What's your goal for the new year?

With 2009 firmly in the rearview mirror for residents of Franklin Square and Elmont, community leaders have their sights set on the future.

The one thing foremost on nearly everyone’s mind? The economic development of the community.

“My goal in 2010? Create jobs and bring real economic development to Belmont,” Assemblyman Tom Alfano said. “Then we can really start to cut taxes by expanding the tax base.”

Alfano has had an almost laser-like focus on Belmont Park over the past year, holding or attending press conferences in the area often in an effort to convince his associates in state government that the racetrack could sustain VLT’s and the development that the rest of the community has spent years advocating for.

Alfano wasn’t the only one listing the Belmont high among his many local concerns.

State Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Garden City) said he was focused on Belmont Racetrack as well, specifically with the goal of helping site a Shinnecock tribe casino at the park.

"Community-supported development at the Belmont Park Race Track remains at the top of my priorities," Johnson said. "I'm committed to holding a Belmont summit with state, community leaders and representatives of the Shinnecock Indian Nation to see if their plans are compatible with our needs. A significant development at Belmont will help create jobs and, through expanding the tax base, lower property taxes. Both of those items should be

Pat Nicolosi, an Elmont advocate and co-chair of the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development said that his goal for the 2010 was to see ground broken — or zoning approved, or plans delivered — for some new structures in Belmont Park, including a hotel and the walkable mall that his coalition has been so keen on bringing to the area.

“Belmont Racetrack could use that hotel built right next to that track,” Nicolosi said. “And in the south parking lot, some progress made on a walkable mall. That could be done. People want that outlet shopping ... we can get that done this year.”

Nicolosi’s co-chair, Sandra Smith, also said the area around the Belmont Racetrack needed to be a focus this year.

“First and foremost, working on the rezoning of Hempstead Turnpike, that should move forward and be changed this year,” Smith said. “I’d have to say if the [requests for proposals] are actually put out for the plans that we’ve discussed, that would definitely be a sign that things are moving forward.”

Smith also said she hoped that the elected officials who represent local communities would continue to press onward with the community revitalization that has been promised, a sentiment echoed by Alfano.

“We need to make state government accountable to the people again — not just a few leaders whose only interest seems to be the status quo,” he said.