Kamal Bherwani has called for the rejection of the joint bid from Mohegan Sun and the Soloviev Group for a new casino project. They propose a $4 billion casino and mixed-use development named Freedom Plaza, which would occupy 6.7 acres on Manhattan’s East Side, just south of the United Nations complex.
Bherwani, who served as chief information officer for health and human services under former mayor Michael Bloomberg and also worked in Rudy Giuliani's administration, is speaking out following a tragic incident involving his son. Ethan Bherwani died from a fentanyl overdose on May 18 after collapsing at a blackjack table at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Notably, Bherwani was left motionless on the floor for over four minutes before casino staff intervened, and it took 11 minutes before emergency medics from the Mohegan Tribe arrived.
Released video footage from the scene, which was highlighted by the New York Post, shows Ethan collapsing from his blackjack chair, with nearby players moving on to another table instead of assisting him. Bystanders who attempted to help were told to step back by casino employees.
Jerrard Santiago, who is accused of supplying the fatal drugs, was seen standing by during the incident. Despite being rushed to Hartford Hospital, Ethan Bherwani was declared brain dead by the time he arrived and subsequently died nine days later. The medical examiner confirmed the presence of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol in his system, with fentanyl being the primary cause of death.
Ethan had been celebrating his graduation from Baruch College that day. His father, Kamal Bherwani, expressed to the Post that if assistance had been provided in those crucial first minutes, Ethan's life could have been saved. "If they had gotten to him in three minutes, he’d be completely alive," he said, adding, "My son was going to law school. He was cooped up during the pandemic and celebrating his graduation; he made a mistake… but it should not have cost him his life."
In light of this incident, Mohegan is currently one of 11 bidders vying for three available downstate casino licenses in the New York metropolitan area. Bherwani believes the tragedy demonstrates that Mohegan prioritizes profits over safety. "What [Mohegan] has proven is that they put money ahead of… safety," he stated. He also mentioned his contribution of $30,000 to Governor Hochul’s 2022 campaign, asserting, "There is a culture there that permeates. You know the values of the Mohegan Sun just through what you see on the video."
