Massive Rally Against Belmont Casino Tuesday Night

Words by Organizer and Elmont resident, Crystal Berger

You may have wondered why this issue means so much to me. As many of you know, I have lived in Elmont for almost 22 years, since 1994. My mother saw to it that I attended private school, and so Floral Park became my second home. I grew up in two worlds – Elmont and Floral Park, while living in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-racial household – but it has taught me one thing:

This is everyone’s fight. It is not a racial issue, a village issue, or a town issue. It doesn’t only affect Floral Park and Elmont.

Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, Franklin Square, South Floral Park, Bellerose, and Queens will all suffer the consequences of this ill-conceived idea.

“Development” is defined as “the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become larger or more advanced.”

This detrimental plan will not “develop” the area or its surrounding communities.

The following community organizations and elected officials have pledged their opposition to the casino at Belmont Park (please visit NoBelmontCasino.org):

Floral Park Village Board Mayor & Tom Tweedy
Floral Park-Bellerose School Board
Our Lady of Victory School Board (OLV Statement)
U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (Rep. Rice’s Statement)
Assemblywoman Michelle Solages
Bellerose Village Board & Mayor Henry Schrieber
South Floral Park Village Board & Mayor Geoffrey Prime
Stewart Manor Mayor Gerard Tangredi
Floral Park Village Board Mayor & Tom Tweedy
Floral Park-Bellerose School Board
Our Lady of Victory School Board (OLV Statement)
U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (Rep. Rice’s Statement)
Assemblywoman Michelle Solages
Bellerose Village Board & Mayor Henry Schrieber
South Floral Park Village Board & Mayor Geoffrey Prime
Stewart Manor Mayor Gerard Tangredi
Elmont leader Tammie Williams
Franklin Square leader Carl Gerato
North Valley Stream leader Milagros Vicente

Support is growing daily.

In order for a community to succeed, it must first have great people. (We already do!) In order for a community to prosper and thrive, it must have appropriate resources and viable, sensible solutions for sustainable economic success. Building a casino equipped with VLTS will lead to suburban decay.

While we may differ as to how we would like Belmont Park to be developed, one thing is clear: our residents deserve to be involved in the decision-making process. Some suggestions include the building of a convention center with a hotel, a shopping center featuring a supermarket, shops, and restaurants, as well as the addition of green spaces.

See you tonight night at 7:30 pm at Floral Park Memorial High School, 210 Locust Street in Floral Park in the auditorium.

With love and gratitude,

Crystal Berger