On This Veterans Day: Perhaps All is not Forgotten

There are major holidays that we celebrate during the month of November. November 4th we had perhaps the greatest historical, if not memorable election in our life times. Whether the candidates of your choice won or not, it was clear that people were proud to vote. As President Elect Barrack Obama stated in his acceptance speech: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Anything is possible if we work united. Elmont for some time has been on the heels of a great renaissance. Multiple plans for revitalization, and we are glad that Governor Paterson is taking the initiative to listen to all viable plans for revitalization. Let us not forget that revitalization does not mean condemnation, destruction or even necessarily creating new elements in the community. Revitalization involves reviving a neglected part of a community, or to give new life or greater recognition.

It was the year 1998, when the community was completely united with civic associations, the ECCC, the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, and County officials to “focus on the west side of town and beautify the area around the Belmont Race Track.” The community stated, “we would like to see an equestrian museum go up on that side of town, and perhaps a few souvenir shops."

Ten years has past and what has been accomplished? The community and its youth having to “clean-up” the mess created by others. If anything is to come out of this, is the unity of frustration and disappointment that the lack of, or misguided revitalization projects had occurred. This clearly stated in multiple letters from resides expressing

If we really want to see an example of successful revitalization, all we have to do is examine Harlem. We have to explore ideas for people to want to come. Building a hotel is not a solution for bringing people. As evident with near by hotels such as the Courtesy Hotel and the Garden City Hotel they give more headaches than good. What positives would a hotel do in the middle of a residential zone area? What type of jobs would it attract? What types of people would it bring?

Ultimately, it is the residents of the Locustwood Estates area (Locustwood / Gotham / Belmont) of Elmont who has to face the burden. We once had a beautiful park, worldwide known as the finest track and training facility in the world.

We cannot be close-minded. We have to explore all possible options that are available to us. We have to listen to local input, professional input and input from outsiders. Ultimately, if we want people to come and improve the local economy we have to listen to what people from outside the community wants. We do not necessarily have to agree. Just like 20 years ago, there was a plan from individuals from New Jersey to build a hotel and the community disapproved it. For so many years, Elmont has been the source of economic assistance to the State, County and Town. It is time that financial benefits be return to Elmont and the surrounding communities.

Ultimately, if we really want to see true renaissance in our downtown, we have to explore all options and analyze its pro and cons. For example, where will people park their cars for the big races if the parking lot is gone? How would a parking garage affect the aesthetics of the Park, and the surrounding residential homes?

In this day of energy conservation, it must be noted that during the 70s a united plan with Nassau County, the city of New York and NYRA was established to create Belmont Park as a Metropolitan Mass Transit Transportation Hub. With Belmont Park’s access to busing, and trains (and subway), the parking lots serves as unique car-pooling center. The plan in the 1970s was to have express trains between Belmont and Penn Station.

Let us not forget that August Belmont was the pioneer who invested and funded the New York City Subway system. Often, the original Belmont Park Station was nicknamed the Penn Station of Long Island. A major transportation hub, would serve economic wonders to the surrounding businesses, promote energy conservation and help revitalize a lost element of Belmont Park’s past success. It also serves as an alternative to the Third Track that would affect negatively to our neighbors.

On November 11, we celebrate another holiday and that is Veterans Day. As we continue to reflect on Belmont Park, let us not forget that August Belmont himself at the age of 65 volunteered and served in the arms services. While fighting in WWI, his wife named their new colt, Man O’War. That horse later became one of the greatest horses of the twentieth century and one that “galvanized the slumping sport of horse racing and became a national hero.” A horse named in honor of a service man and the founder of the greatest thoroughbred track in America.

He was not alone, and is one of many forgotten veterans. As we reflect on Veterans Day we must take the time to give thanks and credit to all those who serve today and in the past. We must thank the living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to United States national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served not only those who died have sacrificed and done their duty. We as a community must thank them for protecting our liberties and bringing a sense of honor in being Americans. Some came home, some never did. Some live in our memories, some in our tears.

It is my hopes and inspiration that Belmont Park would become revitalized and beautiful once again. Just as the area of Locustwood Estates was created for WWI veterans, it would bring me great privilege and pride in my community to see the day that the Park be finally dedicated to the men and women who served our country so proud. Some of us have not forgotten 9/11 either, as Belmont Park served as the first sporting event in New York after that great tragedy. Belmont Park is more than just horses, or the trees of which it symbolize. It is about pride of being an American.

