North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell today called on Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (OTB) officials to halt all negotiations and plans for its casino project intended for the shuttered Fortunoff building in Westbury, stating that so far the process has lacked transparency and has been devoid of any community input.
“In the interests of fairness, openness and transparency, we are calling upon OTB to commit immediately to the suspension of this project and bring the entire process out into the light of day,” Bosworth stated.
In a letter sent to OTB officials today, Supervisor Bosworth and Councilwoman Russell stated:
“The openness and transparency required for such a large and significant project have clearly not been provided by OTB. The announcement of your plan was made during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and reflected virtually no outreach to the community. A meaningful process providing for authentic community input and vigorous public discussion is an important safeguard for sound and responsible governmental decision-making. Our residents are entitled to – and frankly expect – no less from their public officials. Unfortunately, the actions of OTB up to this point have failed this crucial test.”
Although the proposed location of the casino is in the Town of Hempstead, many adjacent communities in the Town of North Hempstead, such as Carle Place, Westbury and New Cassel, will be affected. Bosworth and Russell said they are working together with Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro and other elected officials, to help residents voice their concerns that the proposed location of the casino will jeopardize their safety and disrupt their neighborhoods.
“These North Hempstead communities are entitled to an opportunity to have their concerns and questions heard by OTB and addressed in a public forum, before this project proceeds any further,” said Russell. “We are requesting that at least one such meeting be scheduled this month for our residents and their elected officials, at a location that can accommodate the many residents who would most certainly wish to attend and with sufficient notice to the public.”
Other concerns expressed in the letter to OTB include safety concerns of many residents who live within walking distance of this proposed site, as well as in the broader community, who have voiced their concern for their personal safety and security, and that of their families.
Both Bosworth and Russell said they are also concerned that the already heavily-burdened (as a result of consolidation) Third Precinct of the Nassau County Police Department will face a “tipping point” in its ability to provide appropriate and timely response to neighborhood security concerns, as it focuses on the increased law-enforcement duties that result from a busy casino.
Many citizens have contacted Bosworth to state that they believe the immediately adjacent residential neighborhoods will be severely impacted by increased traffic and turned into a high-traffic commuting corridor, as casino patrons come and go from the nearby Carle Place and Westbury LIRR stations and the Northern State Parkway.
“Our constituents want to protect their most important investments – their homes – and the quality of life they wish to preserve and enhance and we certainly understand and share these concerns,” Bosworth stated.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray today also voiced her opposition for the project, but said that the town has no power over the project
“While I do oppose this proposal, I would like to dispel the notion that Hempstead Town has oversight, project approval power or any other jurisdiction over the planned project. In fact, Nassau OTB is an agency created by New York State and, as such, falls under the authority of the New York State Gaming Commission,” said Murray in a letter. “Hempstead Town does not have an official role or a “seat at the table” with the gaming commission on this matter.”
She said that the town is working to meet with Nassau OTB, state officials and others to learn more.
Read Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Councilwoman Viviana Russell letter’s here
Read Supervisor Kate Murray’s letter here
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