live here.

Coney Island deserves development, but not the kind that feeds addiction, drains families and changes the soul of a neighborhood. We need investment, yes—but investment that builds, not breaks. That includes schools, youth programs, mental health services, local businesses, green spaces and housing. A casino does none of that. Instead, it exploits hardship and promises jobs while ig

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