NYC DSA Congressional Candidate Accepts $20K From Texas Casino

The proposed development of Metropolitan Park, an $8 billion gaming and entertainment complex adjacent to Citi Field in Queens, has become the center of a political controversy involving Assemblymember Claire Valdez. Reporting from the New York Post on April 2, 2026, reveals that Valdez, a candidate for a New York City congressional seat, has consistently opposed the union-backed project while receiving annual payments from a tribal casino in Texas.

Metropolitan Park is a massive entertainment venture proposed by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. The project intends to transform the lot next to Citi Field into a premier gaming destination. According to developers, the $8 billion complex is expected to generate approximately 23,000 union jobs and provide more than $1 billion in community benefits.

Legislative Status of the Gaming Complex

The path to construction for the gaming complex involves the alienation and sale of public park property to Steve Cohen. A bill facilitating this process passed the state Assembly in May. The final approval for the project remains contingent upon city approval of the bid.

Despite the projected economic impact and union support, Assemblymember Claire Valdez was one of only two Queens lawmakers to vote against the proposed gaming complex. This opposition aligned her with socialist colleagues in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), as Valdez is considered a DSA longshot for her congressional bid.

Ties to Texas Tribal Gaming

Financial disclosures have indicated a contradiction between Valdez’s legislative voting record and her personal income. The New York Post reported that Valdez annually receives between $5,000 and $20,000 from the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, a tribal nation.

The Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo derives 60% of its revenue from the Speaking Rock Entertainment Center, a casino located in El Paso, Texas. This connection links the Assemblymember to the profits of a large-scale gaming operation while she worked to foil a similar gaming project in her own borough.

When questioned by the New York Post, Valdez clarified that her income is a result of her status as a tribal citizen. She explained that the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo nation, which was displaced from present-day New Mexico during the Spanish colonial period, utilizes its gaming license as a primary means of economic survival.

Like many Indigenous communities where options for economic development are limited, the Nation operates a business with a casino gaming license and distributes a share of profits to enrolled citizens like myself

Claire Valdez

Political Context and Industry Impact

Valdez’s political trajectory is closely tied to Zohran Mamdani, who has backed her candidacy. Mamdani himself has been active in New York politics, appearing as a Democratic mayoral candidate as recently as October 14, 2025.

The fight over Metropolitan Park occurs within a volatile New York gaming market. Other major industry players have shifted their strategies in the region; for instance, MGM unexpectedly dropped its bid to build a casino in New York in late 2025.

The conflict highlights the tension between the entertainment industry’s expansion into New York’s sports and leisure hubs and the political opposition from the DSA-backed wing of the local government. While the project promises substantial employment and community investment, it faces scrutiny over the use of public parkland and the influence of high-profile developers like Steve Cohen.