Belmont casino opponents call for VLT ban on L.I.

Noah Manskar

Opponents of a video casino planned for Belmont Park on Saturday called on state lawmakers to prohibit video lottery terminals anywhere on Long Island.

About 100 community leaders, elected officials and residents of Floral Park, Elmont and other areas bordering the Elmont racetrack pressed Long Island’s 21 state legislators to support identical bills in the Assembly and Senate repealing the 2013 authorization for one video lottery terminal, or VLT, parlor in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“We’re here to join with you to send one message to Albany loud and clear — the people of Nassau County don’t want this casino, not now, not ever,” said state Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, a Long Beach Democrat running to replace former state Sen. Dean Skelos.

Opponents said the state should not allow Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. to impose casinos on residents when every community in which it’s tried to place one has refused it.

They also will try to remove lawmakers who do not support the repeal from office, they said, chanting, “We voted you in, we will vote you out.”

“We need effective leadership, not a bunch of paid political people,” said Neil Doherty, a 25-year Floral Park resident. “You will not have your casino in our town. You will not violate our dignity, you will not build a casino on the backs of people with gambling illnesses.”

An OTB spokesman said the agency had no comment on the rally or the state bills.

Kaminsky this week became a co-sponsor of the Assembly repeal bill, and said he would support it in the Senate if he defeats Republican Christopher McGrath in the April 19 special election.

State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont), who attended the rally, and state Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (D-St. James) also sponsor the bill.

“It’s not something I just jumped into lightly,” Kaminsky said.

In a statement, Republican Chris McGrath, Kaminsky’s opponent in the Senate race, said Kaminsky’s appearance at the rally shows he chose “political posturing over working to achieve a bipartisan solution to the most critical issues facing our community.”

McGrath added that he would work with lawmakers and communities neighboring the racetrack to find “a path forward” that addresses concerns and promotes economic growth.

As they have argued since December, opponents said Saturday a casino would increase local crime and hurt the quality of life in the surrounding areas. 

Proponents say it would bring much-needed revenue to Nassau County, create jobs and support local economies.

Nassau OTB has estimated the Belmont Park casino would generate $24 million in revenue for local business communities.

Elmont civic leader Patrick Nicolosi was the only casino supporter to appear at the rally.

He said repealing the VLT authorization would give “a free ticket” to nearby casinos in Queens and Yonkers to take in gambling revenue and leave Nassau County with “nothing.”

Leaving the land surrounding Belmont Park undeveloped does no good for the economy, he said.

“It’s good up in Yonkers, it’s good in Monticello, it’s good enough in Saratoga — why isn’t it good enough for us?” Nicolosi said.

Also appearing at the rally were Village of Floral Park Mayor Thomas Tweedy, New York City Councilman Barry Grodenchik (D-Bellerose) and Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages (D-Elmont), Michaelle Solages’ brother.

State Sen. Tony Avella’s (D-Queens) introduction of a repeal bill in the Republican-controlled Senate was considered a significant step in the fight residents have waged since Nassau OTB announced its plans for Belmont Park in December.

Tammie Williams, an Elmont community organizer who helped organize Saturday’s rally, said she thinks the measure will pass the Democrat-controlled Assembly, but the Senate will be a “roadblock.”

In the coming weeks, Williams said, opponents will target state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Old Westbury) and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, an East Northport Republican who has the power to bring the repeal bill to the floor.

“All 21 (are) on watch,” she said of the state senators. “They are all on notice, and we want all our constituents in surrounding communities to rally and also to lobby those state delegates.”

Martins has not taken a position on the Belmont Park casino plan, but has said there are many questions that need to be answered.

Flanagan has not taken a public stance on the issue.

Aides for both senators did not immediately return requests for comment.

OTB wants to build a 100,000-square-foot VLT parlor on an eight-acre parcel of land north of Hempstead Turnpike near Belmont’s grandstand.

While it awaits state legislative approval, it plans to erect a temporary facility, which needs approval from the state Office of General Services and the New York Racing Authority.

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