Hundreds Turn Out to Slam Westbury Casino Proposal

Hundreds of angry and concerned Long Islanders packed into a Westbury school Thursday night to loudly declare their opposition to a casino and gaming facility in Nassau County.

Faced with the possibility of a gaming and casino hall opening at the former Fortunoff building at The Source Mall, neighbors from Westbury, Carle Place, and other communities filled St. Brigid-Our Lady of Hope Regional School to voice their concerns.

“ I am frightened for what might happen what kind of element would be visiting this casino,” said Kim Iadabaia, of Carle Place, according to WABC.

John Addario of Westbury reportedly agreed, saying, “ I’d probably move. The crime rate will double.”

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Local political leaders also weighed in on what they feel is an inappropriate project.

“ We’re trying to come to a place where OTB realizes this is not the right location and there are other places more suitable,” Village of Westbury Mayor Pete Cavallaro said, reported WCBS.

Saying that community voices were being ignored, Cavallaro added, “ We’re a united cold calculated community that’s gonna do everything we have to do for as long as we have to do it with the resources that we have to do, to stop this,” according to WABC.

Meanwhile, Off-Track Betting officials tried to reassure the masses that the site would not be a casino in the traditional sense.

“ What we are not building is a casino,” said Rich Baldwin, gaming consultant to Nassau OTB, according to WCBS. “The idea is to have nice restaurants, a food court, maybe a sports bar. A place people can enjoy, and have a good time, and be entertained, and may not even gamble.”

About 15 percent of the 200,000-square-foot facility would involve gambling and would be open for business 20 hours a day, according to Newsday.

The former Fortunoff building is the top choice for the project that, according to OTB’s projections, would create a reported 200 jobs for Nassau County and $150 million in annual revenue. Officials expect to finalize a contract by the end of January and open the facility in November, according to the report.

“ We will make every effort to satisfy the community’s concerns,” Nassau OTB president Joe Cairo said, according to the report. “But, I don’t expect 100 percent of people to agree with us.”

Addressing crime concerns, Baldwin said, “ It’s going to enhance the safety of the area because it’s going to be so heavily detailed from a security standpoint,” according to WCBS.

Residents disagree and are planning a rally at the Fortunoff site Saturday at 1 p.m.

Photo via Stop the Casino at Fortunoff Facebook

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