New gambling parlors on Long Island
could include not only video slot machines but electronic poker and
blackjack, under a provision tucked into Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposed
2015-16 budget. Photo Credit: Jason Andrew, 2011
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ALBANY
- New gambling parlors on Long Island could include not only video
slot machines but electronic poker and blackjack, under a provision
tucked into Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposed 2015-16 budget.
Cuomo, a Democrat, has proposed expanding the games that video-slots casinos may offer to include gambling "games of skill." There are eight video-slots facilities around the state, operating at race tracks, and two more authorized to come online: one in Nassau County, one in Suffolk.
The governor's Budget Division said that "skill" games could include "certain types of electronic blackjack, three-card poker and other video lottery games where an element of skill and player interaction may be incorporated into games of chance."
Cuomo projected that the state could haul in $20 million more in gambling revenue in the 2015-16 fiscal year, if legislators adopt the change.
Nassau Off-Track Betting Corp. and Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corp. each were authorized in 2013 to run facilities with up to 1,000 video slots, or video lottery terminals as state law refers to the machines.
Nassau OTB has proposed a gambling casino at the vacant Fortunoff property in Westbury, but has run into vocal local opposition.
Suffolk OTB plans to build a 98,735-square-foot parlor with 1,000 video lottery terminals at a former movie theater in Medford.
Cuomo, a Democrat, has proposed expanding the games that video-slots casinos may offer to include gambling "games of skill." There are eight video-slots facilities around the state, operating at race tracks, and two more authorized to come online: one in Nassau County, one in Suffolk.
The governor's Budget Division said that "skill" games could include "certain types of electronic blackjack, three-card poker and other video lottery games where an element of skill and player interaction may be incorporated into games of chance."
Cuomo projected that the state could haul in $20 million more in gambling revenue in the 2015-16 fiscal year, if legislators adopt the change.
Nassau Off-Track Betting Corp. and Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corp. each were authorized in 2013 to run facilities with up to 1,000 video slots, or video lottery terminals as state law refers to the machines.
Nassau OTB has proposed a gambling casino at the vacant Fortunoff property in Westbury, but has run into vocal local opposition.
Suffolk OTB plans to build a 98,735-square-foot parlor with 1,000 video lottery terminals at a former movie theater in Medford.
KILLER CUOMO LIKE ALL LIARS AND LAWYERS SCAMS WESTBURY CARLE PLACE RESIDENTS?
FIGHT ON LOUD ONES AND LET'S SEE EDGE AND ICE ?
Hans Castaneda, left, and his wife
Diana, of Carle Place, shout in protest along with other residents
during a rally against the proposed casino at the former Fortunoff site
while the Nassau Legislature meets in Mineola on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015
in Mineola. Photo Credit: Howard Schnapp
Opponents
of a proposed Westbury gambling parlor intensified their protests
Monday as they packed the Nassau County Legislature's first full meeting
of the year, and angrily demanded the replacement of the appointed
board that chose the site.
Hundreds of residents -- some of whom took shuttle buses to legislative chambers in Mineola -- pressed for removal of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.'s three-member board, which wants the casino at the vacant Fortunoff building on Old Country Road.
Waving signs reading "Stop the CasiNO at Fortunoff/We WILL Remember in November," protesters forced a halt to the meeting after Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said there weren't enough votes for a Democratic bill to replace the OTB board with members opposed to the Fortunoff site.
StoryProtester: Gaming parlor will 'degrade' our way of lifeStoryMangano: I'm against gaming parlor planStoryVacant store chosen as site for gambling parlor OTB officials say the gaming parlor would generate $150 million annually, including $20 million for Nassau County. They have said they expect to have a site contract finalized by Saturday.
The video lottery terminal casino would operate 20 hours a day, serve alcohol and house up to 1,000 video slot machines, along with restaurants.
"How far-fetched is it that somebody gambling or drinking all day long gets in their car and kills one of these kids," said Westbury resident Michael O'Connell, 39, a father of three young children, noting the proximity of school bus stops in the area. "The last thing you would want is for one of your kids to be at risk."
Legis. Laura Schaefer, a Republican who represents a district near the casino, said she supports replacing the OTB board. But Gonsalves told the crowd she wouldn't call the emergency bill because it did not have the 13 votes to be called or the 10 votes needed to pass.
The legislature has 10 Republicans and seven Democrats, with two vacancies. All seven Democrats, plus Schaefer, supported the bill to remove the current OTB board.
Gonsalves was repeatedly shouted down with chants of "Vote! Vote! Vote!" The chants continued even as other agenda items were on the floor.
"If this resolution were to pass, one concern I could foresee is having the same conversation again and again in some other community for some other site," Gonsalves said.
Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said he'd revise the party's proposal to say that new OTB board members be against any casino.
When Gonsalves still didn't ask for a roll-call vote, Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, a Republican and casino opponent, told Gonsalves he was "ashamed" she would not call the Democrats' emergency bill for a vote.
Elected leaders of both parties oppose building the casino at the 200,000-square-foot Fortunoff building, but say they have little power to stop it. OTBs are exempt from local zoning by state law.
The casino would be a half-mile from 1,220 homes in Westbury and Carle Place, and less than a mile from three schools. Residents have raised concerns about increased traffic and crime and decreased property values.
Hundreds of residents -- some of whom took shuttle buses to legislative chambers in Mineola -- pressed for removal of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.'s three-member board, which wants the casino at the vacant Fortunoff building on Old Country Road.
Waving signs reading "Stop the CasiNO at Fortunoff/We WILL Remember in November," protesters forced a halt to the meeting after Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said there weren't enough votes for a Democratic bill to replace the OTB board with members opposed to the Fortunoff site.
