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