Belmont Park’s image and legacy, and ultimately that of Elmont, Bellerose, Floral Park and South Floral Park alike, will depend on the actions and decisions that this generation do. It is my firm belief that forgetting one’s past ultimately leads to a forgotten future.

No taxation by exploitation

"Using predatory slot machines to take hundreds of millions of dollars from the elderly, the desperate and those with addictive disorders as the preferred way to fund government completely contradicts the message of both candidates [for president]," wrote Les Bernal, executive director of StopPredatoryGambling.org. "We are a nation of strong families and communities…not a collection of selfish individuals who prey on the weaknesses of our neighbors for profit."Here's more from Bernal:"Why don’t the owners and promoters of slots, including public officials, often use slots? Because they know it is a near total waste of their money. They know the odds of winning are truly near impossible and they also know the way a person advances in America is by working hard, saving money and investing over the long-term."The truth is slots are government’s version of sub prime lending, best described as predatory gambling. AIG and Lehman Brothers executives were all part of what’s been called casino capitalism – using predatory practices and financial gimmicks to promote an illusion of free money, all at the expense of unsuspecting Americans."Among many well-intentioned people who presently advocate for slots, there is a complete lack of understanding about the design, technology and marketing behind the machines. If they did understand how predatory the machines are, there is no question that most would strongly oppose them. "Every feature of the machine -- the mathematical structure, visual graphics, sound dynamics, seating and screen ergonomics -- is geared, in the language of the predatory gambling trade, to get gamblers to 'play to extinction,' which means until their money is gone. "MIT Professor Natasha Schull has called the machines a 'high-tech version of loaded dice.' For those unfamiliar with the term, using loaded dice is cheating."One of America’s most sacred founding principles was: 'No taxation without representation.' It’s time the principle of 'No taxation by exploitation' was added right beneath it."

Ministers Against VLTs

"The church has a responsibility to help bring morals to the area and help bring people out of certain lifestyles," said Bishop James M. Briscoe, pastor of Free Gospel Church of Bryans Road in Indian Head. "Gambling is something we don't need in the community." Proponents say that legalizing slots would help produce badly needed revenue for education and other programs in a state facing serious budget problems. Ministers have been an important part of the anti-slots effort, said Bridgett Frey, a spokeswoman for Marylanders United Against Slots. The group provides brochures describing arguments against slots to ministers and other community leaders, and the material "flies out the door," she said. Marylanders United lists more than 30 religious leaders among its roughly 150-member steering committee, including Briscoe, treasurer of the Charles ministers alliance. "People are so jaded by Annapolis at this point that politicians are a difficult group to trust," Frey said. "But when your pastor looks at you and says this is the wrong decision for the state, we think that's a very powerful message." Members of the ministers alliance said that moral and religious beliefs prompted them to oppose the legalization of slot machines. Many cite Scriptural prohibitions against gambling, including a passage from Proverbs that says, "An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed." Pastor Willie R. Hunt, who leads New Community Church of God in Christ in Waldorf, said he has seen the harm that gambling can cause families. He said he has counseled people who have lost their homes and watched personal relationships deteriorate. Briscoe, a lifelong Maryland resident and longtime pastor in Prince George's and Charles counties, said he remembers watching people put money into slot machines for hours during the 1950s, when they were legal. The machines prey on lower-income people hoping to get rich quickly, he said, and they contribute to the moral degradation of the community.

Maryland Voters urging No Vote to VLTs

The Maryland General Assembly did not write any new funding for education into the proposal last year—since the politicans and gambling industry lobbyists were eager to pressure various groups into supporting the Referendum. "Promising" money to State-funded organizations if they supported the Referendum without any written guarantee was a way to push organizations of teachers and others to support this Amendment to the Maryland Constituton.The money which is supposed to come, in a few years, from slot machines to the State Treasury has been informally, conversationally, "ear-marked" numerous times over.Anybody who has even casually listened to advertisements and politicans knows that the money which is supposed to come, in a few years, from slot machines to the State Treasury has been informally, conversationally, "ear-marked" numerous times over. The gambling establishments could never bring in the exaggerated, many-times-over, claimed, advertised, and rumored benefits for the horse racing industry, for senior citizens, for police and fire protection, for public schools, for the Maryland Teachers Pension Fund, to underwrite health care for needy residents, and everything else.Where's the owner of the big company that Maryland plans to let run gambling establishments here? Canada. This means one-third of the proceeds will go out of the country.Meantime, we know that one-third of the money will go to the owners of the gambling corporations—those people who contend they will be performing such a public service for the State. And, where's the owner of the big company that Maryland plans to let run gambling establishments here? Canada. That's what these proponents of Question 2 call "bringing money into Maryland." That is what these endorsers of the Amendment to our State Constitution call "keeping the money in Maryland."