StoryProtester: Gaming parlor will 'degrade' our way of lifeStoryMangano: I'm against gaming parlor planStoryVacant store chosen as site for gambling parlor OTB officials say the gaming parlor would generate $150 million annually, including $20 million for Nassau County. They have said they expect to have a site contract finalized by Saturday.
The video lottery terminal casino would operate 20 hours a day, serve alcohol and house up to 1,000 video slot machines, along with restaurants.
"How far-fetched is it that somebody gambling or drinking all day long gets in their car and kills one of these kids," said Westbury resident Michael O'Connell, 39, a father of three young children, noting the proximity of school bus stops in the area. "The last thing you would want is for one of your kids to be at risk."
Legis. Laura Schaefer, a Republican who represents a district near the casino, said she supports replacing the OTB board. But Gonsalves told the crowd she wouldn't call the emergency bill because it did not have the 13 votes to be called or the 10 votes needed to pass.
The legislature has 10 Republicans and seven Democrats, with two vacancies. All seven Democrats, plus Schaefer, supported the bill to remove the current OTB board.
Gonsalves was repeatedly shouted down with chants of "Vote! Vote! Vote!" The chants continued even as other agenda items were on the floor.
"If this resolution were to pass, one concern I could foresee is having the same conversation again and again in some other community for some other site," Gonsalves said.
Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said he'd revise the party's proposal to say that new OTB board members be against any casino.
When Gonsalves still didn't ask for a roll-call vote, Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, a Republican and casino opponent, told Gonsalves he was "ashamed" she would not call the Democrats' emergency bill for a vote.
Elected leaders of both parties oppose building the casino at the 200,000-square-foot Fortunoff building, but say they have little power to stop it. OTBs are exempt from local zoning by state law.
The casino would be a half-mile from 1,220 homes in Westbury and Carle Place, and less than a mile from three schools. Residents have raised concerns about increased traffic and crime and decreased property values.
Lost
in the protests Wednesday over plans for casino-styled gambling in the
vacant Fortunoff store in south Westbury was the relationship between
the host of Carle Place event and the community’s county legislator.
John Hommel is president of the Carle Place Civic Association, which hosted the forum at the Carle Place High School. Hommel told the crowd of about 850 people angry over a proposal by Nassau’s Off-Track Betting Corp. to install 1,000 video slot machines in the former department store, “ We are now facing the biggest threat to our community ever.”
Hommel also is the county aide for Nassau Legis. Laura Schaefer (R-Westbury), who was jeered by the crowd after she said she didn’t think a proposal by Legis. Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) to replace the OTB board would be put on the agenda by the Republican Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow).
"I know there is a proposal out there to seek the resolution of the county legislature to change the OTB Board. And I understand why that is, and I know I'm not going to be the most popular person in the room tonight, I get that, but I'm here to tell you that I don't think that it's going to happen; it's because the presiding officer first of all has not agreed to call it and put it on the agenda,” Schaefer said, according to Newsday reporter Scott Eidler, who attended the event.
"I've had conversations with other legislators, I've had conversations with people in other communities not near here. They don't want it ether," she said.
Members of the audience called out, "We can vote you out," and “You won’t get my vote.”
Later Schaefer was asked “If comes to a vote, will you vote with us?"
She responded, "If I can vote for something and it's not going to affect my district and negatively impact my district, absolutely I will, I don't want to negatively impact the children.”
Generally it is considered an advantage for an elected
official to have someone active in their district working for them —
until issues tear a district apart. Schaefer not only represents Carle
Place but also Garden City and parts of Westbury, Hicksville, Plainview,
Bethpage, West Hempstead and Hempstead.
Neither Hommel nor Schaefer could be reached for comment Friday.
Democratic legislative spokeswoman Lauren Corcoran-Doolin said, “I commend Hommel on leading such a meeting. Not one person there was for this project. I hope that Legis. Schaefer listens to her aide and their civic group to stop this project by voting for the bill proposed by Legis. Bynoe that would replace the OTB membership this Monday.”
John Hommel is president of the Carle Place Civic Association, which hosted the forum at the Carle Place High School. Hommel told the crowd of about 850 people angry over a proposal by Nassau’s Off-Track Betting Corp. to install 1,000 video slot machines in the former department store, “ We are now facing the biggest threat to our community ever.”
Hommel also is the county aide for Nassau Legis. Laura Schaefer (R-Westbury), who was jeered by the crowd after she said she didn’t think a proposal by Legis. Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) to replace the OTB board would be put on the agenda by the Republican Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow).
"I know there is a proposal out there to seek the resolution of the county legislature to change the OTB Board. And I understand why that is, and I know I'm not going to be the most popular person in the room tonight, I get that, but I'm here to tell you that I don't think that it's going to happen; it's because the presiding officer first of all has not agreed to call it and put it on the agenda,” Schaefer said, according to Newsday reporter Scott Eidler, who attended the event.
"I've had conversations with other legislators, I've had conversations with people in other communities not near here. They don't want it ether," she said.
Members of the audience called out, "We can vote you out," and “You won’t get my vote.”
Later Schaefer was asked “If comes to a vote, will you vote with us?"
She responded, "If I can vote for something and it's not going to affect my district and negatively impact my district, absolutely I will, I don't want to negatively impact the children.”
Neither Hommel nor Schaefer could be reached for comment Friday.
Democratic legislative spokeswoman Lauren Corcoran-Doolin said, “I commend Hommel on leading such a meeting. Not one person there was for this project. I hope that Legis. Schaefer listens to her aide and their civic group to stop this project by voting for the bill proposed by Legis. Bynoe that would replace the OTB membership this Monday.”
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