State Senator Opposes Casino Proposal in Queens, Rebuffing Mets Owner

A state senator from Queens moved to stop a major casino proposal in her district on Tuesday, defying Steven A. Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets.

The state senator, Jessica Ramos, a progressive Democrat who is considering a run for mayor of New York City next year, said in a statement on Tuesday that she would not introduce legislation to pave the way for a casino at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The legislation would broaden the permitted uses of a patch of city parkland to include gambling.

Ms. Ramos said that she resented the pressure she had received from the bid to support the proposal after her community had faced “generations of neglect.”

“We want investment and opportunity, we are desperate for green space, and recreation for the whole family,” she said. “We disagree on the premise that we have to accept a casino in our backyard as the trade-off.”

Mr. Cohen, a prominent hedge fund manager whose former firm served as an inspiration for the television series “Billions,” and his partner Hard Rock International, have proposed the $8 billion casino project. A spokeswoman for the bid, Maria Comella, said they respected Ms. Ramos’s point of view, but they were still committed to the casino.

“The state never intended any one person to have the ability to single-handedly stop or approve a gaming project,” Ms. Comella said in a statement, adding, “We are confident that we have the best project in the best location.”