Brookhaven civic group opposes plans for casino on Medford site
Tim Mazzei, a Republican, said he would support a gambling facility because it would boost the local economy. (Credit: Newsday/David Pokress)
2012 Brookhaven payrolls
Brookhaven officials
Brookhaven historic sitesTravel deals
The Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization, in a July 29 letter to Brookhaven Town officials, said it would oppose plans to alter town zoning to allow gambling on a 9-acre property on the south service road of the Long Island Expressway. The town board is expected to vote on the zoning change on Aug. 12.
The parcel, currently zoned for residential uses, is part of a 32-acre site that is under consideration by Suffolk County officials for a casino with up to 1,000 video lottery terminals. County officials have selected Delaware North, a Buffalo-based gaming and hospitality company, to operate a casino.
MORE: newsday.com/towns | Free community newsletters
SOCIAL: @NewsdayTowns | Google+
SEARCH: 2012 Brookhaven payroll
The majority of the vacant parcel, formerly the site of the Brookhaven Multiplex, already is zoned for commercial recreation, including gaming, town officials said.
The civic group's letter said the site is near a business that provides games and recreation for children.
"ABCO members believe that the burdens and negative impacts forced on the communities that play host to gaming and casinos far outweigh any of the alleged benefits stemming from allowing such activities," said the letter, signed by the civic group's president, MaryAnn Johnston of Yaphank. "The people of our town have long been vocal in their opposition to siting gambling operations anywhere within our town."
Town Councilman Timothy Mazzei said he would support the zoning change and the gambling facility because it would boost the local economy.
"It's going to bring in a lot of money to Suffolk County and the Town of Brookhaven," Mazzei said Wednesday. "I think we're going to get people who normally go to Connecticut or New York City or New Jersey, and they'll now stay on Long Island."
Mazzei said developers hope to open the facility next July Fourth.
Town Attorney Annette Eaderesto said the county has not asked to change the zoning. She said the current residential zoning is "inappropriate" because the parcel is between two commercial properties.
Mazzei said the property would be a good location for a casino because it is near the expressway and there is a buffer between the site and nearby homes.
"It really is an ideal site for that facility," he said. "The positives are really tremendous."
Suffolk OTB does not need to be open so that people can bet when they want to bet?
Money is not printed, it simply falls from the sky upon command.
HI-
Thanks for
the help. The item’s below. I’d be happy to mail you a copy,
if you give me a mailing address.
Claude
Solnik
(631)
913-4244
Long
Island
Business News
2150
Smithtown Ave.
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7348
Home > LI
Confidential > Stop
scratching on holidays
Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
No comments:
Post a Comment