Belmont Blues
12-16-2009, 07:04 PM
During the Hoftstra debate, the asked the candidates what they thought about gambling at Belmont. The former and new county executives said they supported the idea. The outgoing counsel at Consumer Affairs noted that there's already gambling at Belmont.
Today's news -- that the Shinnecock Indians of Southampton have moved a great deal closer to federal recognition -- means that the possibility of a casino at Belmont Racetrack has increased substantially.
The tribe still has a ways to go. It will need to complete the federal recognition process and then strike a deal with the state concerning the acquisition of the Belmont property and the nature of gambling thereat.
The state will demand its share of the revenue naturally. The state won't dither too much over the true economic impact of casino gambling. Let's face it: the neighborhoods around major entertainment venues aren't the best. I remember Atlantic City before casino gambling. The casinos were going to rejuvenate the dying city. Well, those casinos have brought in revenue, but AC is still a seaside urinal.
Casino gambling will generate revenue for the owners and government, but it also bring social ills. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that other ills -- drugs, violent crimes, prostitution, loan-sharking and poverty -- come with the territory.
If the state chooses to overlook these ills for the sake of the revenue, then it's up to ALL our local elected officials from the school and village boards, through the town and county and state and even to the federal level to make sure the majority of the revenue stays with the Elmont and Sewanhaka school districts, Hempstead Town and Nassau County. New York City should realize not one cent of the revenue flowing from a casino in Elmont. After all, Nassau taxpayers have subsidized city entertainment venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall for decades.
This isn't a matter for partisanship. Tom Alfano, Craig Johnson, Ed Ambrosino, John Ciotti, Kate Murray, Ed Mangano and even Carolyn McCarthy need to issue a joint statement that at least 80% of the government revenue stream must remain here and not end up subsidizing NYC's failing crime-ridden schools.
Today's news -- that the Shinnecock Indians of Southampton have moved a great deal closer to federal recognition -- means that the possibility of a casino at Belmont Racetrack has increased substantially.
The tribe still has a ways to go. It will need to complete the federal recognition process and then strike a deal with the state concerning the acquisition of the Belmont property and the nature of gambling thereat.
The state will demand its share of the revenue naturally. The state won't dither too much over the true economic impact of casino gambling. Let's face it: the neighborhoods around major entertainment venues aren't the best. I remember Atlantic City before casino gambling. The casinos were going to rejuvenate the dying city. Well, those casinos have brought in revenue, but AC is still a seaside urinal.
Casino gambling will generate revenue for the owners and government, but it also bring social ills. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that other ills -- drugs, violent crimes, prostitution, loan-sharking and poverty -- come with the territory.
If the state chooses to overlook these ills for the sake of the revenue, then it's up to ALL our local elected officials from the school and village boards, through the town and county and state and even to the federal level to make sure the majority of the revenue stays with the Elmont and Sewanhaka school districts, Hempstead Town and Nassau County. New York City should realize not one cent of the revenue flowing from a casino in Elmont. After all, Nassau taxpayers have subsidized city entertainment venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall for decades.
This isn't a matter for partisanship. Tom Alfano, Craig Johnson, Ed Ambrosino, John Ciotti, Kate Murray, Ed Mangano and even Carolyn McCarthy need to issue a joint statement that at least 80% of the government revenue stream must remain here and not end up subsidizing NYC's failing crime-ridden schools.