NYRA Extension Seems to be Confirmed

According to a source familiar with closed-door negotiations between Governor Spitzer's office and the state Senate and Assembly, a deal is firming up that will extend the franchise NYRA has held since 1955 for another 30 years, as the governor has strongly advocated.

A move we believe may be the best thing for Elmont with the appropriate oversight. Our State Senator Craig Johnson has been named to the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee and we hope he will fight to protect what the surrounding residents of the Belmont Park want.

Johnson said that past events have shown the need for any final franchise agreement to include specific language that spells out what the track's relationship with the communities will be, and how residents will be able to benefit. He continued, "I hope that this appointment will bring these communities one step closer toward having an iron-clad agreement with the track that is backed by the full force of the law."

We are glad that some representatives in Elmont feel the same concern as we have. Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver has been adamant all along that there be no VLTs at Belmont, and that appears to prevail. While details remain fuzzy, that NYRA is all but assured the uninterrupted franchise should come as a great relief to the state's billion-dollar thoroughbred industry.

Civic Works to Stop Installation of More Antennas

After being notified via Public Notice this past weekend, the civic has been working diligently with Town Councilman Edward Ambrosino to stop the installation of additional cellular phone antennas between the corners of Locustwood Boulevard and Sussex Road on Hempstead Turnpike, where the Elmont Health Center currently exists. The plans were to be introduced at the Wednesday, November 14 at the Town Zoning Hearing. However, the cellular phone company retracted its plans with no future hearing date planned. More details will be available at our next civic meeting on the 15th.

Water Tank: UPDATE

After conferring with the Water Authority of Western Nassau County the Water Tank on Hempstead Turnpike was finally getting cleaned.

Their response:

This 5 million gallon
storage unit is the largest of our seven water tanks.  It was last
repaired and painted in 2000 and used a Urethane exterior paint coating.
Given the fact that we have active wells at this location we are extremely
limited by Department of Health regulations as to the cleaning product and
process allowed to clean this tank.  We have once before cleaned this
surface after its last overhaul in 2000.  Given the size and open location
of the unit it is highly susceptible to accumulate this build up making it
unsightly.

It is our hope, weather permitting, that we can finish cleaning this tank
within two - three weeks time. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that the
dirt and mold will not begin to show up again in the not too distant
future.  By using our own employees in this cleaning process, as opposed
to outside contractors,  we are saving a significant amount of money while
at the same time carefully addressing the exterior finish so as not to
damage the paint layer costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to
repaint.  We appreciate your patience during this time and hope to make
this tank look like new. 

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the resolution to this issue.