For some time now, we have been posting about how VLTs are not working.
Today, in the Associated Press, NY State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said, that there will a lot more debt in the New York State Budget.
One part was that "VLTs revenue may not materialize. "
So once again, we ask, "How can VLTs bring revitalization, when they themselves are in economic trouble?"
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Hayward: There are better options than VLTs
Strike a big win for Belmont Park, and its surrounding communities, as Charles Hayward openly expressed his hesitation with VLTs. Instead, he hopes to market Belmont Park, as an elite sporting location. Now we are talking about revitalization.
From the Sports Business Journal (April 28, 2008):http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/58847Aqueduct Race Track in New York is slated to get more traditional slot machines in 2009, but New York Racing Association President and CEO Charles Hayward said he doesn’t expect many of the future slots customers to “cross over” and start betting the races.Four years ago, the largest crowd in New York horse racing history turned out to watch the Belmont Stakes, where Smarty Jones came up short in a bid for the Triple Crown. Instead, Hayward is targeting group sales efforts on Wall Street firms and law firms to find people who like things that are intellectually challenging. “You can’t take someone who is not predisposed to analysis and all the things that go into handicapping (and make them a fan). If people don’t like that, they are not going to be a horse player.”But, Hayward added, “If you get a good fan … that is a fan for life because there is no better game than betting on horses.”
From the Sports Business Journal (April 28, 2008):http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/58847Aqueduct Race Track in New York is slated to get more traditional slot machines in 2009, but New York Racing Association President and CEO Charles Hayward said he doesn’t expect many of the future slots customers to “cross over” and start betting the races.Four years ago, the largest crowd in New York horse racing history turned out to watch the Belmont Stakes, where Smarty Jones came up short in a bid for the Triple Crown. Instead, Hayward is targeting group sales efforts on Wall Street firms and law firms to find people who like things that are intellectually challenging. “You can’t take someone who is not predisposed to analysis and all the things that go into handicapping (and make them a fan). If people don’t like that, they are not going to be a horse player.”But, Hayward added, “If you get a good fan … that is a fan for life because there is no better game than betting on horses.”
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Voicing Out Choice
The issue of VLTs, is something that must trigger debate as it should question ones values and ethics. What everyone agrees upon is that compulsive gambling is dangerous.
VLTs offer the most addictive form of gambling, and thus which creates the largest number of compulsive gamblers.
Visiting http://cagnyinf.org/ or http://www.ncalg.org/, you could see statistics, documents, reports that all state the obvious, expansion of gambling hurts communities.
Visiting http://www.nhptv.org/productions/theater.asp?streamdata=http://media.nhptv.org:8080/ramgen/outlook/nho04202008a.rm
offers an excellent documentary as to why states should oppose VLTs.
"Gambling is a very poor source of economic development. There is no evidence whatsoever that those states that have large sources of gambling revenues are better financially, or any better off in terms of what services they are offering and delivering. "
- Rhode Island Governor Donald Cariceri [R]
Elmont isn't a community in the middle of a dessert, or with a waterfront, or with a mountain landscape in the middle, it is surrounded by middle class, single family residential homes.
There is a difference that is obvious to see.
Fortunately, we have a choice. We do not need to have VLTs at Belmont. That is what many are not aware about. Belmont Park, is a world class racetrack, that offers the opportunity for many to invest in its development, and most importantly its recovery to becoming the finest race course in the world. Many are willing, however our voices need to be heard.
A museum and a cultural center that offer enriching concerts overseeing beautiful Belmont Park, a highlight to one of America's oldest sport, and a collection of history and triumph, at the Championship Course, that is Belmont.
We encourage everyone to voice out for choice, and sign our online petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/novlts/petition.html
VLTs offer the most addictive form of gambling, and thus which creates the largest number of compulsive gamblers.
Visiting http://cagnyinf.org/ or http://www.ncalg.org/, you could see statistics, documents, reports that all state the obvious, expansion of gambling hurts communities.
Visiting http://www.nhptv.org/productions/theater.asp?streamdata=http://media.nhptv.org:8080/ramgen/outlook/nho04202008a.rm
offers an excellent documentary as to why states should oppose VLTs.
"Gambling is a very poor source of economic development. There is no evidence whatsoever that those states that have large sources of gambling revenues are better financially, or any better off in terms of what services they are offering and delivering. "
- Rhode Island Governor Donald Cariceri [R]
Elmont isn't a community in the middle of a dessert, or with a waterfront, or with a mountain landscape in the middle, it is surrounded by middle class, single family residential homes.
There is a difference that is obvious to see.
Fortunately, we have a choice. We do not need to have VLTs at Belmont. That is what many are not aware about. Belmont Park, is a world class racetrack, that offers the opportunity for many to invest in its development, and most importantly its recovery to becoming the finest race course in the world. Many are willing, however our voices need to be heard.
