At a January 11, 2024, town hall about a casino proposed for private land in East Midtown, Manhattan East Community Association's Kevin O'Keefe addressed hundreds of in-person and remote audience members on the need for ample public green space and affordable housing for the site.

This video with O’Keefe speaking on behalf of MECA was captured at the town hall, held at the NYU College of Dentistry's Septodont Lecture Hall at First Avenue and East 24th Street in Kips Bay. O’Keefe had mobilized support for hundreds of affordable housing units and a large publicly accessible park for the site.

The casino is being proposed by property owner Soloviev Group and its gaming partner Mohegan for Freedom Plaza, land between First Avenue and FDR Drive in Murray Hill that is is the largest undeveloped private parcel in Midtown Manhattan.

On January 9, 2024, MECA reported on the town hall: "As co-sponsor of a special town hall on Thursday about a proposed Murray Hill development that would include an underground casino, Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) joins State Senator Kristen Gonzalez to welcome all community members who want to learn and be heard ... Gonzalez will host the January 11 event ... By popular demand, virtual attendance has been added as an option.”

MECA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. The corporation’s federal EIN is 13-3618464.