Solages: no casino at Belmont

Community members gather to oppose plan

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Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages, a Democrat from Elmont, held a rally with residents on Feb. 3 on Hempstead Turnpike across from Belmont Racetrack, to protest the possibility of a casino coming to Belmont.

“There is the word ‘no’ in the word casino,” he said.

Solages spoke against the proposal of a casino, stating, “if it wasn’t good enough for Westbury, it’s not good enough for this neighborhood.”

Nassau Off Track Betting, which will decide the location, originally chose the Fortunoff property in Westbury for the gambling facility.  But significant opposition from residents and state, county and town officials — and threats of lawsuits — dissuaded OTB from pursuing that site further.

With the Westbury location scuttled, OTB may seek other sitings, such as Belmont Racetrack or in Plainview at the Race Palace.

Solages called for public hearings and asked that the Nassau Regional Off Track Betting Council have a transparent process that would share with the community all effects that a casino would have on its surrounding area.

He said he agrees there’s a need for more revenue for the county, but believes that a casino would not be the appropriate addition to the neighborhood. 

A casino would have a “negative adverse on this community in terms of crime, pollution, and traffic; we can’t afford [that],” he said. “Every study shows casinos produce a negative effect upon the livelihood, income and well-being of our families,” Solages said.

To the argument that the track is already a place for gambling, a casino would be, “not the same type of gambling. We are talking about a 20-hour facility, they don’t have that now, a 20-hour facility,” Solages said.

Solages said that we must think about the, “quality of life and overall impact it would have on the community.”

A resident of Elmont, Mimi Pierre Johnson, also opposes a Belmont Casino. Rather than a casino, she is “trying to get a community center,” a place where children can spend time after school.

Mentioning the many schools in the surrounding area, Johnson stated that a casino would bring “no benefit towards the schools.”

Another resident of Elmont, for 22 years, and living only six blocks from the racetrack, Carole Pierre-Louis, said she wants “something for the children.”

Solages called for his partners in government, like Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and State Senator Jack Martins, to join the cause for the community like they did for the Westbury location.  He stated, “This will take a team effort and we will need all leaders to step up for the great people of Elmont.”

When asked if this was a political issue, Solages responded, “This is a Long Island issue; a quality of life issue.”