Local residents, officials, and lawmakers held a rally on September 26 to protest a proposed mini-casino in Medford, New York.
Suffolk Off-Track Betting plans to build a mini-casino on a 31-acre parcel in Brookhaven that formerly housed a movie theater chain and Suffolk Off-Track Betting paid $10 million to buy.
Suffolk wants to install 1,000 gaming machines and build restaurants and bars on the about 100,000 square foot indoor space.
Protestors say the casino would have a detrimental impact on the local community through increased traffic, crime, and gambling addiction.
State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick was among lawmakers at the planned protest and told protestors he would re-introduce a bill to rescind state authorization for the mini-casino and a proposed casino in Nassau.
Although many oppose the casino project, many local officials support it, and most Suffolk County officials in March voted against Fitzpatrick’s failed bid to rescind casino authorization.
Local officials supporting it say the casino will provide much-needed local revenues and increased economic activity.
