Gaming facility in Westbury?

Residents, elected officials oppose Nassau OTB plan

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A plan by the Nassau Regional Off Track Betting Corporation to turn a porticon of a former Fortunoff in Westbury that is now vacant into a gaming facility has been met with strong public opposition, and raised questions about what governing body — if any — has the authority to block the proposal.

According to Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission, negotiations are under way with the owners of the space, in the Source Mall on Old Country Road, to install as many as 1,000 video lottery machines. The rest of the space would be filled with restaurants, a food court, administrative offices and extensive security. No other parts of the mall would be leased, the OTB said.

The proposal has been criticized by residents and elected officials, who have complained that the location was chosen without public input and bemoaned the negative impact a gambling facility might have on traffic, parking and crime in the area.

The gaming facilities are permitted by a law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in July 2013, the Upstate Gaming and Economic Development Act, the main purpose of which was to establish four upstate casinos. The law also authorizes the Nassau and Suffolk County OTBs to establish one video lottery terminal in each county containing up to 1,000 machines.

The law was tied to a constitutional amendment that was approved by voters the following November. State Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, who represents East Meadow, said that even if the referendum had been voted down, the two agencies could legally set up the video lottery terminals. “It’s like a 110-page law,” McKevitt said. “It’s buried in there.”

McKevitt said it was his understanding that the only board with authority over the OTB’s plan is the state Gaming Commission, which must consider traffic and environmental impact and ultimately decide to approve or disapprove the proposal.

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