Huge Crowds Expected At Meeting On Proposed Nassau County Gaming Parlor
WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Huge crowds are expected at a scheduled meeting Wednesday night on a proposed plan to open a gambling parlor at the former Fortunoff store in Westbury, Long Island.
Hundreds packed into a meeting last week to speak out against the proposal by Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting, which would turn the vacant building into a video gaming parlor with 1,000 slot machines.
Civic leaders say the issue has galvanized the community against the plan. Opponents fear added traffic, drunk driving, crime and falling property values.
"It's a residential area," one man told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs. "Already, we have too much crime in Long Island. The crime rate definitely will be higher."
Huge Crowds Expected At Meeting On Proposed Nassau County Gaming Parlor
Those in favor of the plan said it would help bring in jobs.
"Love it," one woman said about the plan. "We need jobs."
OTB has said just 15 percent of the building would be used for video lottery terminals. The rest would be first-class restaurants and a food court.
It could open sometime in 2015.
Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro said last month the plan must be approved by the state, but would not be subject to local zoning boards.
