Local residents are up in arms about Nassau Off Track Betting (OTB)’s plan to bring a mini-casino to the former Fortunoff’s building at the Source Mall.
“We are not able to get out of our neighborhood and on Old Country Road as it is now. Crime has increased in our area and now you want to put a casino three blocks from our homes. Give us a break. Enough is enough,” said Patricia Salzano Diglio, a Carle Place resident.
Negotiations are currently underway to put a mini-casino with 1,000 video lottery terminals at the vacant Fortunoff’s building on Old Country Road. In a statement, the OTB says it chose the facility because it “provides a centralized location with ample parking and easy access to major thoroughfares.”
The video lottery terminals (VLT) would utilize 15 percent of the Fortunoff building and according to the OTB, the rest will feature “first-class amenities such as restaurants and a food court, administrative offices and extensive surveillance and security” as well as an on-site responsible gaming program.
Many local residents have voiced outrage at a mini-casino coming to the neighborhood. Their prime concerns are the increased traffic and crime that often accompanies a gambling establishment.
“We already have enough traffic and congestion in our area. We knew about that with the amount of shopping in our area when we moved in. However nobody signed up for moving next to a casino,” says Carle Place’s Melissa Pittoni. “Old Country Road is already a nightmare during the holidays, I cannot even imagine it during holidays if you add a casino. Let them move it to an area that is not already crammed with enough businesses and bring revenue and people to that area. We have enough already.”
Westbury’s Vinny Abbatiello helped start the “Stop the Casino at Fortunoff” Facebook page, which has close to 2,700 likes. The page has encouraged residents to make phone calls and write letters to legislators voicing their opinion on the proposal.
“We’re not saying there shouldn’t be a casino. You just need to find a better location,” said Abbatiello. “It’s too close to a residential area and is going to have a significant impact on residents. Casinos bring nothing but violence and it will affect the quality of life.”
Among those who have contacted the OTB voicing his displeasure about the proposed mini-casino is Village of Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro. He noted that the casino would not only increase crime and traffic, but would have a negative effect on property values and the village’s downtown revitalization.
He called on the OTB to hold public meetings to gather more input and to consider alternate sites such as Belmont Park and Bethpage Grumman.
“I’m hoping the public has an opportunity to be heard and that they consider other locations. I don’t know why this one was selected, despite it being so close to residential homes,” says Cavallaro. “The lack of any attempt to seek public input on the site selection has been disappointing. The community won’t tolerate that kind of approach going forward, and legitimate community concerns must be addressed.”
The public is invited to learn more about the project and voice their opinion on the casino Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Brigid’s School and Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. at Carle Place High School during the monthly meeting of the Carle Place Association.
