By Brian Zanzonico
, days after the governor vowed to consider the community's input in the track's planning process.
The Elmont Community Coalition Council's recommendations for the 102-year-old track include upkeep and maintenance of the park's perimeter, new painted fencing, more attractive landscaping, and infrastructure improvements. The group also suggested establishing tourism initiatives, which would include shopping and restaurants, a hotel/convention center and the use of the grounds year-round as not only a track, but a community facility.
Answering the cry of residents who say that Belmont offers the community little in the way of economic incentives, Alfano said he wants the village to benefit from revenue generated from the track. "We must have an iron-clad agreement for revenue from the track to local government, specifically our schools, county and town," said Alfano, who has been working closely with State Sen. Craig Johnson on the issue. "This revenue should be earmarked for tax reduction, period."
On Sept. 6, Alfano met with Spitzer in Manhattan to try to persuade the governor to give Elmont a say in the future of the track. The governor said he was open to the idea, and that Alfano would be the liaison between the community and the governor, and bring residents' recommendations for the track to him.
Days earlier, Spitzer had recommended that the New York Racing Association, which has run the state's three tracks, Belmont Park, Aqueduct Raceway and Saratoga, since 1955, retain control of them for the next 30 years. Spitzer chose NYRA, whose current contract expires Dec. 31, over the Excelsior Racing Associates, a group led by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, and another group, Empire Racing. Spitzer also awarded video lottery terminals to Aqueduct, and will decide in the coming weeks on an independent operator to run them. Both are contingent on the approval of the state Legislature.
Unhappy with Spitzer's selection of NYRA, which local officials and residents said has done little to spur economic growth in Elmont, Elmont Community Coalition Council officials are hoping to improve relations with the organization that has run Belmont Park for 52 years.
"Our voices are being heard by what Assemblyman Alfano is doing," said Joyce Stowe, the council's president. "Every voice from our community has input, and we will be heard. This is an effort from all our civics, and it's making sure that our voice counts."
In addition to a track facelift, the council's suggestions include:
n Sidewalk improvements on the outskirts of the track grounds, renovations of housing for backstretch workers and lamps surrounding the park;
n Community participation and inclusion in the Belmont Stakes and other big-ticket races;
n Creation of a business and service center to generate tax revenue for the community, which would increase the tax base to provide property tax relief for homeowners.
Alfano also said he wants Belmont Park to provide job opportunities. "I specifically want to see opportunity for job creation and community-friendly business," he said. "I want to see a viable employment base of good jobs at good wages. I'm not talking about fast-food jobs. I want to see real jobs where young people, seniors and working families have real economic opportunity."
Stowe met on Sept. 12 with Patrick Nicolosi, president of the Elmont East End Civic Club, Sandra Smith and Mimi Pierre Johnson of the Argo Civic Association, Ruth Jakab of the Locustwood-Gotham Civic Association, Claudine Hall of the Jamaica Square Civic Association, Cheryl Lee of the Parkhurst Civic Association, Chet Collins, former community council chairman, and East End Civic Club Vice President Frank Ragona to get their input and compile a list of recommendations for Alfano to deliver to the governor.
"We're working together on this important issue because it's going to impact Elmont for decades," said Smith, who is also president of the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development, which acts as a liaison between the community and government in the community's revitalization plan. "This decision will help chart Elmont's future."
Two months ago, town and county officials announced plans to chip in $40,000 to hire two consulting firms to create a plan to improve the section of Hempstead Turnpike from Belmont Raceway to the Franklin Square border. The $80,000 in combined grants will pay Sustainable Long Island, a not-for-profit economic and environmental group, and White Plains-based Saccardi & Schiff to develop a blueprint for the nearly three-mile stretch of the turnpike.
After three economic development community workshops were held in recent weeks, the firms will listen to residents' visions for the future on Sept. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m., and Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Elmont Memorial High School, 555 Ridge Road. After that weekend, the two firms will piece together a rough plan based on community input and present it to the public Oct. 16 at the high school at 7 p.m. The completed plan with be unveiled next spring.
Comments about this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