A museum and a cultural center that offer enriching concerts overseeing beautiful Belmont Park, a highlight to one of America's oldest sport, and a collection of history and triumph, at the Championship Course, that is Belmont.
We encourage everyone to voice out for choice, and sign our online petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/novlts/petition.html
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Other States Saying No to Slots
In the last few years, several states (11 of them) had referendums voted no to the expansion of gambling in their states. The most prominent being California, and New Jersey.
The latest state to fight against gambling is Maryland.
An interesting article came out a couple day ago, and can be read here:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/04_17-21/GOV
Since 2001, New York State had legalized the expansion of gambling in the State with VLTs, despite the State Constitution clearly defining gambling as prohibited. However, the court system accepted it, since it was an artificial form of gambling through a virtual computer generated chance.
What many do not notice is, in that the same law that legalized VLTs in New York, strictly prohibits the addition of VLTs at Saratoga and Belmont Park.
The residents of Maryland has a point. VLTs are just the beginning. As we already are seeing, revenues are by far not reaching expectations, and revenue that were going to fund education, are going back for advertisements, and further expansion of gambling. As already seen in other states, VLTs locations are working on becoming full fledged casinos, and what will happen after that?
Spread the word, and join the hundreds of people who have voiced against the expansion of gambling at Belmont Park. Together, we can work together to protect the integrity and morality of Elmont, as well as the State of New York.
The latest state to fight against gambling is Maryland.
An interesting article came out a couple day ago, and can be read here:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/04_17-21/GOV
Since 2001, New York State had legalized the expansion of gambling in the State with VLTs, despite the State Constitution clearly defining gambling as prohibited. However, the court system accepted it, since it was an artificial form of gambling through a virtual computer generated chance.
What many do not notice is, in that the same law that legalized VLTs in New York, strictly prohibits the addition of VLTs at Saratoga and Belmont Park.
The residents of Maryland has a point. VLTs are just the beginning. As we already are seeing, revenues are by far not reaching expectations, and revenue that were going to fund education, are going back for advertisements, and further expansion of gambling. As already seen in other states, VLTs locations are working on becoming full fledged casinos, and what will happen after that?
Spread the word, and join the hundreds of people who have voiced against the expansion of gambling at Belmont Park. Together, we can work together to protect the integrity and morality of Elmont, as well as the State of New York.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The "Real" Truth
With a recent rise of false comments being spread locally and in Albany, I believe it is imperative that certain things should be stated publicly in order to protect and preserve fact and truth and the future of the community that I lived in my entire life.
Once upon a time, a certain individual started to spread around a statement that everyone around Belmont Park is in favor of VLTs including officials from Floral Park. For some it might come as a surprise that Floral Park’s Major stated the following: "At the public hearing, I expressed deep reservations about state sponsored gambling in general and the proposed expansion of gambling at Belmont Park in particular. I do not see an Atlantic City environment as a blueprint for economic success of revitalization." He continued stating, "As for those who think that the expansion of gambling at Belmont is the shortest route to an economic renaissance in western Nassau, I think they will be sadly disillusioned." In fact, there is a large group, of multiple organizations who are in opposition and in that documents, videos and petitions were sent to Albany opposing the VLTs.
Nevertheless, there were articles printed in Newsday, and an editorial on News 12 that may depict a positive outlook on VLTs. It is an issue that merits debate, and not a one sided censorship approach. Paul Moran, Newsday’s thoroughbred racing writer and handicapper wrote that it is an “absolutely obscene idea of video lottery terminals at Belmont Park.” Readers of the New York Times would have read an editorial where it states "The state should not be expanding gambling at its racetracks ‑ the euphemistically named slot machines that are a gambler's version of crack cocaine."
Let us answer these simple questions. Can something good come from something that is morally wrong? If something is really going to bring positive change, why is there so much hesitation in debate? Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger stated the following, “there is a very conscious strategy” on part of the gambling industry “to take advantage of vulnerable states and to ally with state officials who don’t want to make tough decisions about taxes. But when there’s a full and fair public policy debate, it’s tough for the gambling forces to win. People realize there’s no quick and easy fix to these tough economic problems.”
Some would argue that VLTs could serve as a model for economic development and revitalization. An environment similar to Atlantic City would be disastrous to the residential single family homes that surround Belmont Park. In addition, the track record of racinos in New York State is horrendous. New York has 8 racino operations, and 6 of them are showing losses. In fact, state legislation was recently passed that moved $195 million of state lottery education money to operators of VLTs, as Senator Bruno put it, “for their survivability”. If you believe that is a lie, ask your state elected officials about it.
