In an endeavor to open a casino close to Citi Field, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has hired the former director of the New York State budget as his advisor. The Queens plan may or may not be successful, but billionaire Cohen has the means to pursue a New York City gambling license. It ran into trouble in May when a Democrat who represents the neighborhoods nearest to Citi Field stated that she opposes legislation that would reclassify the area where the casino would be located as parkland.