It’s the end of the road for two West Side casino bids. Councilmember Erik Bottcher cast decisive “no” votes on Wednesday, after the Community Advisory Committees weighed the high-stakes proposals for Caesars Palace Times Square and The Avenir.

In an email statement timed with the first vote, Bottcher said his decision followed “countless conversations with constituents in coffee shops, living rooms and on street corners, extensive public engagement and careful deliberation.” While he acknowledged the economic potential of the projects, Bottcher argued that casinos carry a “particularly high bar” for community support that has not been met. “Despite extensive outreach by the applicants, that level of support has not materialized,” he said.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine also announced his opposition in an email sent during the Caesars Palace Times Square vote, revealing that he would say no to both that proposal and The Avenir. While acknowledging that casinos can deliver jobs, tax revenue and nonprofit support — and even noting the Caesars proposal’s “laudably diverse ownership group” — Levine warned that the potential benefits were outweighed by the dangers of destabilizing Broadway’s $14 billion cultural engine and worsening congestion, safety and quality-of-life issues in Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen.

Laura Smith, Mayor Eric Adams’ representative on the committee, cast one of the two “yes” votes but voiced frustration over how the decision unfolded. She argued that the timeline was accelerated at the request of some committee members, cutting short nearly two weeks of deliberation. “These are complex proposals with significant changes along the way,” Smith said. “The accelerated timeline has constrained the committee’s ability to meet the very standards of transparency, engagement and thorough review that were built into the CAC framework.”

After the meeting adjourned, SL Green CEO Marc Holliday lashed out in an impromptu address. Visibly shaking with anger, Holliday called the outcome “a despicable display of cowardice, lack of leadership, lack of consideration for all the people who would benefit from this proposal.” He accused opponents of running from their responsibilities, declaring, “The benefits you denied this community and this city and state — you have to live with that history forever.”