In addition, we are going to have VLTs at Aqueduct with shared revenue. The market is already competitive enough, that placement of VLTs at Belmont, would create a level of saturation where any benefits would be hurt, in addition to the survivability of the other locations such as Yonkers Raceway, who like Tioga, Vernon Downs and Monticello potentially could close. A June 2007, New York Times article states that the owners at Yonkers Raceway are losing over $12 million a year. This left Bennett Liebman of the Racing and Wagering Law Program at Albany Law School to say that Yonkers Raceway is "a major disappointment." How can entities that are losing millions bring in revitalization? Long term studies state the fact: they do not, and only bring increase expenses to local social programs. We only have to look to our neighboring country to the north that had VLTs longer to see the negative impact on a larger scale Perhaps the moral of this is that, we must take everything in moderation. VLTs is an unnecessary burden to Elmont, especially since we have other more viable solutions available.
Proponents for VLTs would say there is a lot of money available that could help stimulate a struggling economy. New York Times article in May 2003, reported that $68 billion were gambled in 2003 alone. It continues stating that “Americans now spend more on gambling than on movies, videos, DVD’s, music, and books combined; and with an annual growth rate of about 9 percent since 1991, gambling is growing substantially faster than the economy as a whole.” The Washington Post in 2002 warns, that the current expansion of gambling occurred similar as a result as to what happened in 1930. We must learn our mistakes from the past prior to creating false hopes and misconceptions on what revitalization should be.
A false statement is that a small group is out to destroy the works of Sustainable Long Island, and its’ Elmont Visioning Plan. In fact, this is completely the contrary, unless the writer is discussing about themselves. There is a large group of individuals that are looking at the broader and long term future of Elmont. Others sought for a quick short term fix with VLTs, which is typical of New York State politics. Let us don’t forget, they said the same thing about the lottery in the 1970s. The issue isn’t whether we want revitalization or not, but the issue is how.
Instead of working out an action plan similar to that of the Elmont Visioning Plan, setting up a framework of how Belmont could help Elmont. This small, yet very vocal group instead pushed VLTs at higher priority, with full disregard to the interests of the civic organizations (emphasis on the S) and residents around Belmont Park. Where did these same individuals sought to gain support for them? By visiting a local elementary school and having a press conference in front of children.
Let me ask you this. How would you feel if your state elected official visited the elementary school of your child, and talked to them how VLTs (in simpler terms gambling) will help their education? This sadly happened and in one word: tragic. Tragic in that, they can convince individuals that gambling money is the only way to help Elmont. Ultimately, this small vocal group hurt the work done by the Elmont Visioning Plan, to the extent that individuals living in Elmont, individuals who have worked in Elmont, and individuals who have vested interests in Elmont’s revitalization question the motives and intentions of individuals who take a one sided, and very stubborn approach. This laundry list of names is staggering. Mr. Patrick Nicolosi once stated in the Elmont Herald on August 17, 2007, “A small group being fueled by the Assemblyman’s office [are] working to destroy this community.” Makes you wonder, who the real small group is.
In 1999, a commission created by then President Bill Clinton recommended that “States should refuse to allow the introduction of casino style gambling including VLTs into pari-mutuel facilities.” Largely because of deceptive advertising practices, and how these facilities tend to target minority and poor communities.
Sheila Dixon, educator, first African American Council President, and first woman Mayor of Baltimore, MD City said it best in regard to VLTs, "I believe that our state legislators should be responsible and find another way to fund our schools. We can't destroy neighborhoods and people's lives and that's the piece people just don't get."
It is amazing what we can learn from individuals who live in other states. Many of us, can learn a thing or to. The “real” lie that is being spread is the notion that only VLTs could bring in revitalization. It is important for the future of Elmont, and the community where we live to explore every potential avenue before we make a harsh decision that we may regret down the road. We owe this to the children of our community
Once upon a time, a certain individual started to spread around a statement that everyone around Belmont Park is in favor of VLTs including officials from Floral Park. For some it might come as a surprise that Floral Park’s Major stated the following: "At the public hearing, I expressed deep reservations about state sponsored gambling in general and the proposed expansion of gambling at Belmont Park in particular. I do not see an Atlantic City environment as a blueprint for economic success of revitalization." He continued stating, "As for those who think that the expansion of gambling at Belmont is the shortest route to an economic renaissance in western Nassau, I think they will be sadly disillusioned." In fact, there is a large group, of multiple organizations who are in opposition and in that documents, videos and petitions were sent to Albany opposing the VLTs.
Nevertheless, there were articles printed in Newsday, and an editorial on News 12 that may depict a positive outlook on VLTs. It is an issue that merits debate, and not a one sided censorship approach. Paul Moran, Newsday’s thoroughbred racing writer and handicapper wrote that it is an “absolutely obscene idea of video lottery terminals at Belmont Park.” Readers of the New York Times would have read an editorial where it states "The state should not be expanding gambling at its racetracks ‑ the euphemistically named slot machines that are a gambler's version of crack cocaine."
