Politicker Ny excerpt -
“I’m sort of amused, because first the Post did a piece on it and the Advance had a piece yesterday and it was very odd to me that they interviewed Marty, and Dominic and Alec– and I’m the senator. Nobody called me and I’m the senator for Coney Island,” Senator Savino said.
In his State of the State address last week, Governor Cuomo discussed his desire to pass a constitutional amendment lifting the state ban on casino gambling. Though most of the discussion of the potential for a New York casino has focused on the Aqueduct racetrack site, Mr. Markowitz has floated the idea of having a casino in Coney Island. Senator Savino said “the big question” remains whether the ban will be lifted, but if commercial gambling does come to New York, she thinks Coney Island has great potential.
“I’m sure part of the conversation between now and the passage of the amendment is about where these casinos going to be located. Is Coney Island a good place for it? I think there’s tremendous opportunity for a casino in Coney Island because it’s already zoned for recreation in some spots,” Senator Savino said.
Senator Savino also cited the recent redevelopment in the area that will allow for “hotels and destination retail.”
“The groundwork is already laid,” she said.
Though Senator Savino thinks a Coney Island casino has potential, she wants to make sure the people in the community want gaming in their neighborhood.
“I would sit down with the borough president in Brooklyn and the Community Board. All the people who live there, they expect that Coney Island is going to be a huge development. They’re already anticipating the retail and hotels, but we have to see how they feel about a casino.”
Ultimately, even if the residents of Coney Island clamor for a casino, Senator Savino expects the gaming companies will make the final call about casino locations.
“In the end, the people who determine where to build casinos will be the industry. They’re going to do a market analysis, Senator Savino said. “The state isn’t running or operating the casinos.”
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