Elmont Online

NASSAU COUNTY, NY – Nassau County’s four Democratic members of the New York State Assembly today announced their support for a Shinnecock Indian Nation casino at Belmont Racetrack. Assembly Members Earlene Hooper, Harvey Weisenberg, Charles Lavine and Michelle Schimel cited jobs and economic opportunity as the driving factors and urged their colleagues in both the Senate and Assembly to join in support.

“This project will create thousands of jobs for Long Islanders and provide a huge boost to the local and state economies,” said Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead). “We need these revenues to stay here in New York, for both the state and Nassau County, so we can keep people working and create more jobs.”

Shinnecock Tribal Trustee Chairman Randy King said, “We appreciate the strong and growing support from all parts of Nassau County. A Shinnecock Nation entertainment complex will provide much needed jobs to help boost the Long Island economy, as well as created revenues for the County, the State and the Shinnecock Indian Nation, and we certainly thank Assembly Members Hooper, Weisenberg, Lavine and Schimel for their support.”

The casino at Belmont will help create more than 12,000 full-time jobs, with 5,500 jobs on-site that include high level management and finance positions.

Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), said, “We could do so much more to help our people if we keep these dollars here in New York rather than watch them go to Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Belmont is the perfect location in Nassau County for a casino, and the Shinnecock will make good partners.”

“Nassau County residents need jobs and our economy needs a boost, which is exactly what the Shinnecock plan offers,” Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) said. “This is not a Republican or Democratic issue – it’s a Nassau issue and we stand united to help our county at this crucial time.”

In addition to the jobs at a fully-operational facility, this project will provide 3,450 unionized construction jobs.

“With massive unemployment among the building trades, this project is literally a life-line for many Nassau County families,” said Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck). “I am encouraged by the Shinnecock’s intention to re-use water from the site as part of their development plans, and to build a facility that respects our natural environment.”

The four Assembly members announced their support on the heels of Representatives Carolyn McCarthy and Peter King joining the list of backers for the Shinnecock project.