Ohio Pols Against VLTs

Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and Ohio Racing Commissioner Jerry Chabler yesterday urged people to vote against a constitutional amendment for a single gambling casino in the Cincinnati area.Issue 6 on the statewide ballot asks voters to amend the Ohio Constitution to allow a casino resort off I-71 in Clinton County.The mayor said the issue does nothing for northwest Ohio; Mr. Chabler said it would threaten existing jobs at Ohio's racetracks.MyOhioNow.com, the group sponsoring the casino initiative, claims the proposal will yield 5,000 new jobs and generate a 30 percent gross-receipts tax that would be distributed to all Ohio counties.While the amendment would subject the casino to a tax of up to 30 percent on its gross receipts, if another casino is built in Ohio, the Clinton County casino's maximum tax rate of 30 percent would be reduced to 25 percent, or to the taxation level of the future casino if that rate is lower.It is unclear whether a Native American casino would be considered not taxable - meaning that the Clinton County's casino tax rate would remain at 30 percent - or if its tax rate would be considered zero, a recent analysis found.U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland also oppose Issue 6.

Cellular Phone Tower

The civic has contacted the Town of Hempstead regarding the unacceptable, and disrespectful condition of the property in front of the Cellular Phone Tower, located on 443 Hempstead Turnpike. (Picture shown)

We had been informed Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino to do the necessary cleaning and visual improvement as promised. His assistant informed us that they have contacted the appropriate agency in an attempt to resolve this issue.

When the tower was first installed, with much hesitation, and extensive criticism from the Civic, and local community members, we were promised that the property will have extensive and beautiful landscaping. As everyone can see, that is not the case.

Several weeks and months had past and the property has not improved. In fact, you can see it degrading.

This matter may require a more direct communication with the Town of Hempstead to resolve this visible eye sore in the community.

Belmont Stakes

The week of the Belmont Stakes, starting on May 31at, has the potential of having a long lasing positive influence on the community. As long as NYRA puts family and community first, success will spill over to the neighboring businesses and be a positive component to the surrounding communities. Additionally it is important that enforcement of current laws and regulations take place to serve as an opportunity for revitalization.
Not every community has the opportunity to be on national television and the whole world watching. Individuals from across the country and world will be attendance, and participate in watching the “Sport of Kings,” at the most famous track in American horseracing. Elmont has the unique benefit of hosting the Belmont Stakes since 1905.
On June 7 regardless of how financially successful the day or week is. It helps to remind us, of what Historic Belmont Park really represents. Belmont Park by its design and accessibility is the peoples’ track. Whether or not you enjoy horseracing, there is the potential of history in the making. It is a day that helps us to remember passion of a sport, culture that existed on the Hempstead Plains since the 1600s and the history of champions.

I hope that once again, Elmont will be in the history book as we celebrate another Triple Crown winner.

NY Comptroller notes more debt in budget6

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?"

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.”

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

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

Will Closing OTB's be good for Elmont?

The New York City Off Track Betting Corporation will cease operations June 16 unless state officials provide regulatory relief before then, according to a January 16 report to the OTB’s board of directors.

Officials with some OTB’s, including NYCOTB, say the talks in Albany over the Thoroughbred franchise should also include resolution of long-standing competition problems between the tracks and off-track betting corporations.

Trimming OTB could result in greater benefits to the area tracks with increase attendance and betting. With $1Billion last year betted at NYCOTB, that money could potentially be spent at Aqueduct and Belmont. With a greater system of cost management through consolidation and a better system of profit sharing, the move might result in a benefit to NYRA, the surrounding communities and greater revenue to the State.

Leonard O. Allen, president of District Council 37’s Local 2021, which represents most of the employees who would be laid off, said he believed OTB appeared to have little choice but to close if the state does not make changes.

Revitalization of Elmont's Down Town

Working with the Town of Hempstead, the Locustwood / Gotham Civic Association helped petition a Restore New York Grant to revitalize our down town area. $100 million were awarded to various projects across the state through competitive grants. Despite this large figure, three quarters went to needed funding of upstate projects, that left the Long Island area with a total of $7 million.

Fortunately, for the residents of Elmont, the Restore New York with the works of the civic and the Town of Hempstead helped secure $2.5 million for the Argo Theatre / Down Town Project. We hope to continue working hard with the Town to secure a brighter future and securing the essence of our suburban residential community.