Perhaps he may read NY Const Art 1, Sec 3
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State Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick
climbs to unveil Dr. John J. O'Donnell Road, changed from Manor Road, on
Aug. 17, 2013. Photo Credit: Johnny Milano
Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics.
ALBANY
- A Long Island Republican moved Friday to shelve gambling parlors on
Long Island altogether, following a vocal backlash against siting video
slot machine parlors in Medford and Westbury.
Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said he's has introduced a bill that would repeal state authorization for video lottery terminals in Nassau and Suffolk, saying it's unlikely any municipality "wants the problems that come with" siting the gambling halls.
"Communities at large are saying no dice," said Fitzpatrick, who will host a news conference on the issue Monday in Hauppauge. "The reaction we saw in Westbury and Medford, I think, will be the same reaction in Smithtown, the same reaction in Huntington, the same reaction in Riverhead. I think it will be the reaction everywhere."
But State Sen. Philip Boyle (R-Bay Shore), who led the push to authorize VLTs for Nassau and Suffolk, opposes Fitzpatrick's bill.
"No, absolutely not," Boyle said when asked if the State Legislature should repeal the authorization. "Long Islanders need the opportunity to get their fair share of these [gambling] revenues."
State lawmakers originally pitched gambling expansion as a way to help Nassau and Suffolk finances. In 2013, the legislature authorized each county to build gambling parlors with up to 1,000 video slot machines, also called video lottery terminals. But the idea ran into roadblocks once officials began trying to pick specific sites.
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Nassau Off-Track Betting Corp., which estimates the
gambling parlors will generate $20 million in new revenue for Nassau
County, withdrew a proposal to use a vacant Fortunoff property in
Westbury after vocal protests.
Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corp., which has declined to say how much Suffolk would get, has encountered opposition to its plan to use the former Brookhaven Multiplex movie theater in Medford.
Fitzpatrick noted that the gambling expansion law in 2013 required that casinos looking to operate upstate get approval from host communities -- but required no such approval on Long Island.
As a minority Republican, Fitzpatrick will need a Democrat to carry the bill in the Assembly.
Fitzpatrick, who opposed the 2013 gambling law, said state lawmakers and officials "underestimated" how Island residents would react to gambling parlors.
"We have to correct the mistake we made," he said.
Boyle said that if local residents oppose a particular proposal, "they can organize and get OTB to change its mind," as in Westbury.
A spokesman for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano declined to comment. Aides to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone didn't immediately return messages for comment Friday
Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said he's has introduced a bill that would repeal state authorization for video lottery terminals in Nassau and Suffolk, saying it's unlikely any municipality "wants the problems that come with" siting the gambling halls.
"Communities at large are saying no dice," said Fitzpatrick, who will host a news conference on the issue Monday in Hauppauge. "The reaction we saw in Westbury and Medford, I think, will be the same reaction in Smithtown, the same reaction in Huntington, the same reaction in Riverhead. I think it will be the reaction everywhere."
But State Sen. Philip Boyle (R-Bay Shore), who led the push to authorize VLTs for Nassau and Suffolk, opposes Fitzpatrick's bill.
"No, absolutely not," Boyle said when asked if the State Legislature should repeal the authorization. "Long Islanders need the opportunity to get their fair share of these [gambling] revenues."
State lawmakers originally pitched gambling expansion as a way to help Nassau and Suffolk finances. In 2013, the legislature authorized each county to build gambling parlors with up to 1,000 video slot machines, also called video lottery terminals. But the idea ran into roadblocks once officials began trying to pick specific sites.
Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corp., which has declined to say how much Suffolk would get, has encountered opposition to its plan to use the former Brookhaven Multiplex movie theater in Medford.
Fitzpatrick noted that the gambling expansion law in 2013 required that casinos looking to operate upstate get approval from host communities -- but required no such approval on Long Island.
As a minority Republican, Fitzpatrick will need a Democrat to carry the bill in the Assembly.
Fitzpatrick, who opposed the 2013 gambling law, said state lawmakers and officials "underestimated" how Island residents would react to gambling parlors.
"We have to correct the mistake we made," he said.
Boyle said that if local residents oppose a particular proposal, "they can organize and get OTB to change its mind," as in Westbury.
A spokesman for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano declined to comment. Aides to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone didn't immediately return messages for comment Friday
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