Let us answer these simple questions. Can something good come from something that is morally wrong? If something is really going to bring positive change, why is there so much hesitation in debate? Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger stated the following, “there is a very conscious strategy” on part of the gambling industry “to take advantage of vulnerable states and to ally with state officials who don’t want to make tough decisions about taxes. But when there’s a full and fair public policy debate, it’s tough for the gambling forces to win. People realize there’s no quick and easy fix to these tough economic problems.”
Some would argue that VLTs could serve as a model for economic development and revitalization. An environment similar to Atlantic City would be disastrous to the residential single family homes that surround Belmont Park. In addition, the track record of racinos in New York State is horrendous. New York has 8 racino operations, and 6 of them are showing losses. In fact, state legislation was recently passed that moved $195 million of state lottery education money to operators of VLTs, as Senator Bruno put it, “for their survivability”. If you believe that is a lie, ask your state elected officials about it.
In addition, we are going to have VLTs at Aqueduct with shared revenue. The market is already competitive enough, that placement of VLTs at Belmont, would create a level of saturation where any benefits would be hurt, in addition to the survivability of the other locations such as Yonkers Raceway, who like Tioga, Vernon Downs and Monticello potentially could close. A June 2007, New York Times article states that the owners at Yonkers Raceway are losing over $12 million a year. This left Bennett Liebman of the Racing and Wagering Law Program at Albany Law School to say that Yonkers Raceway is "a major disappointment." How can entities that are losing millions bring in revitalization? Long term studies state the fact: they do not, and only bring increase expenses to local social programs. We only have to look to our neighboring country to the north that had VLTs longer to see the negative impact on a larger scale Perhaps the moral of this is that, we must take everything in moderation. VLTs is an unnecessary burden to Elmont, especially since we have other more viable solutions available.
Proponents for VLTs would say there is a lot of money available that could help stimulate a struggling economy. New York Times article in May 2003, reported that $68 billion were gambled in 2003 alone. It continues stating that “Americans now spend more on gambling than on movies, videos, DVD’s, music, and books combined; and with an annual growth rate of about 9 percent since 1991, gambling is growing substantially faster than the economy as a whole.” The Washington Post in 2002 warns, that the current expansion of gambling occurred similar as a result as to what happened in 1930. We must learn our mistakes from the past prior to creating false hopes and misconceptions on what revitalization should be.
A false statement is that a small group is out to destroy the works of Sustainable Long Island, and its’ Elmont Visioning Plan. In fact, this is completely the contrary, unless the writer is discussing about themselves. There is a large group of individuals that are looking at the broader and long term future of Elmont. Others sought for a quick short term fix with VLTs, which is typical of New York State politics. Let us don’t forget, they said the same thing about the lottery in the 1970s. The issue isn’t whether we want revitalization or not, but the issue is how.
Instead of working out an action plan similar to that of the Elmont Visioning Plan, setting up a framework of how Belmont could help Elmont. This small, yet very vocal group instead pushed VLTs at higher priority, with full disregard to the interests of the civic organizations (emphasis on the S) and residents around Belmont Park. Where did these same individuals sought to gain support for them? By visiting a local elementary school and having a press conference in front of children.
Let me ask you this. How would you feel if your state elected official visited the elementary school of your child, and talked to them how VLTs (in simpler terms gambling) will help their education? This sadly happened and in one word: tragic. Tragic in that, they can convince individuals that gambling money is the only way to help Elmont. Ultimately, this small vocal group hurt the work done by the Elmont Visioning Plan, to the extent that individuals living in Elmont, individuals who have worked in Elmont, and individuals who have vested interests in Elmont’s revitalization question the motives and intentions of individuals who take a one sided, and very stubborn approach. This laundry list of names is staggering. Mr. Patrick Nicolosi once stated in the Elmont Herald on August 17, 2007, “A small group being fueled by the Assemblyman’s office [are] working to destroy this community.” Makes you wonder, who the real small group is.
In 1999, a commission created by then President Bill Clinton recommended that “States should refuse to allow the introduction of casino style gambling including VLTs into pari-mutuel facilities.” Largely because of deceptive advertising practices, and how these facilities tend to target minority and poor communities.
Sheila Dixon, educator, first African American Council President, and first woman Mayor of Baltimore, MD City said it best in regard to VLTs, "I believe that our state legislators should be responsible and find another way to fund our schools. We can't destroy neighborhoods and people's lives and that's the piece people just don't get."
It is amazing what we can learn from individuals who live in other states. Many of us, can learn a thing or to. The “real” lie that is being spread is the notion that only VLTs could bring in revitalization. It is important for the future of Elmont, and the community where we live to explore every potential avenue before we make a harsh decision that we may regret down the road. We owe this to the children of our community
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