The 600 seat auditorium of Carle Place High was overflowing with angry locals who oppose the notion of a Casino being built in the nearby Fortunoff building. 120 additional people were even ushered into an overflow room. Residents are fearful a casino in their community will produce more harm than good, and cite a potential uptick in crime and falling property values as their major concerns.
A raucous applause was heard as nearly three dozen elementary and middle school children were led to the front of the auditorium carrying sings in opposition to the casino. “Kids against the casino,” and “Don’t gamble with our future,” were two of the signs held.
Officials from the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. are currently in negotiations to purchase the building. Their plan calls for 1,000 video slot machines, in addition to table games in the property which would be open 20 hours a day. Only 15 percent of the 200,000-square-foot building would be used for gaming, with the rest used for shopping and restaurants. OTB officials estimate their proposed gaming parlor would see 200 jobs created, and contribute $20 million in yearly revenues to Nassau County.
Arthur Walsh, the OTB attorney told the crowd, “What we’re doing is not a full-fledged casino,” which drew hisses and heckles from the raucous crowd. Their proposal does not mention any live dealers running table games, but rather electronic table games, such as roulette and blackjack.
Westbury Village Mayor Peter Cavallaro indicated he may file a lawsuit in hopes of blocking the parlor, even though the site does not fall within village limits. Lawmakers in the Nassau County Legislature have even suggested replacing all three members of the OTB board with others opposed to the plan. Several elected officials also oppose the plan, such as supervisors from the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead.
OTB’s Race Palace in Plainview was the initial site of the proposal, but the plan fell through due to community opposition. Many at the hearing were asking the OTB to consider Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which will receive a $200-million renovation, to be the host site for the gaming parlor. OTB officials were quick to point out Nassau County, who owns the stadium, expressed no interest in having gaming on the property.
